Ask Belle: Pretty Dresses for Fall
Jul 29, 2010
It’s been awhile since we’ve had an Ask Belle, so I decided that it was time to dive back into the mailbag.
B:
I know you said that you generally wear dresses/skirts every day. I want to girlify my wardrobe, and am looking for lots and lots of everyday dresses. I’m not really the type to do strapless or spaghetti strap minis every day, and it seems that those are the only types of casual dresses that I can find nowadays. I don’t want to wear these to work, I want to wear them every time I leave the house, whether it be to mosey around a museum or go grocery shopping.
Where should I be looking to find sweet, everyday dresses that don’t make me look either like a whore or a Puritan? Is there an in-between?
M
Of course there’s something in between! Here are three dresses that are pretty, chic and work-appropriate.
Morado Weave Dress (Nordstrom, $228)
In a heavier fabric, this purple dress is perfect for Fall. I love the detachable belt and the ruffle detail to five it a little something extra. I would wear this dress with a light purple cardigan (belted), eggplant tights and knee high boots.
ECI Two Piece Dress (Nordstrom, $98)
This dress is a knock-off of a Rebecca Taylor dress, but it’s a really pretty knock-off, so who cares?
The cap sleeve means that you can wear it in the Summer and Spring, and the darker color gives you license to wear it in the colder months as well. You could add a tank underneath if you want more coverage, or a statement necklace if you wanted to make your camouflage a bit more chic.
Tahari Lace Dress (Nordstrom, $92)
Like the dress above, this frock is a knock-off of Belle favorite Ports 1961. Lovely, isn’t it? My only complaint about this dress is the cheap belt, but that could be replaced easily enough.
I found a ShapeFX cami bra for $10 at Newport News in all sorts of colors:
https://www.newport-news.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=15355273&index=14&gp_coll_id=9&gp_cat_id=1649&nav_cat_id=3169&category_id=7689
I found a ShapeFX cami bra for $10 at Newport News in all sorts of colors:
https://www.newport-news.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=15355273&index=14&gp_coll_id=9&gp_cat_id=1649&nav_cat_id=3169&category_id=7689
Don’t get me wrong, I love these dresses. I’ve been eyeing that Tahari Lace dress on the Nordies anniversary sale for awhile. But didn’t the reader ask for non-work, cute run-around dresses. These all scream WORK! to me. I don’t think I’d want to go grocery shopping or to a museum in any of these..am I crazy?
I have been in love with dresses @ http://www.allsaints.com that straddle the line between work appropriate and FUN
The only American outpost I know of is in NYC, but they are currently having a huge summer blow out sale. They run really small (I wear a 4/6 normally and the 12 fits perfect) but their dresses are super unique and cute.
As a warning—its a bit edgier than say Nordstroms or Bloomies.
Agreed, Belle It think you misread. Although I love these for the office, especially the ECI two piece!
um, belle? i think she said she DIDNT want to wear them to work?
Oh, wow, that was some awe-some reading comp on my part wasn’t it? Doh! The August break cannot come soon enough.
I guess B gets two posts, another one tomorrow to answer her actual question.
I will now go hang my head in shame.
your mistake works for me, since I was looking for some work appropriate dresses… thanks!
just blame an intern??? sorry, couldn’t help it . . .
So now that we agreed that these are work dresses 😉 I have to raise another point: For anyone with a little bit of cleavage the first too are really walking the line there for being work appropriate.
I know you say ‘add a tank underneath’ but I always feel that’s sort of awkward. I have this issue with a lot of v-neck or wrap dresses – when you’re small chested, they’re the cutest thing, but when you add a bit more cleavage they look way too sexy.
Jessica – I have the exact same problem. I’m a 12, but have a very large chest and wear bras from Cacique (the Lane Bryant bra shop). I agree that in some dresses, wearing a cami is plain awkward. I’ve had my fair share of trouble with buying them on the small side so they don’t feel bulky under the dress, but then having them ride up. What a pain. I didn’t want to be stuck with bateau neck dresses for the rest of my life, so I found this get bra with a mesh overlay. AKA: faux cami. If you’re a bra band size 36 (or larger), I hope it will work for you, too!
https://cacique.lanebryant.com/bras/specialty/mesh-cami-bra/15023c15040p57613/index.pro?Mcatn=specialty&Mcatpn=Bras&Mcatg=category_root&Mcatp=cat_15023%407000&Mcat=15040%407000
I found a ShapeFX cami bra for $10 at Newport News in all sorts of colors:
https://www.newport-news.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=15355273&index=14&gp_coll_id=9&gp_cat_id=1649&nav_cat_id=3169&category_id=7689