10th Commandment: January 19

Jan 19, 2012

 

Green Sheath Dress (H&M, $38)

Ever since Jean over at Extra Petite posted this dress on her blog last month, I’ve been lusting after it.  I think it has a great shape.  It’s a beautiful color.  And it has just enough of a sleeve.  

Sadly, H&M has not yet delivered on theiir promise to set up a substantial e-commerce presence, so it’s only available in stores.  I’m going to head over to H&M tonight and hope that I didn’t miss it or at least, I’ll be able to ask when it might be available.  I’ve never really mastered the H&M thing, perhaps I should invite Jean down to D.C. so that she can teach me how to shop there successfully?

Look for Less

share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Vicki says:

    The color and style of this dress is gorgeous! It automatically reminds me of some of the outfits donned on Joan Harris from Mad Men (:

  2. Ellie says:

    LOVE. I've been totally crushing on green clothes lately too.

  3. KLo says:

    I adore this and fully intend to shop for it tomorrow, but I can't resist the urge (every time I'm seeking a green dress) to say “not a real green dress, that's cruel.” My dork for the day is done! I hope this is left at my H&M!

  4. E says:

    I have this dress! Bought it at home last month…it's great. Two caveats – it's pretty low cut, so I don't know if I can rock it at work. Second, the black version and the green version have TOTALLY different fits, weirdly. But this dress really is great.

  5. e-liz says:

    h&m online launches in the fall! can't wait!

  6. Elaine says:

    Love Jean from Extra Petite! She's super tiny (00P, what the what?!?), so almost everything she wears looks flawless as long as she's not swimming in it.

    Beware of this dress though, it nips in dramatically and the waist. I'm usually a 2 and even the 4 was tight on me. I was at the H&M at metro center last week and they still seemed to have plenty. Happy shopping!

  7. Kathy says:

    This is my favorite color, but close up, it's a mess. The fabric is totally bizarre, like a cast-off Muppet. Not great.

  8. Theresa says:

    LOVE H&M, but you have to be careful with sizing, there's almost no consistency. And I agree with E, fit can vary among different colors of the same item, SO bizarre. But their professional looks are fantastic, and they always have really beautiful patterns and silhouettes. I do more damage in this store than pretty much anywhere. I'd be delighted to shop with you, Belle! 🙂

  9. Emilie says:

    A) I love the color green and bright sheath dresses

    B) I have a bunch of friends who can walk into H&M and walk out laden with shopping bags, and I just don't get it. If you learn how to successfully shop H&M for stylish business wear, I would love for you to the tips with me. I think it has a lot to do with the sizing problem, as mentioned above. The idea of finding even 2 things I like and having to take 3 or 4 different sizes of it into the dressing room is just too much – you've already hit your dressing room limit (although H&M may not actually have an article limit, my point remains).

  10. Noelle says:

    Belle, I share your frustration with actually trying to FIND the styles in the store. To make matters worse, the clothes they stock are completely different even within the city. I have usually had better success at the Georgetown location, it seems to have more dresses and work-appropriate clothing than the downtown store.

  11. AttiredAttorney says:

    Is it just my H&M, or have all stores discontinued the size 14? I can never find them anymore…

  12. J says:

    i also agree with the above commenters – there is no rhyme or reason to the sizing at h&m. i have to try on sizes anywhere from 2-8 every time. i'm short so finding things that hit in the right place is a normal challenge but i also have womanly curves so things usually fit at the waist or bust but not both. i usually walk away empty handed – h&m's clothes are too cheap for tailoring to be worth it. i just stick with their accessories section

  13. mc says:

    Love this. Belle, I'm always curious – do you ever see ladies around the Hill in your recommendations? I can imagine young staffers in cream scarves with matching handbags.

  14. Helena says:

    I love H&M for basics and have found (1) that their stuff lasts much longer than other mass retailer items that cost more (Ann Taylor, Banana, J Crew) and (2) I get just as many compliments on their stuff as my few actual high-end pieces. Some tips:

    -Tees fit to size. For everything else, size up.
    -If possible, go as soon as the store opens, which is the only time it's not ransacked.
    -The European locations have much better selection and are ubiquitous in major cities. If you are traveling, try to swing by a store.
    -The sheath dresses are really awesome, will actually hit below-knee if you are 5'5″ or under and are machine-washable.

