Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with dress

Wanted: Elusive Brown Dress

justonegirl — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:24:18 -0800

Where can I find a brown dress like one worn by Stephanie Izard on this season's "Top Chef?" I have searched high and low and haven't found a full-length picture online (drat!) but here's the top of the dress. The skirt was kind of floaty and the hem seemed to hit her just below the knee. The bodice, if I recall correctly, was pretty plain. She wore this dress on Episode 11, Restaurant Wars.

If someone happens to know where to find the exact dress, that would be amazing, but a close replica would be lovely as well. Thanks!

Help me find casualish summer dresses

robinpME — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:35:57 -0800

Help me find some excellent summer dresses for everyday wear. Specifics inside. I'm looking for some nice, cool, not too fussy summer dresses. I work in a fairly casual office, and I'd like to be able to wear the dresses on the weekend or to work with nicer shoes and jewelry and a wrap or sweater.

Here's what I'm looking for:
-For this purpose, I'm not really into strapless, spaghetti strap, or halter styles. I want to be able to wear a regular bra, so tank, cap or short sleeves I guess.
-No "sexy" details, I don't want backless, corseted, plunging neckline etc.
-Above the knee is okay, mid-thigh is not (J Crew, I'm looking at you).
-Despite the above points, I don't want anything frumpy - I just don't like really bare clothing, especially at work.
-Bonus points for cool summer fabrics like silk or linen blends.
-More bonus points for machine or hand wash.
-No white.
-Less than $100 each.

Women's summer clothing for Italy

feelinggood — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:01:01 -0800

What do I wear in central Italy this July so that I don't instantly look like a North American (Canadian) tourist. I'm a 60-year old petite blond. I don't mind being found out once I open my mouth, and I'm not looking for behavioral suggestions.
More like skirts/pants, short/long sleeves (I know about the churches), colors, shoes, are pedal-pushers (capri pants) ok?, what kind of purse, etc.
Thanks.

My lovely Bump (humps)

Snoogylips — Fri, 16 May 2008 17:01:39 -0800

I need help finding a maternity dress or nice top to go with black pants in plus size that would work to attend a wedding in June and my baby shower in September or October. I wear a size 18/20, or sometimes a 1X. I am 20 weeks now, so it needs some room for growing this summer. The weather is usually still pretty warm here in September/October So a short or long dress would be okay. Most of the plus maternity dresses I have found are wild prints. I am okay with color, I dont like anything in the plus section of mother hood maternity store online. I might like to wear a nice top with black pants. Where are some places I could check out to find something like this? I would like to spend less than 100 dollars but i want to look as cute as i feel for the baby shower! Thank you.

Coverup at a Wedding

RobotHeart — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:50:05 -0800

What wrap or top can I put over this dress to make it okay for a morning wedding in a chapel? I have this dress, but in white/green. It needs a little altering. I'm more curvy than the model so I look more busty in it.

What wrap or top can I put over this dress to make it okay for a morning wedding in a chapel? The two additional criteria for this wrap or top are, it can't be too hot (I overheat easily) and I have to be able to get my hands on it within two weeks.

undies for under my dress

chickaboo — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:00:16 -0800

What is the correct underwear to wear with this dress? I don't plan to wear a bra, but the spanx I would normally wear are too long. I don't think pantylines would show given the laser cut layers of fabric but maybe they would?
And for the record, the dress I bought is cobalt blue, I would not wear lavender.
I want to wear a yellow wrap with it, and silver shoes. too many brights?

We need Milla's dress!

omnipotentq — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:46:08 -0800

I want to find the dress that Milla Jovovich wore in Resident Evil for my fiance... Most of you are probably familiar with Milla Jovovich's potrayal of Alice in Resident Evil. I love the outfit that she wore in the first movie, and upon showing a picture of it to my fiance, she now loves it, too. However, the problem we're faced with is that we can't see to find the dress anywhere!

According to wikipedia, it's a "thin-strapped bias-cut red dress" and a mini-skirt. The mini skirt is obviously simple to find, but the dress is giving us all sorts of problems. My fiance is between a size 6 or a size 8 dress size, and we don't really care if it's a costume or not; just something that looks like that would be a great starting point, and bonus points would go to anyone who could point us to that exact model. Many thanks in advance!

Help a busty lass look polished at a wedding.

arianell — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:28:52 -0800

I just bought a lovely halter dress that fits me like a glove, except I need a little extra "support". One of my friends just asked me to accompany him to a casual spring wedding. So of course, I immediately used this as an opportunity to go buy a new outfit. I ended up purchasing a dress that is very similar to this one in terms of silhouette. My dress is black with white trim, and the back comes up a little higher, with three keyhole-type cutouts leading down the back to the top of the full skirt.

