My mother-in-law took me dress shopping yesterday. So, of course, I knew we would be successful, because she has the fabulous good-shopping magic in her bones.
There are lots of dresses out there that I like… in theory. Take, for example, this one:
I totally would have bought this dress yesterday if they had dropped the waist down two inches. When you put the waist of a dress on my ribcage, it creates the illusion that my ribcage is the narrowest part of my torso. It was lovely on the hanger, but made me feel short and stumpy when I tried it on.
That’s what I get for cheating on Ann Taylor Loft.
After failures at several other stores, we finally ended up at ATL. Where I promptly found three dresses that I looooove. The first, of course, was the black and white with the leaves that I already posted about. The shape of that dress is perfect for my figure, because I am far more well-endowed in the hips than… well, than anywhere else. And I should have remembered that, given the fact that I already OWN two dresses in that exact same shape, in both brown and a green and white floral. Why did I doubt the dress?
The other contenders:
I thought the muted palette of this would wash me out, but it was actually really lovely on. Since it’s a sheath, I had to go up a size to accommodate my hips, but it was so worth it. I’ve never really worn this shape before, but I’m officially a fan. Which is fortunate, since they are everywhere this year.
My success with that dress gave me the courage to try on another sheath:
I want to speak to whomever styled this model. I want to tell them to PUT HER HAIR UP, because the neckline of this dress is my most favorite part, and in this picture it just disappears. Also, the color was a touch more vibrant in real life (in fact, this picture does the dress no favors. Go look at it in a store.) I love this dress. It felt ladylike and current, all at the same time. And it’s different from anything I own.
We bought the black and white one, mostly because I think the paisley might look strange under the graduation robes.
BUT! I have a graduation luncheon planned for Sunday. I also should be able to get $100 by selling my $200 physics book back to the bookstore. So come Thursday evening, the paisley will also be mine.
What’s better than a perfect dress? TWO perfect dresses.
[...] of making it appear that your ribcage is your narrowest part like some dresses I’ve tried (ahem). The cummerbund is super flattering; that dark color really narrows the waist. I felt like I had [...]