DRRRESSES: WANT

Love the yellow polka dot, LOVE as in I WANT!

Has anyone out there ever ordered a dress from:
http://www.shabbyapple.com/t-apparel.aspx
Shabby Apple?

Now I want the pear dress as well because it does have a flattering cut. Not buying dresses until after I deliver though....

That clock print one is awesome although that fit would look terrible on me.

So, I'm wearing the black and white striped dress I posted above and I'm in love with the shape which is really flattering for me (I have small hips and a sticky-out tummy). I'd love to find more with a high-ish, defined waist and slightly flared skirt, but more work-appropriate, i.e. plain and less flare in the skirt. Any ideas for places to look?

Also, I want to be able to recreate this look but with tops and skirts. I realize this means I'll have to learn to belt. Where on earth to start? I haven't tucked in a top since I was about 10.

Ohh, tucked pants are still mine enemy, but I've had good luck with skirts. Except I am too squishy for belts to look very good on me; still don't have the knack for them. I generally wear high-waisted skirts so the tucking looks nicer (hits me in the spot where I can pretend I am not lumpy, heh.) Aside from eShakti and the Canadian site Rickis, I don't have many dress sites to rep for you, though..

just aim to recreate the blousey 90s! i miss my old button up paisley shirts. we used to call them heyday shirts

http://www.progarchives.com/progressive_rock_discography_covers/811/cover_123181592009.jpg

also i think laurel said somewhere that ll bean or one of those otherwise outdoorsy/stodgy retailers has good tailored skirts for work?

Oh, she did! Land's End if I recall?

right! they were nice skirts, if a little pricey iirc?

oh, nice recommendation - there are some nice a-line skirts on there. But they sit on the hips... I think I will have to scour many sites.

this skirt is pink but i think it's what you're looking for? http://shopruche.com/pink-lady-button-up-skirt.html#NP=640e3ad33a463382b0a4e701c88fa961
most of my high waisted skirts are vintage so i have no idea where to buy them new.

Yes!! The pink wouldn't work for me but at least such skirts are out there somewhere - thanks. I should definitely try for vintage as well.

Bit worried I will feel claustrophobic with anything pressing on my stomach, but I can but try.

I have the skirt in denim!

Love that Ruche website, La Lechera!!!!

I found some awesome dresses today.

Hello my pretty, you will be mine:

http://images.bloomingdales.com/is/image/BLM/products/0/optimized/1262570_fpx.tif?wid=325&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=sharp2&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

You too baby:

http://images.bloomingdales.com/is/image/BLM/products/7/optimized/1266577_fpx.tif?wid=460&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

And perhaps you too:

http://images.bloomingdales.com/is/image/BLM/products/5/optimized/1272255_fpx.tif?wid=460&qlt=90,0&layer=comp&op_sharpen=0&resMode=bicub&op_usm=0.7,1.0,0.5,0&fmt=jpeg

those are great, love the first one especially. Where from?

They're all from some special color block collection at Bloomingdales. I really really love the 1st and 2nd but need to wait for them to go on sale, I think.

Coveting the first pretty badly!

kind of in love with this target dress:

http://media1.onsugar.com/files/2012/01/02/2/166/1668379/7254f38f9959445d_jason-wu-target-16.preview/i/Jason-Wu-Target.jpg

also want the pink wedges in e's third pic!

I *LOVE* Target for dresses!

good dress.

Ooh that's from the Jason Wu for Target line, right? I love it.

i bought a dress yesterday in tj maxx, without even trying it on! i am wearing it today. i haven't worn a dress in months! it is nice. also: tights!

Anthropologie has these cute linen jumpers:

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=24181083&color=008&catId=THERES_ALSO&navAction=jump

http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=24047391&parentid=QUICKSHOP&navAction=jump#BVRRWidgetID

But just a bit tooo pricey for me. Makes me wish I had my sewing machine and could whip up something for myself like this. Then again, all those pin tucks would bring on a meltdown. I know myself too well. Not up to the challenge, but wiling to do hard labor for a week, just pay me with these two dresses.

Shabby Apple wrote me back!! Their spokes-writer says they don't donate to any pro-life causes, that almost all their giving is to a company called Unitus, who apparently make micro-loans to women in developing countries. Occasionally, she writes, they might donate to Make-A-Wish "or those supporting research for breast cancer and other related causes," but normally those latter donations would be in the form of free merchandise that can be sold or awarded as part of fund-raising.