The problem: I wear a size 34DD, and the dress by itself isn't supportive enough for me to go braless without feeling very conspicuous. A halter bra or a strapless bra won't work, because the band would be visible through the keyholes in the back. Is there any other way for me to add a little "boost" so I can salvage this outfit?

(I did see the suggestions in this thread, but as far as I can tell, no one makes the stick-on "chicken cutlets" in my size.)

What's the name of that American Competition TV show...?

russ9595 — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:56:49 -0800

What's the name of that American TV show where a woman draped the American flag into a stunning dress without cutting it, and did the photo shoot inside Grand Central Station? I think it was some kind of photographers competition.

How do I find dress shirts that will fit me and stay tucked in?

jeffderek — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:46:03 -0800

How do I find dress shirts that will fit me and stay tucked in? I'm very much a tshirt and jeans kind of guy, but I work in government and I have to wear dress shirts or sweaters and khakis or dress pants. I've been doing this for a few years now but I'm having trouble looking "good." I buy nice clothes from Banana Republic/Gap etc, but its still not working for me.

I get up and down all the time in my job, and by about noon if I'm wearing a sweater, its several inches above the line of my pants and the undershirt is showing. If I'm wearing a dress shirt, at least part of it is untucked, and the undershirt is entirely untucked and up inside the dress shirt bunched around my stomach.

From the top of wear my pants sit (above my hips) to my armpit is 14 inches. From the top of my pants to the point on the back of my neck is 20 inches. I'm 5'8", 170lbs, and wear medium shirts. I tried a few large shirts but I just end up swimming inside of them.

Do I just have a long Torso? Do I not know how to wear shirts appropriately? Do I need a tighter belt? If I have a long torso, where do I find shirts that will do what I want?

Help me find a bridesmaid dress that doesn't suck!

cgg — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:50:27 -0800

I need help picking a bridesmaid dress for myself, as the maid of honour, for my best friend's wedding. I haven't voluntarily worn a dress since my high school graduation, I've gained a ton of weight in the last year, and I really, really need help. More details and specs after the jump. My best friend is getting married in June. We really need to get my bridesmaid dresses ordered now. We've gone shopping already, but because we're all completely different body types and some of us are being rather picky about what they are and aren't willing to wear, we've decided to each get our own, as long as they follow the following criteria:
- Alfred Angelo dress
- has to be available in 'claret' red
- floor length

I have many problems here. The first is I hate dresses (i'm more a jeans and hoodie kinda gal), but i'm obviously willing to suck it up for my best friend. The second is that i'm completely clueless about fashion and what looks good and what doesn't look good on me. The third is, for a bunch of reasons both medical and my own fault, i've gained a ton of weight in the 12-18 months, and have gone from being a size 8-10 to a 12-14, and i'm still not used to dealing with the extra bulges, including the boobs. (The extra weight also means I've gone from a small B to a larger C - this is the one part of gaining weight I'm happy about!). But I'm definitely open to suggestions; I'll wear anything that isn't completely out there or hideous or poofy. That being said, I'd prefer to avoid excessive detail (rhinestones, big gaudy fabric roses, that sort of thing) - simple is better.

I'm pretty much doing this on my own (the bride is in Halifax, the other bridesmaids are also scattered across the country, and I'm in Vancouver.) Once I've found a dress, I can order it - but the trick is finding the right dress. The bride is actually quite laid back about the whole thing, and is more concerned about me being happy and comfortable with what i'm wearing than anything else, within reason of course. (which is why i love her!)

So ladies (or gents with fashion sense) -- any advice? What should I be looking for? What should I avoid? I'm really stressing out about this, so any and all advice is welcome!!!

Help with black tie event accessories for the style impaired

pitseleh — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:45:13 -0800

I have to attend a black tie gala on Saturday. Help with accessories, please! I have a form-fitting, knee length, black cocktail dress to wear, but from what I've heard about last year's event, I'm concerned the dress may not be formal enough. It's sleeveless, with one-inch straps on the shoulders and a somewhat low neckline. It has ruching on the front and back, but otherwise is very simple. You can see a picture of it here.

I have two questions: (1) What kind of shoes and jewelry should I wear to dress it up, while keeping it fun? (2) What can I do to keep warm, since it's supposed to be far below freezing that night? If it helps, I'm 29 and the event is a law firm party.

