Accessories with this dress?
January 19, 2012 2:22 PM Subscribe
What shoes and earrings should I wear with this dress?
I bought this dress in a grape (very purple) color.
The sparkly halter bit is quite a bit more sparkly than in the picture, and uses those little shiny pieces (not jewels but like paper) in silver, oily brown, oily purple, and oily green colors (i.e. the colors you see in a pretty oil slick on black asphalt on a hot day).
As with the model in the picture, the dress makes me look very leggy. Since I have especially pale skin on my legs, I'm considering wearing some sort of patterned tights (black), but I'm open for suggestions.
More curious about what style of shoe and earrings I should wear, but also would love tips on colors and material, and any other suggestions (such as - should I wear bracelets?) which you may have. Usually, I'm okay with fashion-puzzles, but I seem to have missed the life experience with dresses pretty much until now. Thanks!
I bought this dress in a grape (very purple) color.
The sparkly halter bit is quite a bit more sparkly than in the picture, and uses those little shiny pieces (not jewels but like paper) in silver, oily brown, oily purple, and oily green colors (i.e. the colors you see in a pretty oil slick on black asphalt on a hot day).
As with the model in the picture, the dress makes me look very leggy. Since I have especially pale skin on my legs, I'm considering wearing some sort of patterned tights (black), but I'm open for suggestions.
More curious about what style of shoe and earrings I should wear, but also would love tips on colors and material, and any other suggestions (such as - should I wear bracelets?) which you may have. Usually, I'm okay with fashion-puzzles, but I seem to have missed the life experience with dresses pretty much until now. Thanks!
General rule: the more complicated the dress, the more subtle the accessories. The opposite of that holds true as well--the more understated the dress, the more bold the accessories. So, since that dress is quite bold with a lot of texture I would recommend simple silver heels and maybe some minimal silver earrings and or bracelets. By simple I mean like studs or hoops or a single thin bangle. And I would have to say no to textured tights, or tights of any color. That's just too much.
posted by greta simone at 2:30 PM on January 19, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by greta simone at 2:30 PM on January 19, 2012 [10 favorites]
Since you say your legs are long, you can wear flats or heels with them.
As it's an evening dress, make sure the shoes are fabric, embellished, and/or otherwise obviously not day shoes.
As it's winter (unless you're in Australia) I would go with closed toe shoes.
Don't kill brightly colored clothes with any black garments. Although purple is something of an exception as it does go OK with black. Again, as it's an evening dress, I would go with fine-gauge fishnets in a colour as close to your skin colour as possible. Or else the same colour as the shoes.
As for earrings, anything that goes with purple will work. Almost all colours go with purple, so I guess you're in luck. Just don't confuse the earrings with a necklace that doesn't match them.
posted by tel3path at 2:32 PM on January 19, 2012
As it's an evening dress, make sure the shoes are fabric, embellished, and/or otherwise obviously not day shoes.
As it's winter (unless you're in Australia) I would go with closed toe shoes.
Don't kill brightly colored clothes with any black garments. Although purple is something of an exception as it does go OK with black. Again, as it's an evening dress, I would go with fine-gauge fishnets in a colour as close to your skin colour as possible. Or else the same colour as the shoes.
As for earrings, anything that goes with purple will work. Almost all colours go with purple, so I guess you're in luck. Just don't confuse the earrings with a necklace that doesn't match them.
posted by tel3path at 2:32 PM on January 19, 2012
Response by poster: I'll be wearing it on a cruise (Cayman Islands and Jamaica), in March, supposedly to a small re-wedding ceremony. My mom basically told me to have free reign but after about 50 suggestions (including a request that it be a halter dress since that's her wedding dress neckline and we both look good in it), I finally chose this dress. Whew.
posted by DisreputableDog at 2:37 PM on January 19, 2012
posted by DisreputableDog at 2:37 PM on January 19, 2012
Absolutely no tights on a cruise. I would go with a nude or silver heel. I'd keep jewelry very subtle; the dress is the star. Enjoy!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:45 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:45 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
No tights. Flesh colored hose if you want/like (whatever flesh tone matches you), although personally I wouldn't but that's more a result of my generation and thinking it's too formal for a cruise.
Silver, understated accessories. Simple evening pumps in a low heel or flats. Black is ok with grape, if a little boring. Silver is a maybe if you're not doing a lot of other silver (simple earrings and one bracelet, let the halter neckline stan on its own). Don't go flashy or overcomplicated here, you don't want the styling pulling focus from such a textured, shiny dress.
posted by asciident at 2:50 PM on January 19, 2012
Silver, understated accessories. Simple evening pumps in a low heel or flats. Black is ok with grape, if a little boring. Silver is a maybe if you're not doing a lot of other silver (simple earrings and one bracelet, let the halter neckline stan on its own). Don't go flashy or overcomplicated here, you don't want the styling pulling focus from such a textured, shiny dress.
posted by asciident at 2:50 PM on January 19, 2012
Nthing no tights. I would go with a neutral (nude) or silvery strappy shoe like this. I would also keep the earrings in either silver or cubic zirconia (no colored jewels) but again, keep them simple and classic. Maybe something like this or this. Maybe a nice, simple bracelet as well because your arms are bare.
Beautiful dress! Have fun on your trip!
posted by triggerfinger at 3:03 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Beautiful dress! Have fun on your trip!
posted by triggerfinger at 3:03 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
If I were wearing this dress and I really wanted to wear something on my legs, I would wear a very small, tightly woven fishnet OR a stocking with a seam up the back. But since you're going to be in the Caymens, I'm assuming it's going to be warm, so I'd probably not want anything on my legs.
