Tags
accessories, Cerebral Palsy, clothing, disability, Express, fashion, floral print, florals, Medic Alert Bracelet, Monday Mingle, Nashville, Not Rated, opry mills, Opry Mills Mall, oxfords, pencil skirt, Spashionista, style, thrift store, ThriftSmart, Visible Monday, what was I thinking, wheelchair
Hmm, I’m not so sure. Let’s see what you think.
In keeping with this month’s theme this is definitely way outside of my comfort zone. The plum floral print is actually a shirt dress. It’s from Express and I purchased it last year during the grand reopening of Opry Mills Mall for $17. It’s 100% polyester, very unstructured, and too short – all three things I generally avoid. If I’m honest this is a “what was I thinking?” moment. Initially my intention was to wear it over a pair of pants for 40+style’s fashion challenge. That was an epic fail of a look. It made me appear even shorter and rounder than I am.
On to Plan B, which is what you’re seeing here. I tucked the dress into this royal blue Briggs New York pencil skirt from Ross. The colors work well together and the floral print is large but not overwhelming, but I’m not entirely convinced the shapes are complimentary. It is better sitting than standing, which is a blessing because I maneuvered through ThriftSmart in my chair. Minimal bling here; both the crystal cuff and Medic Alert bracelet were made for me by my friend Charisse. The white Not Rated oxfords are from last Summer but remain among my favorite warm weather shoes.
What do you think? Does this dress work or does it need to be evicted from my closet?
Waiting to hear from all of you lovely ladies at Visible Monday and Monday Mingle.
You look lovely…I hope you had a great birthday!
Thank you so much, Pam. I did indeed, I’ll post pictures soon!
I love this dress as a blouse–and is this JEAN HEAVEN or what?
ThriftSmart has tons of jeans! Thanks for the compliment. 🙂
Seperately they’re nice pieces. I like the plum on you and I think it works as a blouse. I’m not sure it goes with the skirt (but that could be the colour coming through on my monitor).
I’m not sure they do, either, Eleanor. The more I see it the less I like it.
This pairing could work well actually. This is my 10 cents- maybe you could try add a belt to accentuate your waist line.. I was also thinking of pairing the top with a white bottom instead for a more spring friendly look, complimenting the floral top.
GREETINGS FROM DUBAI
MRS JACK OF ALL TRADES
http://mrsjackofalltradesdaily.blogspot.ae/
I’m leery of wide belts because I am so short waisted. Since I’m trying to step out of my comfort zone this month I should try wearing one 🙂
I think it works for sure, no issues with color, style or combination!! My only suggestion based on the previous comment would be a thick belt as this could create a divide between the two pieces if the colors aren’t ideal together. Personally though, I think they work well!
The question is how do YOU feel in it? My fashion guru told me that all the clothes in my closet should be saying, “Wear me, wear me!” Are you hearing any of that?
Dawn, I love the skirt. The top/dress is a serious “meh” LOL
I agree with Dawn – it has to sing to you. From here, you look pretty terrific : > Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday.
I love the shoes. The top/dress is not worthy of you.
Fair enough, Bella. I do so love your honesty! I am more and more in agreement with your assessment.
I have found that when I have something that I am not so sure about, it sits in my closet. Even if I wear it once or twice, that is as far as it goes. I like you in the floral print and blue skirt. xo
It’s going; no doubt about it now LOL
I DO love the color pairing, and your fabulous shoes. I echo the other commenters – how do YOU feel in it? Personally, I think you look great. Especially paired with the blue skirt. But then again, I don’t put a lot of stock in the fact that People need to look 6 feet tall and hour glass shaped. We’re all unique and can be whatever shape works best for us.
Maybe take the dress to be hemmed up as a shirt?
Megan, it’s just a bad shape for me because it lacks any kind of structure. If I don’t tuck it in it just hangs there slipping and sliding. I feel like I don’t want to wear it again 🙂
Darling i love your blouse!
Keepp it!
It’s gorgeous on you
Love
Ariane xxx
Thank you, Ariane, but I think I’ll give it to someone who will love it instead.
I like the plum on you quite well. The blue skirt with it draws the eye away from your wonderful smile and distracts. The shoes are wonderful. You are too cute to take attention away from your face.
I LOVE the blouse/top! I think it’s stunning. If it will tuck into dark denim, straight leg jeans, I think that would look fabulous. If kept with the skirt, yes, a belt, if it’s not too bothersome in the chair. And I think shoes that pick up one of the colours in the blouse would harmonize the whole look.