Make me a Robert Palmer girl!

justonegirl — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:54:04 -0800

Help me dress like a Robert Palmer girl! I need to dress in 80s attire for one of my clients' corporate galas next month. Since I'm the event planner, I need something low-key, simple and not totally ridiculous. So, the Robert Palmer girls came to mind -- the black dresses, dark eyes, red lips, pulled-back hair, etc.

Unfortunately, I waited too long to start dress shopping and now I can't seem to find an appropriate dress (maybe this is too wintry?). I prefer a mock-turtleneck or crewneck, long-sleeved, knit dress free of any embellishments. It can be as short as mid-thigh or as long as knee-length but no more. It needs to fit a relatively tall (5'9" barefoot, 6' with the shoes I'll most likely wear), very curvy (size 16, evenly proportioned shoulders/waist/hips but very large breasts) woman. Bonus if it's in a store I can visit in the Baltimore/Washington area, but online is OK too.

Websites I've checked: Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, JCPenney, Sears, JCrew, Gap, Old Navy, J. Jill, Coldwater Creek, Garnet Hill, Talbots, White House Black Market, Eddie Bauer, Land's End, L.L. Bean, Newport News, Victoria's Secret, Lane Bryant, The Avenue and Torrid. Perhaps I missed something, but I saw very little that fit my criteria.

Please help me find something that would work! Thanks!

Mens Dress Shoes That Don't Suck Please

Saucy Intruder — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 04:55:45 -0800

ISO men's dress shoes that are appropriate with the most conservative business attire but that will stand up to New England winters and walking-intensive public transportation commutes without wrecking my feet. Bonus if there's a retailer out there that has juicy post-Xmas discounts.

Help me find my daughter's perfect dance dress...

jwhowa — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 18:39:42 -0800

I am looking for a particular kind of skirt to give my daughter for Christmas. She's a dancer, and she's looking for a particular black dress with a ragged hemline (angular, or slanted, I'm not sure what to call it). We have seen them all over the place on other girls, but never FOUND one on the web or in stores. Picture inside.

This is the style and fabric she's wanting, but instead of a whole dress, she wants just a skirt, and instead of purple, she wants black.

Can you help me hive mind? Buying online is the ideal solution if I could find such a beast. Any help greatly appreciated!

I'm 30 years old and don't know how to dress myself

mezzanayne — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:15:59 -0800

Where can a tall woman go to buy a dress for a company holiday party tomorrow that she forgot all about until today? The person in question is in Lawrence, KS. So my conservative, medium-sized (40-ish people) company is throwing their annual holiday party tomorrow and I don't have a thing to wear. The 2 dresses that I own have been worn in past company parties and I don't want to be seen in the same thing twice. The party has no theme, no entertainment, and consists only of a dinner and gift exchange. It will be held in an old theater that is commonly used for such events.

I live in Lawrence, KS. I'm 6' 1" tall and slender. I prefer to shop the local stores but any big-box that has clothing for the taller set will be considered. Cost is no issue. I'm looking for something a little less formal than evening or cocktail attire. Bonus points if the store has helpful salespeople that will help me find something that actually fits.

Good lord I HATE shopping.

Its been a long time since I rock and rolled

thetenthstory — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:18:32 -0800

What would you wear if you were a VIP at the Led Zeppelin concert coming up? There isn’t a dress code. What would you do? Keep in mind that this is London mid December. I am a male. (But if you want to post an idea for the ladies in my situation, might as well.)

A bridesmaid dress I WANT to wear??

Ambrosia Voyeur — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 13:25:37 -0800

Is it okay to wear a bridesmaid's dress before the wedding? I know, unbelievable. I have a bridesmaid's dress for an upcoming wedding that I like and can wear loads of places. What is the etiquette here, please?

Note: I actually already wore it. Had pictures taken in it, too, but feel uncomfortable uploading them and being caught red-handed in the possible transgression. I know it might "depend on the bride," but I suspect actually seeing me in the dress at another occasion might stir deep-seated questions of propriety and have unforeseen effects on any of her possible professed nonchalance.

What was this site called, where a community advised a guy on what to wear?

Isdaron — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 12:17:49 -0800

I remember that there used to be a website, where a guy asked what he should wear, and the community voted on his outfit - and he actually put it on. Every day. But, dang, I don't remember what the site was called and what URL it used. Can you help out?

