10th Commandment: November 13
Nov 13, 2013
I’m still looking for a black ponte dress to replace the one I ruined this summer. Â This dress is truly a wardrobe workhorse. Â I wear it to brunch with flats, to dinner with heels or to meetings with tights and boots. Â Must.find.a.replacement.
Elected Official
Trina Turk Monarch Ponte Dress ($298)Â
I also loved this v-neck Classiques Entier dress with pleats. Â It reminds me of a Black Halo dress that I own.
Hill Staffer
Three Dots Sheath Dress ($185)
If you want something a bit less expensive, this C.Wonder belted dress is $128.
Paid Intern
Merona Ponte Elbow Sleeve Dress ($30)
I also like this simple crewneck dress from Aqua for $70.
Plus-size: Joan Vass Ponte Shift ($195) Petite: Boden Lana Dress ($148)
what makes a dress a “ponte” dress?
Ponte is a fabric: usually a combination of rayon, poly, and spandex I believe. It is a very comfortable but somewhat fitted fabric. That’s my understanding anyway. 🙂
BN-It’s a fabric, feels a bit like jersey, but is heavier. Not sure what the composition is, but it’s like a really thick, smooth jersey.
Belle
I just got one from Banana at one of their regular sales and I like it a lot, so far – the website is being terrible right now, but it’s just called black ponte dress. I’ve only worn it once, sp i can’t provide too much of a review but its worth a look!
I’ve been eyeballing a couple from Talbots of all places. Anyone had any experiences with their quality?
Good quality, but some of them have a boxy old lady fit.
Totally agree with Lindsey, really good quality for the money but cut matronly. So if you aren’t adverse to tailoring (and NO ONE should be), you can score great pieces.
Talbots does a fantastic sale in January and July. Sign up for their emails and wait for it. Some of the most comfortable heels I’ve ever worn in my life are from there – leather uppers, leather soles, leather insoles, fantastic padding – and just $35 on clearance.
I agree on the boxy fit. I find they design for a straight up and down body with not a lot of room for curves. I’m 35-28-38 and if something fits my top, it’s too snug on my thighs, and if it fits my thighs, it’s huge on top. This happens in other brands, but not to the extent it does in Talbots. Oh, and keep in mind that their skirts will fall a couple inches below the knee. I find Talbots is really a good buy for me only during their big sales just because of all the alterations I know it’ll need, but the quality is really there.
I found that Trina Turk dress at the Metro Center TJ Maxx in September for $80. Before the weather got so cold, I was wearing it to everything! Probably one of my greatest fashion purchases ever. The lining has a lace edge at the skirt hem, so on those rare occasions it does peek out when you sit down, it’s this beautiful feminine detail that makes you smile for a second as you adjust your skirt.
If you get it, order a size down. I bought it in a 4 and I’m a 6-8 usually.
I’m a couple days late, but I have that Merona dress in two different colors, plus two other Merona ponte dresses. Every single one of them gets compliments whenever I wear them. Some of the best purchases I ever made.