Dress shopping help please
May 5, 2015 12:53 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for a dressy enough dress to wear to a wedding and graduation, with short sleeves, not too short, but not matronly either--help!
I hate to shop so I'm doing this all online if possible. I'm looking for a dress like this Anthroplogie dress that I can wear to both a wedding and to a graduation. I love that dress but I'm not willing to pay $160 for it. I've tried Googling around for "fit and flare" dresses, midi dresses, etc. A lot turns up but they are mostly very short dresses and or sleeveless. I don't need it to have the uneven hem--just a dressy mid-length dress with short sleeves that is not matronly. Does it exist? It can be just above the knee or below. Here is another dress I like that shows what I'm going for--I like the white dress with the grey belt that the woman in the middle is wearing. Expert shoppers--please help me out!
I hate to shop so I'm doing this all online if possible. I'm looking for a dress like this Anthroplogie dress that I can wear to both a wedding and to a graduation. I love that dress but I'm not willing to pay $160 for it. I've tried Googling around for "fit and flare" dresses, midi dresses, etc. A lot turns up but they are mostly very short dresses and or sleeveless. I don't need it to have the uneven hem--just a dressy mid-length dress with short sleeves that is not matronly. Does it exist? It can be just above the knee or below. Here is another dress I like that shows what I'm going for--I like the white dress with the grey belt that the woman in the middle is wearing. Expert shoppers--please help me out!
Here's everything Zappo's has for under $100 that's dressy and has short or 3/4 sleeve.
Lands' End will undoubtedly have something.
White House Black Market is another likely one, especially on sale.
Modcloth will skew younger/hipper and flimsier, which will either be your jam or not.
Finally, J. Jill tends to be a thriftier woman's Eileen Fisher, if that, instead, is your jam.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:02 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Lands' End will undoubtedly have something.
White House Black Market is another likely one, especially on sale.
Modcloth will skew younger/hipper and flimsier, which will either be your jam or not.
Finally, J. Jill tends to be a thriftier woman's Eileen Fisher, if that, instead, is your jam.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:02 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have had really great luck finding dresses at the (horribly named) Dress Barn.
posted by radioamy at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2015
posted by radioamy at 1:22 PM on May 5, 2015
Look on eBay. You can find actual Anthropologie dresses that are either brand new w/tags, or hardly worn, for half or less of their original price.
posted by Aubergine at 1:37 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Aubergine at 1:37 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
try nordstromrack.com
liberal return policy on most items. recently i ordered 5 dresses for my daughter to try, we picked 2 (both under 50.00) and returned the rest.
posted by domino at 1:43 PM on May 5, 2015
liberal return policy on most items. recently i ordered 5 dresses for my daughter to try, we picked 2 (both under 50.00) and returned the rest.
posted by domino at 1:43 PM on May 5, 2015
From what's at Modcloth right now, this seems the closest to what you're looking for.
If you're ok wearing sleeveless with a light sweater or jacket over it, you'll open your options up tremendously. I'm pretty sure the belted dress you link in your second picture is a halter.
posted by phunniemee at 2:08 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you're ok wearing sleeveless with a light sweater or jacket over it, you'll open your options up tremendously. I'm pretty sure the belted dress you link in your second picture is a halter.
posted by phunniemee at 2:08 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I actually own that dress and was going to recommend it as a sleeved non matronly dress. (actually just wore it to a bridal shower). It is INSANELY comfortable. I got it on sale- anthro does do dress sales fairly often- and fairly randomly. It might be worth signing up for a newsletter and waiting for the next sale- I got it a week ago for $110 via a random one day 30% off dress sale.
posted by larthegreat at 2:12 PM on May 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by larthegreat at 2:12 PM on May 5, 2015 [2 favorites]
Boden has lots of short-sleeved dresses and is currently running a 25% off sale. Not sure if any of them are dressy enough for a wedding but maybe with the right accessories.
JCrew has a few short-sleeved dresses too. They're running low on sizes online but you might be lucky.
You might want to just go to the mall. Cheaper dresses tend to fit a bit differently so you might have better luck just by grabbing a million options and trying them all on. Forever 21, Macy's, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Uniqlo all have options right now!
posted by barnone at 2:58 PM on May 5, 2015
JCrew has a few short-sleeved dresses too. They're running low on sizes online but you might be lucky.
You might want to just go to the mall. Cheaper dresses tend to fit a bit differently so you might have better luck just by grabbing a million options and trying them all on. Forever 21, Macy's, Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Uniqlo all have options right now!
posted by barnone at 2:58 PM on May 5, 2015
Best answer: Asos.com is my go to for that type of dress. Order 1 US size down.
6pm.com seems to be the outlet for zappos.com.
posted by DarthDuckie at 3:06 PM on May 5, 2015
6pm.com seems to be the outlet for zappos.com.
posted by DarthDuckie at 3:06 PM on May 5, 2015
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dfashion&field-keywords=Dress+short+sleeve+
posted by harrietthespy at 9:14 PM on May 5, 2015
posted by harrietthespy at 9:14 PM on May 5, 2015
Best answer: Are you in a hurry? Because eshakti has a lot of options, and you can add sleeves and lengthen the hem for only $7.50. They have a $40 off your first order offer, but it takes 2 weeks.
posted by kjs4 at 11:25 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kjs4 at 11:25 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Actually, make that 3 weeks.
posted by kjs4 at 11:40 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kjs4 at 11:40 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all for the help! I found some good possibilities at Dress Barn (you're right, bad name!), Asos and eshakti. Thanks--never shopped at any of those!
posted by biscuits at 11:18 AM on May 7, 2015
posted by biscuits at 11:18 AM on May 7, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by hought20 at 1:00 PM on May 5, 2015