Thursday’s TPS Report: Sheer Jersey Necklace Dress

33 Comments

1. Illusion netting is NEVER appropriate for work!

2. I can’t get to the larger picture, but it looks like a very nice “go-to” dress … Dress up or down for different occasions. Looks like a nice find.

3. I like the neckline and the long sleeves. Depending on how clingy this is, I think it would be fine to wear this to work sans cardigan. It’s nice to be able to wear a dress once in a while without any accompanying cover up.

   As an aside, can someone recommend a hair dye to cover up grey that is relatively safe and natural? I am using Naturtint, which I thought was pretty good since it doesn’t have ammonia, but there is a website called Skin Deep (a consumer watchdog site) that says that that brand could lead to cancer. I was also considering Clairol Root Touch Up since my grey is only in the front of my hair, but that brand was rated even worse than Naturtint in terms of safety.

   I’m in my early 30s and feel too young to go grey! I would appreciate any recommendations. Thanks ladies.

   1. I don’t think any hair dye except henna is natural, but Aveda might be close. If you want a natural-looking result, having it done professionally is really the way to go.

      1. Actually, despite all of Aveda’s “botanical” marketing, their salon products, especially those used in the coloring process, are extraordinarily harsh.

   2. If you can get hold of J. F. Lazartigue’s Colouring Emulsion for Grey Hair, you might check it out. It comes in several natural-looking shades; it’s transparent and so leaves the base color intact; it has neither ammonia nor peroxide, and it’s made in France, where the standards are much stricter against parabens . Also, I’ve read (from Susan Lark’s mailings, I believe) that it’s important to drink water abundantly during any coloring process, since the bladder is the main target for whatever carcinogens may be present in the product.

      1. Thanks for the feedback, ladies. I’ll look into the J.F. brand.

4. Love it. Ordering now.

5. I love cowl necks! It does look a little sheer/sexy in the leg area though. I wonder how clingy the fit is. Great price.

6. Wonder how “sheer” it is… Jersey is tough to buy online if you’re not familiar with the line. Can be really thin, flimsy, and cheap-poly if not well-made…

   1. worried the thin jersey would show up every lump and bump!

7. I think the “jet beading” at the neckline makes this look too dressy for daytime.

   1. Yeah, I think it’s that one little detail that makes it seem like more of a LBD than a work dress to me, but it’s really cute.

8. It looks cute in the picture. I probably wouldn’t wear a cardigan with it since it’s already long-sleeved, although some sort of bright and/or patterned one would make it more interesting.

9. RIP Alexander McQueen!!!

   1. I was so sad to hear that.

10. I agree with lawyer. Anything with “sheer” in the description is a no-go for work but I do love it and would totally wear out to dinner, etc. in the evenings.

11. The words “sheer” and “illusion” worry me for work. Also, there are so many washable clothes on the market now – I always think thrice before buying and article of clothing that requires dry cleaning, which is very expensive and environmentally questionable. The cost of dry cleanings must be added to the price of the clothing. By he dress is very pretty. Anne Klein used to be the gold standard of quality – but I wonder is this still the case? Also, in this part of the country, although winters are quite cold, I do not see women wearing cardigans over dresses to work. Michelle Obama is wearing a lot of cardigans and perhaps that is influencing people, but I just cannot see it. Cardigan with a skirt or pants, yes.

    1. @ Anne Vohl (or others): Could you suggest some sources/ brands of washable work-appropriate clothing? I have been befuddled by the dry-cleaning problem. My environmentalist heart says NO, but all the nice for work clothing I can find says YES. I hate the cost and the toxins. It would be great to know where to turn, besides the usual BR/ AT/ JCrew/ Nordstrom that have mostly “dry clean only” woolens and silks. (I do handwash my sweaters, of course, by dresses, jackets and pants end up at the cleaners.)

       1. Be on the lookout for eco dry cleaners. We have one in Portland that even picks up and delivers to the office. The services are slightly more expensive, but not outrageous.

       2. Eddie Bauer and Lands End both offer washable wool suits.

    2. Cardigans are quite popular in FL because it’s usually cold inside or buildings will vary dramatically in temperature from one area to another. When it’s 80+ degrees outside, it’s nice to have something sleeveless or short sleeved to wear out to lunch but a cute cardigan to wear inside the office in case you get chilly.

12. Is anyone else bothered by the photography of black dresses that doesn’t let you see the details? I went to the website and can’t get any sense from the photograph of what the edging and insert on the dress actually look like. This is often a problem with black dresses on the web and can keep me from buying something that I’m otherwise interested in.

    1. Yes! I always try to view the item in another color to get an idea for the texture and other details. I really like this dress though. I would definitely wear it to work.

    2. Mamie: thank you. Yes. Infuriating.

13. The sizing according to the fit guide looks like it runs large. Can anyone compare AK sizing to Banana Republic or Ann Taylor sizing?

    1. My 1-2 AK items fit very close to Ann Taylor, in my experience. I’m a size or two smaller in Ann Taylor than Banana.

       1. Thanks!

14. you can never go wrong with jersey dresses. I have several to wear to weddings, parties, work, shopping, dancing…they are so versatile. Great recommendation C!

15. ugh, why do keep coming back to this post on this dress? i know it’s sheer, thin, and maybe wrong on a number of levels, but I can’t get it out my stinking head… gonna pull the trigger, i think. ahhh. (airy teenage voice…). LOL.

16. I bought this dress and am terribly disappointed — the material is cheap, flimsy, shiny, and rather see-through. I could not get the cowl neck to drape nicely because the beading was pulling it in strange directions. It was also very form-fitting and not something I would ever wear to work. Back it goes!

17. I also bought this, and am debating whether to return it. It is not work appropriate – the material is too shiny and the beading makes it a bit too dressy for work. It is flattering on though (it is form fitting), so although it’s not as versatile as I had hoped, I may keep it.

    As far as Anne Klein sizing, I hadn’t bought AK in a long while, so I went with my Ann Taylor size (6) and while this dress worked in a size 6, I also bought a couple of the AK suits that were on sale and they just hung off me – definitely should have gone for a 4 (which I rarely wear.)

18. This dress does look a little clingy and sexy, at least for my conservative workplace. It seems more like an appropriate choice for a dinner out or something along those lines. For a similar idea of a dress, check out this LBD-based outfit, which while it may not be work appropriate, it is definitely good for a night out when you want to look a bit busniess-y.

    http://www.what2wearwhere.com/blog/post/2010/02/17/What-to-Wear-American-Cancer-Society-Luncheon.aspx

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