Yay or Nay: Dress and Blouse - YouLookFab Forum

Hello, dear ladies! I’ve been super busy and I haven’t had much to share. However, Maurice’s had a sale two weeks ago that was very good and I tried a few things. Two items I’m now debating if I should return.

1. Green dress. I love the style and fabric; very well made and heavier fabric. (In fact, I purchased the same dress in a gorgeous print.) I’m questioning the color. I would have preferred it with more chroma or oomph. As it is, this green is softer than any other clothing item I own. However, it does compliment my eye color. Is the color too blah for me and/or my wardrobe? Or is it fine, and with a little cardigan/jacket and my usual makeup it will be great? I don’t know how to gauge this one. It feels like a very low energy color to me. But as a neutral it feels like it has potential. What do you think?

2. Blouse/tee. It’s a heavier ribbed knit material torso with Swiss Dot chiffon sleeves. Again, great quality. The color is phenomenal!! I’m on the fence about the torso/bodice seaming and maybe the sleeves. Somehow, the puff and length of the sleeve and the length of the torso together with the seaming instantly gives me “hospital scrub” vibes. It feels better when I tuck/faux tuck the blouse. But I can’t escape the very 1940s does hospital scrubs feeling either. Do you see it too? Is it good on me? Is it frumpy??

Awaiting your honest thoughts

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2 months ago

Roberta

Veteran

I am neutral/positive on the top - the color is great on you, but I see what you mean about the scrubs feeling. If the fabric and fit are good, I would keep it. lots of ways to wear it.

The dress does you no favors. Nina Garcia would say it was a sad, sad color. You can do better!

Ket

Roberta, you are so right about how sad the color is! I'm tempted to try dyeing it now. I really love the dress style a lot. But the color is bugging the tar out of me.

That is helpful to hear about the top! I may return it... I am not usually quite so picky. And yet, for some reason I worry the top won't get a lot of wear due to the scrubs vibes. It just feels kind of dated or frumpy to me somehow. If the color wasn't so good I wouldn't be second-guessing at all.

Active Member

I totally get what you’re saying about scrubs, but maybe it would seem less that way with a skirt? Worth a try before giving up on the top, because the color is so beautiful on you. The color of the dress, though, does not do you justice.

Jenny H

Maybe it is because I'm going through an "I love olive" phase, but I think the dress is lovely and looks great with your eyes. I would consider it a neutral. But if you feel the color is sad, I don't think you should try to move past that as you deserve clothing you love.

I very much like the shirt tucked and half-tucked. But again, if you aren't feeling a strong yes toward it, I feel confident you will find something else.

Cookie, that is a very good idea to try the top on with more before I give up on it! I will do that!

Jenny, I feel you on olive! I really enjoy warmer greens. And I love how the dress looks with my eyes. I just have a strong suspicion this color will pale and look oddly out of place with the rest of my wardrobe due to the lack of relative chroma. I don't want it to feel sad, as I just love the style! BUT... I also don't want to settle for something that won't make me happy when I wear it. I'm almost tempted to try dyeing it.

cat2

I would give the dress a pass. The top is in a gorgeous color for you; if you are a scarf person, a scarf would also soften the look a bit.

I think it’s the sleeve length giving the scrubs vibe. I wish they were longer or shorter.

Kate

It is a sad color, and this is from someone who loves olive. I would give it a pass and hold out for a dress in a more pleasing color. I do like the top, and the color is beautiful on you. See how it works with the rest of your wardrobe before returning it.

Jenni NZ

I feel, with how stunning some of your other clothes look on you, that neither of these make you look like those other items do. The dress colour is good with your eyes but maybe not your complexion? It has a dull look to it. And the style of the top is very plain.
Sorry that I will vote Nay

DonnaF

Your gut seems to be telling you to pass on these two items. If they were gifts, I might say otherwise. A color may basically work with your coloring but still be a neutral on you — meaning it does not have enough energy for you on its own.

Lisa

I vote nay to both. The color of the dress doesn't look like it compliments your eyes and complexion as well as something with a stronger color to it, I feel like this green is too soft on you. The top is a lovely color, but this looks more plain and classic in style than other pieces I've seen you wear. The one good thing about doing a return is that it makes room for something more fab in it's place.

Jaime

(website)

The cut of the dress looks great on you but the color isn't great. The top has the right color and not cut. Too bad you can merge them together!

Janet

The fit of the dress is nice but the color is a little bland. If you’re really wanting to make it work, how about punching it up with turquoise — a bold necklace, for example? Otherwise I’d say pass.

The top is a great color — a color I’m looking for too! But I totally get what you’re saying. I do not care for that sleeve length on me. My suggestion is to try folding the sleeve under, at an angle, to see how it would look as a shorter, angled sleeve (the angle going up to the outer arm at a more flattering point). I’ve done that with a number of short-sleeved tops that had that straight-across long-short sleeve, such I find very unflattering on my chesty body. That may make a huge difference!

JAileen

I agree with Jenny H - I love the color of the dress. It matches your eyes!

Oh Janet, what a terrific idea to fold-under the sleeve! I will do that and see if it changes anything for me!

Jaime, you are so right! I wish I could have the color of the top in the style of the dress!

Cookie, I think it IS the sleeve length! The sleeve length basically ends right at my bust line.

Jennie, you're so right! These are really boring colors and/or styles compared to other things I love and wear. Such a good point.

Donna, I agree about a neutral not having enough oomph to carry one forward. As I consider the dress more, I don't even think one of my lipsticks will give it enough or rescue it. Normally I can wear one of my neutrals and a good lipstick does wonders to energize it. I feel this green somehow falls short.

Lisa, you're echoing all I'm thinking and feeling in my gut. I didn't consider the top being classic, but it really is more classic than I would normally wear. Classic pieces tend to look pretty plain, frumpy, etc. on me. Good point!

Angie

Fashion Stylist

What Janet said. I vote pass on both. Onto something better, Ket!

avicennia

Agree with Roberta, neither the style nor the color of the dress suits you.

Angie I am going to pass! If I have to work this hard to make them work or feel right, they’re not right ha!

Thank you, avicennia! They’re both going back. I ordered some other things. Maybe those will be better for me.

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