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Our daily TPS reports suggest one piece of work-appropriate attire in a range of prices.
This strikes us as a lovely dress — in a bold color. We'd probably mute this for everyday office wear — a tweedy khaki-colored blazer, or a cable-knit gray sweater — we think we'd want to add texture as well as a more mild color. For more important events when you want to be noticed, though, we'd gussy it up with black or white accents, to emphasize the crisp, sharp color. It's on sale at Bloomingdale's — was $395, now $237 (sizes 6, 8, 10 only). Pink Tartan New Vogue Dress
Shayna
Pretty dress (I’m not a red fan, but there’s something so cheerful about this dress that I can’t help myself ;-) ) –
Do you think the gathering at the stomach would be flattering or a problem for those of us with slightly less than flat stomachs? Because I’ve seen the style in a few places and am curious…
MelD
I think it would work well since there’s already a little extra fabric in the pleated area that would hide the stomach. I can say that this style doesn’t tend to work well if you have a longer torso. I tried on a similar dress and it looked hideous on me, but my sister who has a short torso looked great in it! I do love this color for summer and already have a sheath dress in it.
Shayna
Interesting point – I’m 5’2″, so I’m short to begin with, but proportionately I do have a longer torso (and short legs)…
Delta Sierra
As the proprietor of a less-than-flat stomach, I think it could work. Plus, the vertical effect of the gathers could visually lengthen the ‘problem area’. SNL, I hate you forever for the mom-jeans song.
AN
Love the dress and colour. Would be nice for my biz casual office but worried that it would be a bit short for me (I like dresses that hit at/below my knee).
Cess
I love this dress! The shape and color look great.
s-k-s
I think this is one of those dresses that will look great on some people and not on others – just depends on if the gathering/waist-band thingy hits you in the magic spot or not.
I like the idea of a red dress in the office on a day when I’m feeling particularly bold. I cannot, however, imagine this dress with a “kahki-tweed” blazer.
Shayna
Maybe a black cardigan? Not sure what I would match it with (but would have to have something — my office has major air conditioning in the summer!)
RKS
I also love the idea of a red dress and was really thrown off by the idea of a khaki/tweed blazer or grey cable-knit sweater. Both seem too casual and would clash with the style of the dress. I would do this with a cardigan. Black may be too stark; maybe a cream or something with a light pattern to it that the red would pick up.
Cat
Agree that black is probably too stark — I like the idea of cream, light gray (as in, J.Crew’s “pearl” color), certain chocolate browns, or navy (which I think would look great setting off the orange-y undertones).
Would probably wear “nude” shoes with any of the above combos.
Shayna
I think my problem with the suggestions was that they seemed too wintry for a spring/summer dress – but I like the idea of cream!
Louise
I immediately thought “silk tweed,” which would be a nice weight for spring. I’m picturing an off-white/khaki tweed with bits of red woven in…
MelD
I wear the dress I have in this color with a black cardigan and black/brown shoes (animal print- I know, the horror, but they’re so cute).
Shayna
Nice ‘Heart of Darkness’ reference! :-)
Ru
I really like all the outfits everyone is putting together…I just wish my office was more formal. Sigh…boringly dressed engineers…..
Amy
I love the dress and the shoes really add some personality! I’d probably save the shoes for after work though and just wear heels (or the naturalizer mary janes mentioned in a post earlier this week) to the office!
MJ
Dear Corporette,
As I am tall (and the dress is well above the knee on the model) and a Size 12, I will just fantasize and take inspiration from the last two days’ posts. Please remember that not everyone is your build!
Thanks!
Eva
I think you’re generally supposed to just take inspiration – particularly over a period as short as two days. I’ve been reading this blog for a while now and getting lots of great ideas, but I’ve never once bought an exact item featured (I have bought something from a comment though) – and I don’t see this as troubling at all. Anyone who thinks most, or even a significant percentage of items featured will be just right for her probably needs to adjust her expectations.
Shayna
Be nice – she said she was taking inspiration!
A reminder that we’re not all the same is not unwarranted in general – because a dress that looks dowdy on me at 5’2″ since it hangs past my knees can look slutty (sorry, can’t think of a nicer word) on her since it would be halfway up her thighs.
Eva
Sorry, didn’t mean it in a not-nice way. I just don’t think you’re supposed to be looking at these posts with an eye to clicking through and buying most of them. It’s largely about inspiration, which I did notice MJ said she was taking – but she said it as though that wasn’t really the point.
I’m even shorter than you are, so trust me, I understand that people come in different sizes. I think Kat does too, but I don’t expect a “petite with large hips” pick every day (or with any sort of frequency). Her picks are varied and interesting, and not all centered around her build.