Help me accessorize this dress for a 3pm fall wedding in CT

RobotHeart — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 08:36:01 -0800

Help me accessorize this dress for a 3pm fall wedding in CT. I have about 10 days to obtain what I need. I got this dress in chocolate. I would have preferred the grape, but it wasn't available. I technically bought it for the wedding, but don't think it's exactly ideal. Nevertheless I bought it -- it'll work for other occasions, and it's one of few dresses that fit properly on my weird little body. (I am 5'3", short-waisted, full in the tummy and also a bit heavy in general, heavy-busted with a pacemaker scar I'm not ashamed of but would prefer not be my primary accessory for the evening. My body can make certain perfectly awesome things look frumpy/matronly. FYI -- I am 23.)

One of the reasons I am not sure it's ideal is that this wedding will be populated, I would guess, mostly by people about 25-35, who are educated but far from stuffy. It's possible the majority of the women will show up in slightly more casual attire, maybe in punchier colors and/or the occasional print.

I'm looking for advice regarding shoes, jewelry, and some kind of sweater etc, nudging me towards slightly more casual. (Oh! And Spanx. I know nothing about them except that I need them to make the awkward transition between my hips and my ass less lumpy.) I'm too klutzy for slitettos and would prefer to keep the majority of my toes covered if I can, because I dislike them, but I understand that's not always stylistically possible :)

I have to be able to obtain these items within about 10 days. You can leave pictures and links along the lines of "this is the kind of thing you'll want to look for when shopping," but bonus points if you can tell me a place to find a particular item on Cleveland (OH)'s east side suburbs. I'm on the Cuyahoga/Lake Cty line, and I'm willing to go as far east as Mentor, and as far south as Solon.

Looking for a short yellow dress with long sleeves

Maia — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 12:44:22 -0800

I'm dressing up as the Morton Salt Girl for Halloween. Where can I find her outfit (ie, long sleeves, smocked yellow dress) for an adult?

What looks good on a heavyset 30ish guy?

zek — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:01:23 -0800

What kind of clothing looks best on a thirtysomething guy who is heavy but not obese? I am in a fashion rut and don't trust my judgement, and want to see some pictures. Yeah, I'm talking about myself. I am in my 30s, 5'9", 200 lbs, and BMI of 29 (heavy, but definitely not obese) and am physically active. I have descended into an awful fashion rut which basically consists of shorts and an untucked T-shirt similar to this (this is NOT me). I am not confident wearing anything else except for formal businesswear. Neither is good for fun social events.

I would be grateful for (A) links to random pics of heavyset guys who, according to your refined sense of fashion, look good and are not trying to make a fashion statement, and (B) advice and observations about what to wear.

Yes, I've seen this thread. All the advice is a definite slide to first base, but falls short of giving specifics and contains almost no visual examples (which I need to see details like what is tucked in, if there is a belt, and so on). Ugh's advice there was best but sadly the example has expired off the casualmale.com site.

To summarize, I need to snap myself out of this and start dressing good again. I need visual examples I can emulate, as I think my fashion sense is severely corrupted -- I have worn stupid stuff in the past thinking it looked good and I don't wish to repeat that mistake. I need your help! And yeah, I'm working on losing the weight, but that will take time.

Also I'm in Texas, which limits my ability to wear cold weather fashions. Because Wal-Mart is the only store in my town I'll most likely have to buy off the Internet, though I do make it to the Plano TX area often.

What does Black Tie Optional Mean?

Autarky — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 11:58:03 -0800

What is acceptable dress for a black tie optional event? I've looked all over the place online and askmefi but haven't found anything very specific. I know a lot of people will be wearing a tuxedo, but I neither own one nor have the desire to rent one. Some places say that wearing a "dark suit" is acceptable, but what does that mean? Will I be ok in a standard dark blue suite resembling this one with matching pants, and a shirt+tie?

where do you summer?

raztaj — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:01:27 -0800

Costume help: Young Republican? I'd like to dress up as a 'Young Republican' for Halloween. What do you recommend I wear? What does preppy mean to you?

Where should I buy a suit?

tatiana wishbone — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 08:24:19 -0800

Where should I buy a suit? I'm a 23-year-old woman interviewing for my first real jobs, which will be entry level in marketing or printing. I'll be interviewing in a college town in the south, so I probably won't be dealing with fancy urban people with fashion sense. That being said, I still want to look as nice as possible and I can spend up to $400. I don't know the level of formality at the offices but I would guess business casual. I looked at suits at Banana Republic and Ann Taylor Loft and I like them, but I have very little frame of reference and I don't know whether the quality is good enough. Also, I have a very young face - should I be dressing to look older? Do I have to buy black? Can I wear grey or pinstripe or herringbone? If it helps, I'm 5"6 and 140 lbs and I have a big ass and hips.