  15. PL says:

    They had both the green and black option at the H&M at Metro Center when I visited after seeing Jean's post last week. There were plenty of sizes so hopefully there's still some left!

  16. Charlotte says:

    I just bought this dress last week! I love it, but for busty women, even with a top layered under, it would be a bit too sexy for the office. I might wear it to a casual wedding, or for St. Patrick's, haven't decided yet.

  17. Jessica says:

    Belle – You've been reading my mind lately! I tuned 25 on Tuesday and Wednesday you posted that I now I had to eat fruits and veggies. Wednesday night I was telling my friends about this dress I'd been coveting from H&M and today you posted it! I hope you were able to find it last night. I am going on a search for it this weekend.

  18. Belle says:

    Jessica: You have to eat fruits and veggies. Like legitimately, two at every meal. And take a multi-vitamin. Adios cheeseburgers…I hat being a grownup.

  19. shiva says:

    Bought this dress recently in both black and green and will probably return – the fabric actually looks very cheap in person. The black and green in the same size do not fit the same which is weird. And the dress is very low cut, making it inappropriate for work. however, the h&m blouse that extra petite posted with this dress is fab…..comes in green and white – its polished, crisp and looks like it cost a small fortune.

Join The List

Stay up to date on the latest from Capitol Hill Style!

sUBSCRIBE

Gift Guide 2023: Stocking Stuffers, Pt. 1

I love stocking stuffers.  They are the best part of Christmas.  There’s just nothing quite like an affordable gift that’s funny or useful or chic (or maybe all three).  So here is Part One of my stocking stuffer gift guides, where nothing costs more than $30.

4

READ MORE 

Recent Posts

You Have, You Need: Camel Sweater Edition

In the name of fiscal responsibility, I’m taking a shopping respite through the end of the year.  When you write a fashion blog, not shopping is like being a person on a diet who moves into a McDonald’s.  But I’m determined to flex some self-discipline now that my holiday shopping is done.

4

READ MORE 

Add to Cart: Five Recent Amazon Purchases

Since my daughter was born, Amazon has claimed so much of my money that I had to buy stock just to get some of it back.  Between the formula, onesies, fruit pouches, diapers, wipes, and ever evolving list of baby development gear, I could not survive without Prime.   My husband no longer notices the […]

4

READ MORE 

VIEW ALL POSTS

Features, Gift Guide, Top Posts | November 29, 2023

Gift Guide 2023: Stocking Stuffers, Pt. 1

I love stocking stuffers.  They are the best part of Christmas.  There’s just nothing quite like an affordable gift that’s funny or useful or chic (or maybe all three).  So here is Part One of my stocking stuffer gift guides, where nothing costs more than $30.

4

READ MORE 

Posts, Style, You Have You Need | November 29, 2023

You Have, You Need: Camel Sweater Edition

In the name of fiscal responsibility, I’m taking a shopping respite through the end of the year.  When you write a fashion blog, not shopping is like being a person on a diet who moves into a McDonald’s.  But I’m determined to flex some self-discipline now that my holiday shopping is done.

4

READ MORE 

Add to Cart, Features, Posts | November 28, 2023

Add to Cart: Five Recent Amazon Purchases

Since my daughter was born, Amazon has claimed so much of my money that I had to buy stock just to get some of it back.  Between the formula, onesies, fruit pouches, diapers, wipes, and ever evolving list of baby development gear, I could not survive without Prime.   My husband no longer notices the […]

4

READ MORE 

Good/Better/Best, Posts | November 27, 2023

Good, Better, Best: A Guide to Layering

I started this blog in 2008 to provide guidance to the thousands of Capitol Hill staffers who needed to dress for professional jobs on government salaries.  Over 15 years of blogging, some questions have proved eternal — the best tights, what to wear to a formal event, makeup tips for women who don’t want to […]

5

READ MORE 

RECENT POSTS

©2023 CAPITOL HILL STYLE | SITE BY LEIGH THE STUDIO