Shayna
…wouldn’t it be nice if there was a petite-with-large-hips store?? ;-)
Grump
Oh, I posted a comment and it got eaten up :(
I hate the shoes but really love the dress. I have a similar one and think it would look awesome with a cream jacket, string of pearls+earrings, tan shoes and a tan bag. I think the khaki tweed jacket/cardi suggestion would spoil it.
I’ve just bought a pair of white heels and a lovely white bag to match my red dress and I can’t wait to wear that combo. Retrogasm :D
Shayna
I love white in the summer…and the term ‘retrogasm’ – awesome
Lynette
Love the dress and the color. I’m having a hard time picturing a cardigan or blazer that would complement the shape and detailing of the dress, though. I’d wear it with some “nude” patent leather slingbacks.
Glamour
How cute! Love it for summer… easy to throw a cardi over, and easy to accessorize to make your own! A silk scarf, a bold necklace, great shoes… whatever your style… What do you think?
xo
glamalert.com/glambassador
Eponine
I think you should stop. spamming. this. blog.
Ru
i totally feel you – “glamour” is driving me nuts.
s-k-s
Ditto.
Delta Sierra
Yes. The comments = obvious much? Also the witless! perkiness! gets on my nerves! xo! Jeeze.
CFM
I always start hearing the beginning of the shaina twain song, “let’s go girls!” in my head.
Also what do we think? 20 people commented before you
AN
Can’t you read, Glamour? What people think (of the dress & of you too) is out there!
Anonymous
I think I’m never, ever going to click on your link or check out your website.
RKS
BINGO.
Spamming blog == guarantee I will not click through. You have a blog. You want more traffic to it. We got that. But this isn’t the way to do it.
Legally Brunette
It’s too short for my taste and I’m not a fan of red, but this dress will look great on a lot of folks.
Thread hijack — Anyone really like Talbots skirts? I have heard stories on here about the boxy cut but some of the skirts they have in the store right now look cute. I also like the longer length (I like most of my skirts to hit me at knee length), which I have heard is the case with most skirts from Talbots.
Eponine
I’ve never had a problem with the supposedly boxy cut so I think it depends on your body shape. Talbots skirts do tend to run long – their petite pencil skirts have 21 inch inseams, versus 19 inches in most petite brands. Overall I find Talbots to be of high quality and they also have good sales in the outlet section of their website.
Cat
Unlike their tops, I love how Talbot’s skirts are cut — maybe because they’re designed with “mom” (groan) figures in mind, their pencil skirts have the perfect waist:hip ratio for this hourglass figure! They are a little longer than average.
anon2
hate Talbots skirts! (sorry Talbots, I like your tops…) I ordered & tried on several recently. I’m 5’8″ and they were all very, very long — like mid-calf or close to it. Notice where they sit on the models and remind yourself that models are like 6’something”. If I were you and close to my height, order a petite skirt and save yourself the hassle of exchanging. hope this helps :)
Legally Brunette
Thanks all. If anyone has a Talbots code and would be willing to share, please do! :) Thanks.
meg
Like their skirts, but I’ve found I have to go with the petite size (and I’m 5’5″, so not really petite) to not look like I’m playing dress-up.
Anon
I feel like I’m going to be the only voice of dissent, but I think this is a terrible dress for work – short, sleeveless, low back, and bright red. Hellooooo, date night! But not so much for the office.
Cat
cardigan fixes problems 2 + 3 and mitigates problem 4. Shortness is relative (on me this would probably hit right at the knee, perfect).
funny you say date night — I can’t remember the last time I dressed “up” (as opposed to wearing nice jeans and a top, or a less structured dress than this) to go on a date with my hubs (other than going to weddings, that is — but this isn’t really a dress for that either).
Anon
Well, I was sort of taking a shot in the dark with “date night” – my personal opinion is that this dress isn’t really appropriate for much of anything/anywhere, but I also recognize that my own skin-exposure tolerance level is much lower than most, so I was trying to think of where people COULD wear this dress where I’d think “Ok, I wouldn’t put it on, but it looks appropriate for the occasion”…that place definitely isn’t the office, tho…
But I’d love to be at a wedding where someone showed up in this dress. Wouldn’t you? :)
goirishkj
Re: date night. I’m the same way–I usually end up dressing down to go out since I’m wearing jeans and not work clothes! Every once in a while I’ll wear one of my “fun” dresses which means I’m overdressed but I get to wear something that’s not work-ish and actually looks decent on me (I HATE the way I look in jeans. I know I just need to “man” up and find a pair, but I don’t have the patience to do so.)