SO...LET THE WANTING COMMENCE.

a+

So while you're on vacation, you know how you have to keep your passport beside you or you will spontaneously combust or something? I have one of those fabric PP holders with a strap that you can put around your neck and slip under your shirt. Always seemed a little flimsy. I like wearing dresses, obviously, and the humidity in Cuba (amazing, btw!) put me in a dangerous position to have inner-thigh friction. So the day we went on a walking tour of Havana, I busted out a similar pair of Spanx to this (http://www.spanx.com/product/index.jsp?productId=10918464&cp=2992553.11308615&parentPage=family) and it kept my thighs from hurting AND cemented my flimsy passport holder into place. A++, would travel in again! I just wish the top was cut slightly differently as I find the strap sometimes shows on the side of my arm holes.

were the spanx not super hot though in that humidity?
i have a spanx-like camisole thing that i bought a few years ago when fleshier and have hardly ever worn it bc it is v warm. and tight. i do not own any spanx but i think about it sometimes.

nah, after the first day my body got adjusted to the humidity - but I was worried my thighs might chafe ;) It was a pretty light dress, so I was feeling pretty great! The camisole I linked to is pretty lightweight, similar to a bathing suit imo. But I might just be used to it - I wear it a lot under dresses.

I wear spanx as an anti-chafing measure all the time.

Unless it's cool enough for tights or leggings.

ATTENTION SHABBY APPLE WANTING PEOPLE:

If you use this code http://www.push44.com/1b7skb1u to get to Shabby Apple you will get 15% off! :)

I will have one of everything please?

Yep. I've been on the site just browsing for at least 20 mins.

haha me too!

lol so the email I got back was like "OMG I'M SO GLAD YOU CARE ABOUT THIS ISSUE" and gave me the distinct feeling that the respondent shared my/our concerns? I am now feeling v warm and friendly toward them. Or at least toward her.

I told her that "a bunch of people from the internet" would be very glad of their stance on charitable giving.

...but if they are LDS, wouldn't still 10% of their earnings go to their anti-choice, anti-gay church?

This dress is currently on its way to me!

http://images.asos.com/inv/media/3/7/6/6/1726673/black/image1xl.jpg

I'm not actually sure whether they are LDS or not! Do we know for sure? I know they're highly recommended for both dresses & swimwear among LDS women but it's supposed to be because of their "modest dress" aesthetic, which given the hourglass shape of most of the SA offerings is p hilarious.

I just saw that they gave to "charitable causes" and Jenny pointed out that could easily include some groups we wouldn't want to support, hence my email.

mandee that dress is hot!

FWIW my mom (source) confirms Shabby Apple is owned/run by Mormons. Not a dealbreaker for me but YMMV. Their dresses are fabulous & I wish I had some money to throw at them.

Also just got this in pink from ASOS... on sale. Ugh, so cute!!!!

http://images.asos.com/inv/media/5/9/8/8/1878895/grey/image1xl.jpg

I just got this cuuute teal & gold dress in a consignment shop, with the tags still on, for $23! It's over the knee and feels more grown-up than my other dresses. The only thing is it has a zip up the side which is a bit unnecessary as it's stretchy and I can put it on over my head without it, but it causes the side of the dress to kind of pop out in a weird shape sometimes (I have another dress that does this and it's annoying) so I'm wondering if I can get the zip taken out and just sewn up?

ooooh! that sounds delightful. i love teal and gold.

Kinder, I took a dress like that to a tailor who took the zipper right out and it looked great, worked fine. I maybe could have done it myself but it was stretchy lace over stretchy red material underneath. The lace and stretchiness intimidated me and I didn't want to wreck it. It cost me $18.

Yeah, I think I'll do that. Thanks!

I really love this dress
http://us.asos.com/ASOS/ASOS-Midi-Dress-In-Watercolour-Print/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1956859
but the back is un-bra-friendly and the length would stumpify unless I wore heels so it's probably a no :(

That is a pretty dress...I'd go bra-less. However viscose isn't like a good cotton or even rayon. I am a 36-38c but have gone bra-less with thick cotton and linen dresses with open or low cut backs.

Spent some time on that website, lots of cute dresses!