It’s too long to tuck into jeans, Charlotte – yet too short to wear without bottoms. There’s actually a good bit of white in it but that gets lost against the blue of the skirt which is also in the top.
Aren’t you the one who told us about your fabulous seamstress? Why not take it to her and get her to shorten it so it works better as a blouse? Honestly, I think it’s one of the prettiest things I’ve see on you. It’s very feminine and flattering.
I’m going to style it several different ways and put it up in a future post for further scrutiny. I’m not sure it’s flattering – but I’m absolutely thrilled at the amount of feedback you lovely ladies are giving me!
I think the dress works really well tucked in as a blouse. I do agree with the others on adding a fun belt. I vote to keep it, the floral print and plum color both look wonderful on you.
Trina, I love the color but I just realized I’m not crazy about the print, either LOL
I love thinking up new ways to style things–especially things that have been sitting in my closet for a long while and shouting “what were you thinking!” every time I look at them. So I think it’s great that you found a “look” for your purple top that works for you. By the by, I love wide scoop neck tops–so feminine. And those shoes–too cute!
Thank you, Susan, for you kind compliments. I’m still in “what were you thinking” mode on this one 😉
I had to laugh at the pairing it with pants look as I know for sure as a petite height woman that the dress over pants look is not for me! I like the coloring of this but think ultimately if you don’t love ti, then it doesn’t deserve a place in your closet. Great to go outside your comfort zone,but you are looking to stretch and find a new comfort!
It looked just awful over pants, Tracey. You’re right; that’s not a great look if you’re “vertically impaired” LOL!
I like it. Bold, beautiful, colourful. And it has a nice sheer quality. I say wear it until the poly annoys you! Love the shoes!!!!
Thank you so much, Charlie!
The color of the top is great on you. I’m not crazy about it with that color skirt, however. Maybe with a darker skirt?? I do like the idea of belting it as a tunic over pants.
Maybe just a different top altogether, Tamera – but I appreciate your compliments all the same 🙂
Like you say, it does work better while seated. I dunno … you said you tried it with pants but that didn’t work. I’m sort of seeing the dress over some closely tailored white ankle pants (the kind you put a sharp crease in) or some really well-fitting white straight-leg jeans. Both or either with these completely adorable white shoes?
Killer colors, both the blue and the purple (deja vu!) on you, BTW.
I think you ought to keep it, at least for a little while … I just don’t think it’s found any best pals in your closet yet.
Jan, blue and purple are one of my favorite combinations! I’m just not sold on the dress.
The color looks great on you! I have tried tucking a dress into a skirt a few times, and I really like it. Ultimately it comes down to what you feel like about the dress. (: Love your shoes and jewelry. Have a great week!
Thanks, Alexa! Sometimes the “dress as a blouse” idea works, and sometimes it doesn’t. I think in this instance it doesn’t LOL
Love the shoes. I’ve always been a sucker for oxfords.
Thank you, Zalina! They’ve become my go-to shoes for comfort and style.
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I think the top/dress is a great color combination for you, please don’t dump it. The skirt is flattering as well. How about untucking the top and adding a belt? All with the same skirt…I think it would look great. I really so think the 2 work well together.
Barbara, the dress is a shirtdress and has a shirt-shaped hemline. It looked even worse untucked. I’m very short and it made me look shorter. I think I’ll do a future post styling this dress a few different ways and letting all of you give your input as to which, if any, you think work.
The color is good on you. I think the neckline is too large (unless you’re deliberately going for the off the shoulder look, in which case the neckline is too small!). If it were me (but of course it’s not) the sleeves puffed at the wrists would drive me nuts while wheeling.
Katja, I think the shape of the dress is just not a good fit for my body type (pun intended). It’s not 1983 and I’m not going for the off-the-shoulder look. It’s just so blousey that it shifts to one side or the other. The sleeves don’t interfere with me pushing my chair at all – possibly the only plus here besides the color LOL
I think the cobalt skirt looks great with that print!
Thanks! I still love the color palette here.
If you love it yourself and you feel great in the ensemble, it’s a keeper. Your smile looks like a million bucks! And I am so impressed by the chic Medic Alert bracelet. That is an item that many women would love to wear if needed! Your friend Charisse is on to something! Love your shoes!
I love the florals of that shirt/dress and I think you’ve worn it wonderfully with that punchy blue skirt. Great idea to tuck it in. And the shoes and bling are excellent.
If you think you can feel joyful in this, I’d keep it. If not, time to escort this baby off the plane, bah-bye.
Beautiful floral blouse!