This dress doesn't need much, really. Strappy silver heels would look fabulous with it, and I'd maybe do a couple very thin silver bracelets on one arm. Other than that, let the dress (and your legs!) speak for itself.
posted by cooker girl at 3:11 PM on January 19, 2012
This dress doesn't need much, really. Strappy silver heels would look fabulous with it, and I'd maybe do a couple very thin silver bracelets on one arm. Other than that, let the dress (and your legs!) speak for itself.
posted by cooker girl at 3:11 PM on January 19, 2012
this dress has a lot going on: sparkle, giant flower, ruched sash, layers. i would keep all your accessories minimal. maybe some rhinestone stud earrings in one of the colors picked up from the sparkles. for shoes, since you have long legs and this is on a cruise, you can actually go with sandals, either flat (which would be cute) or heeled. a metallic bronze would look nice with the purple tones. i've worn gold metallic ankle wrap sandals like these with a yellow gold taffeta sundress to a summer wedding once and it was really cute. i'd go with minimal straps on the foot otherwise. or, conversely, you can do something jeweled like this as long as the color(s) of the jewels work with the color(s) of the dress and don't look too cheap.
as for legwear, i think tights would look too heavy for a cruise and i don't think hose is all that appropriate. if you are afraid of your legs being too pale, would you be able to do a bronzer or self-tan before hand? or try to get some sun before the wedding? i would go bare-legged regardless.
good luck!
posted by violetk at 3:25 PM on January 19, 2012
as for legwear, i think tights would look too heavy for a cruise and i don't think hose is all that appropriate. if you are afraid of your legs being too pale, would you be able to do a bronzer or self-tan before hand? or try to get some sun before the wedding? i would go bare-legged regardless.
good luck!
posted by violetk at 3:25 PM on January 19, 2012
I'd go with something like this in terms of shoes, and some kind of sparkly bronze stud earring.
posted by Go Banana at 3:27 PM on January 19, 2012
posted by Go Banana at 3:27 PM on January 19, 2012
ps: for those telling you to go with silver-based accessories, i would have to disagree since your dress is purple. silver tends to cheapen purple. i'd go with a warm metallic, either a deep gold or metallic bronze which would be my personal choice.
posted by violetk at 3:27 PM on January 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by violetk at 3:27 PM on January 19, 2012 [2 favorites]
Notice that the model has one simple gold bracelet. No necklace or earrings visible. You may wear small studs but the overall effect should be one very simple piece. There is already lots going on around the neck/cleavage area so I'd recommend against a necklace. Very simple diamond stud earrings or one small bronze bracelet would be best.
Tights or hose would look a bit much, especially on a Caribbean cruise. Keep your makeup and hair very simple and 'natural' - easy waves (like the model) and very minimal makeup. Try to go for "simple and breezy" not "overly done and flashy," or else you could tip over into vampy.
It looks like her shoes are a simple metallic strap sandal. Shoes - something like this would be my first choice - it's still dressy, but not a super high heel and not overly glizty to compete with the dress.
As for silver vs. gold, it kind of depends on the purple itself. I actually think bronze would work fairly well depending on the shade of purple. Do you have a picture?
Have you tried it on in person? Did you love it and feel comfortable in it? Because the accessory most needed in that dress is Calm & Fun Confidence.
Have fun on the cruise!
posted by barnone at 3:38 PM on January 19, 2012
Tights or hose would look a bit much, especially on a Caribbean cruise. Keep your makeup and hair very simple and 'natural' - easy waves (like the model) and very minimal makeup. Try to go for "simple and breezy" not "overly done and flashy," or else you could tip over into vampy.
It looks like her shoes are a simple metallic strap sandal. Shoes - something like this would be my first choice - it's still dressy, but not a super high heel and not overly glizty to compete with the dress.
As for silver vs. gold, it kind of depends on the purple itself. I actually think bronze would work fairly well depending on the shade of purple. Do you have a picture?
Have you tried it on in person? Did you love it and feel comfortable in it? Because the accessory most needed in that dress is Calm & Fun Confidence.
Have fun on the cruise!
posted by barnone at 3:38 PM on January 19, 2012
I'd go with bare, self-tanned legs and a pewter-colored high-heeled sandal, like this or this. Nothing bright-shiny-silver.
posted by jabes at 3:59 PM on January 19, 2012
posted by jabes at 3:59 PM on January 19, 2012
I'd wear shiny black heels (very high) and some simple chunky black or green accessories (definately bracelets, maybe a choker) if you can find any in a complementary oil-slick green. Green shoes might work too, but that's a little more iffy. Also agree, stay away from silver with purple, especially in a dress with the dark undertones you describe. Copper accents might also work if they also show up in the dress. And possibly feathers for your hair or earrings? I am imagining black with metallic highlights.
posted by catatethebird at 3:59 PM on January 19, 2012
posted by catatethebird at 3:59 PM on January 19, 2012
I have family in the Caribbean and have been there almost every time of year. It'll probably be too hot for hose or tights in March. I would find nude or silver sandals with at least a little heel. Get a fun pedicure in a complimentary color.
Keep the earrings simple so they don't compete with the glitter--silver drops or hoops would be perfect.
posted by elizeh at 6:08 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Keep the earrings simple so they don't compete with the glitter--silver drops or hoops would be perfect.
posted by elizeh at 6:08 PM on January 19, 2012 [1 favorite]
Nothing on the neck. Any earring that isn't chunky. Strappy minimal sandals, on at least a kitten heel, but with a delicate shape (nothing chunky.) I think you can get away with any nude or metallic tone you want, as long as the shape is summery.
For the love of God no tights.
Have a wonderful time! How fun!
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:17 AM on January 20, 2012
For the love of God no tights.
Have a wonderful time! How fun!
posted by fingersandtoes at 9:17 AM on January 20, 2012
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posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:28 PM on January 19, 2012