Recommend some sleeves for my halter dress

July 9, 2006 8:47 PM

Fashion sense enabled MeFites: I need your help. What kind of warmth related accessory can I wear to a wedding, over a halter dress?

I'm going to a wedding at the end of the month, and I just found a dress that looks pretty good on. I'm awkward when it comes to putting together an outfit, and I get cold at the drop of a hat. I'd like to dress "up" the outfit, since it is for a wedding. What kind of sweater or jacket should I wear?

I'm looking for instructions on what to look for when shopping, including overall shape, length, fabrics, etc. Bonus points for specific examples, especially those available at major dept stores or shops in San Francisco. Oh, and I don't want to pay an arm and a leg for it. Maybe up to $50, but preferably less than that.

I'm short and petite (5'2", size 6), with broad shoulders and a broad ribcage, if any of that matters. And the wedding will be in NY, which means I'm more likely to get cold from A/C than outdoor air or wind.

Thanks in advance for your help!

posted by nadise to shopping (11 comments total)

I would try a knit shrug. Because your dress is multi colored you coudl go with a black, silver or gold shrug and it would look quite elegant.
posted by zia at 8:53 PM on July 9, 2006

I would forgo sweater and jacket for a pashmina shawl. They come in loads of great colours, and are great for warmth, without being too warm. Plus they are more formal than a jacket or sweater.
posted by sperare at 10:04 PM on July 9, 2006

Something like this "cardigan"? Or this bolero?

Loralie.com has a number of options. Their faux-fur collars might be unexpected and cute with your dress.

Prom and bridesmaid sites will have more shrugs or boleros for you to choose from.
posted by anjamu at 10:26 PM on July 9, 2006

I think the bolero might look awkward if you have broad shoulders.

Ditto on a pashmina shawl. Pretty, soft, warm, elegant.
posted by radioamy at 11:39 PM on July 9, 2006

What a cute dress!

If you're going to be in SF for the wedding, you probably want something very warm. Macy's has a bunch of sweater coats, which could be really cute with that dress. You'd want something that's about the same length as the dress, and I'd do an earth-tone beige to match that tone in the dress. You could of course also do dark blue (but I find that dark blue sweaters, for some reason, tend to look cheaper than lighter earth-tone ones). I want to say that Marshall's also had a bunch of earth-tone lacy sweaters that might work, but it's been a while since I've been there.

If you can't find (or don't want) a sweater coat, then get a short/cropped cardigan -- the waistline on the dress is high, so a waist-length sweater will likely look frumpy. The INC section at Macy's actually had a lot of cute cropped sweaters the last time I was there. (Sorry, I'm on a Macy's kick lately!)

If you're outside SF and in an actual summer climate, then I'd agree with sperare and go with a pashmina.
posted by occhiblu at 11:42 PM on July 9, 2006

(I somehow missed your last paragraph. Yeah, if you're in NY, then you want dressy rather than funky, and I'd go with the shawl.)
posted by occhiblu at 11:48 PM on July 9, 2006

Definitely a pashmina. They are incredibly warm, considering how light they are. They can also be very dressy. I have worn my black one to a five-star restaurant. It also saved me from hypothermia on top of Mt Sinai!
posted by Lucie at 3:51 AM on July 10, 2006

Vote for the pashmina. It's a versatile piece that can be used in all seasons. To keep it in place and fuss-free, I like to wrap it around my shoulders and take it back under my arms to tie in a knot that rests in the small of my back. (I hope that makes sense in writing)
posted by phoenixc at 5:42 AM on July 10, 2006

Just going to chime in and agree that a pashmina or similar scarfy-shawl type garment will do quite nicely.
posted by Medieval Maven at 9:28 AM on July 10, 2006

Another vote for the pashmina. If you get it in black it will serve for years to come. I think you can find them at your nearby Nordstrom.
posted by like_neon at 9:39 AM on July 10, 2006

Thanks all -- consensus has it. I'll be getting a pashmina!
posted by nadise at 9:57 AM on July 10, 2006