Bling Up My Top Half

November 17, 2022 9:59 AM

I'm starting to figure out what to wear to my office holiday party (we go all out). I have a dress, but it's short-sleeved and I think I need a blingy jacket for it. Where do I look for it?

I was checking this dress out, but then I realized I already owned a dress that was pretty much just like the dress part; I'd gotten it to wear to a wedding that I ultimately couldn't attend. But I still have the dress. So I could probably save time (and money) by just getting a fancy thing to go over it.

But....what do you call that kind of garment when you search for it? "Dressy jackets" just leads me to outerwear-type stuff, "suit separates" just gives me blazers, and "cardigan sweaters" aren't dressy enough. I'm looking for the kind of slightly-sheer and glittery/sparkly vibe in these "jacket dress" sets like this, and this, and this. But I don't know how to search for just the jacket part of a jacket dress.

If you want to post links to actual garments - ideally it would be navy blue, or even better navy blue with a silvery pattern in it (so if the blue doesn't exactly match the dress it won't matter). The dress I have is very much like the first one I linked to, with ruffly tiers, but with cap sleeves and some glittery sequins at the shoulders. ....But even just knowing what search term to use to start me off would help.

posted by EmpressCallipygos to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

I would try "evening jacket," although even with that search term it's a little hard to find them absolutely solo—this one is nice and navy, for instance, but also comes with a tank, so you're paying extra for that. This would be good but also isn't cheap. (What it might also turn up is secondhand jackets from the dress sets that have been liberated from their dresses—do you perhaps wear an 8–10?)
posted by babelfish at 10:12 AM on November 17, 2022

I think the search terms "formal dress separates" and "evening separates" might get you what you are looking for. On some websites, you will have to further filter by jackets or cover up.
posted by OrangeDisk at 10:15 AM on November 17, 2022

Sorry I can’t do a search right now but I’d be looking for boleros, maybe shrugs.
posted by jameaterblues at 10:17 AM on November 17, 2022 [3 favorites]

Try "sheer evening jacket." Agree with babelfish that these are much more often part of a set than sold separately, so you might have better luck on a resale site like Poshmark or Ebay, where a set has been split up by the passage of time!
posted by assenav at 10:30 AM on November 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

Personally, I wouldn't try to match the dress exactly. I think that dress would look great with a fake fur stole or shrug. Like this one on etsy.
posted by hydra77 at 10:34 AM on November 17, 2022 [3 favorites]

if you're crafty you could bling this one up

lace bolero
if you want to cover your officemates in glitter
matches the scallopy vibe

it's not sheer obviously but what about like a velvet blazer? that's my go-to for this situation, and it'll be easier to use again in the future if that's your inclination. (or a sequin blazer???)
posted by goodbyewaffles at 10:46 AM on November 17, 2022

Longer than what you were linking but the “kimono” style might work for you. Here’s an example from Macy’s
posted by raccoon409 at 10:47 AM on November 17, 2022

Go vintage!
posted by essexjan at 10:47 AM on November 17, 2022

Also, check out thrift stores, as they often have barely-worn evening outfits, particularly at this time of year.
posted by essexjan at 10:49 AM on November 17, 2022

I searched "navy chiffon jacket"
and found this one at Walmart:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Bebiullo-Women-s-Sheer-Chiffon-Jacket-Casual-Cover-Up-Tops-Lightweight-Beach-Cardigans-Blouse-ShawlWhite-Gray-Black-Navy-blue-S-to-XXL/719021013
posted by halehale at 11:31 AM on November 17, 2022

Best answer: If you have enough time to wait for shipping, this is the sort of thing that's easy to find for wedding parties because people like to have something to cover up sleeveless bridesmaid / mother of the bride dresses and they come in lots of colors.

Otherwise, I'd search for "evening jacket" or "evening wrap," and I'd also search for jackets with terms like "shimmer" and "beading".
posted by Mchelly at 12:01 PM on November 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

I was just perusing the link Mchelly posted and I really think you should wear a stunning chiffon cape.

(They call it a shawl but it gives me cape vibes)
posted by rodneyaug at 12:22 PM on November 17, 2022

I’d search for shrugs, boleros, and duster jackets. Anthropologie has this sparkly duster jacket that might be fun.

Unique Vintage also has some fun shrugs and kimonos.
posted by Maeve at 12:57 PM on November 17, 2022

The odds of matching that (or any) blue are slim, especially if you're just ordering something only. I'd go for something that co-ordinates but isn't identical. Maybe something with a bit of bling or sparkle, and I say that as somebody whose own wardrobe contains very little flash. I'm kind of in the same boat for the same work-Christmas-party reason, and that's what I'm seeking.
posted by sardonyx at 2:34 PM on November 17, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: This is giving me a looooooooooot to go on, yay! Thank you!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:09 PM on November 17, 2022

Response by poster: In fact - McHelly, I've been having a browse on your link, and some of those dresses are cheap enough that I could just get one of them outright. So - I think I'll try on my existing dress just in case, and if it works then I'll go to a brick-and-mortar store and have a look at what's there this weekend. And if either of those go bust there's time for me to get something from your link.

But I have a path forward and that's the important thing! Thanks!
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:34 PM on November 17, 2022 [2 favorites]