Thrifting Queen

Black & white with flats

September 10, 2013

A dress with flats??? Me??? I used to feel frumpy in flats but somewhere along the YLF road, I got over that.

So today I've paired my black sheath dress with my cream/black quilted flats. I topped the dress with my black/white striped knit blazer and added my cobalt/cream quilted handbag for a pop of colour and more texture. Jewelry is my silver wedding band and a vintage grey/silver enamel bangle. Oh yes...and a swipe of red lipstick!

Do the flats work here? Do I look stumpy? How does it all work together to your eye? As always, all comments suggestions welcome.

Jacket: Winners
Dress: Banana Republic
Shoes: Shelly London (thrifted)
Handbag: Danier Leather
Bangle: vintage

Now a quick fit question - as you can in pictures 5 and 6, this sheath dress is now getting too big. I find from underneath the bust down to now be too wide making the skirt almost bell shaped and the dress now gapes under the arm around the side of the bust (how cruel is THAT to lose weight THERE?). In pic #8 I'm showing if the excess fabric were to be removed on the bottom portion of the dress and in pic #9 if Wonder Woman were to put in two tucks beside the bust. Worth doing?

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Posted in the What I Wore category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

26 Comments

  • rute replied 10 years ago

    I love dresses and flats! You look amazing!

  • replied 10 years ago

    You are looking amazing, Shannon! I think the alterations are worth doing. You need a black sheath dress in your wardrobe, and that will get you through until you can replace it with another down the road.

  • Jaime replied 10 years ago

    Fantastic outfit and it is definitely worth altering this dress!

  • Suz replied 10 years ago

    Adorable, Shannon! And, may I just say, your hair is also looking great. I am especially noticing this since I got an inexplicably bad cut last time and it is driving me insane!!!

  • Beth Ann replied 10 years ago

    These flats are wonderful, and you don't look at all stumpy.  I think sometimes we use heels to tweak poor proportions in our clothing.  These proportions are fab, so it all works.

    As for altering, I think it's worth it, and you have a very experienced sewist to do the work.

    Brava!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    So alter the dress I will - although I may get an estimate from Wonder Woman first in case the alterations cost not much less than a new sheath dress.

    Suz - a bad cut??? Oh no!!! I hate that. What happened?

  • donnat replied 10 years ago

    I would say have wonder woman do her magic on that dress. That dress is worth keeping.
    You most definitely do NOT look stumpy.

  • Inge replied 10 years ago

    Oh Shannon, you do not look the least bit stumpy. In fact, I love this flats + dress combo on you!! You have such shapely legs and I always think you rock all types of footwear.
    The striped blazer is so fun, also love how both colours are repeated in your shoes. Proportions work really well to my eye too.
    Another vote for altering if the cost is reasonable.

  • AviaMariah replied 10 years ago

    Not stumpy at all!  Yay for shorties wearing flats!!

  • Angie replied 10 years ago

    So fun to see you post your outfits again, Shannon. I have missed them.

    NOT STUMPY. I vote 11 out of 10 for this outfit. Modern with the flats. Why not.

    Thumbs up on the frock alteration.

  • Thistle replied 10 years ago

    Love this outift. Graphical, modern and oh so fab with flats. YLF!

  • Kiwichik replied 10 years ago

    Gorgeous outfit. The sheath dress is a great shape for you so if it isn't too expensive to get it altered I think you should go ahead.

  • MsMary replied 10 years ago

    Shannon, I love this!  One of my faves on you ever!  I am skeptical about flats with dresses, but you are rocking it hard!!  And yes, the dress is definitely worth altering!

  • hedgiehog replied 10 years ago

    Shannon, you look wonderful! I used to be fearful of flats and frump as well but as you say, that has changed on the YLF path. The flats and bag are perfect completed pieces. I think the dress is a great closet staple so if the alterations aren't too much, it may be with doing until you can replace it.

  • AnnieMouse replied 10 years ago

    I love the flats with the outfit - and I echo the cheering on of altering the dress to fit. You look great! (And you have a gorgeous head of hair)

  • Vickie KY replied 10 years ago

    Congratulations on the weight loss. You look so nice. I agree with everyone else and think it would be worth having it altered.

    Vickie

  • catgirl replied 10 years ago

    TOTALLY LOVE.  I want to loan you my striped Brahmin bag...

  • Runcarla replied 10 years ago

    Shannon, you are glowing! Classy classic outfit. The shoes are to die for. I can't believe someone could let them go for you to find.

  • rae replied 10 years ago

    Fab flats! The creamy color works as a nude and keeps those stems lookin' long! 

    And wow, you just keep getting slimmer. I don't know how much it would cost to do the tucks on the dress, but it may be a good idea if you think it'll get you through another season without buying a new dress. If you think even that will be too big in a couple months, then maybe wear other dresses and get a new black dress once your ideal size is reached. :)

  • DonnaF replied 10 years ago

    Shannon;
    Not to be a spanner, but. . .okay, well yes to be a spanner.  Please check your dress again from ALL angles including the back.  I have a feeling that you have lost so much weight that the backside may be too big as well such that a couple of tucks in front won't be sufficient.  Your mental image of your size may not have yet caught up with your current smallness!

    And yes, you look great in this, and your beautiful trim ankles and shapely legs keep you from looking squat in flats.  Since the dress is black and hard to see, your jacket and smile kept me from noticing that your dress is a little too big for you.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 10 years ago

    Wow! I'm rather overwhelmed by all your love for this outfit :) Thank you so much.

    It's funny how our tastes change isn't it? Pre YLF I wouldn't have been caught dead wearing flats with a dress and if I did, I wouldn't have felt good in them. But today, I was zipping about the hospital feeling quite snappy and with happy feet too!

    Una - how about a "time share" arrangement with the Brahmin? I could rent it...lol!

    DonnaF - I fear you are correct. When I got home from work and took off the jacket, I examined myself in the dress in my full length mirror from all sides. It is indeed too big all over. I think it would be a fair bit of work to bring the dress to a perfect fit. Before proceeding with alterations, I am going to try on a black sheath at Cleo Petite that also happens to be on sale for a wonderful price. It doesn't have the v-neck (which is my preferred neckline) but it's a classic shape and at the price, would work well for this winter until I reach my goal weight and stabilize.

    Thanks again for chiming in!

    Oh and Angie - I missed you too :)

  • Day Vies replied 10 years ago

    Yes the alterations are worth it, you won't feel self-conscious taking off your jacket. I have to have that done on almost all of my dresses unless I bought them in the petite section.

    Yes the flats are completely appropriate -- because they're refined and have shape to them. I've been feeling the same way about flats lately so long as they're refined and or pointed toed.

  • FlorenceFearne replied 10 years ago

    I love the jacket, and the flats, but I was thinking about how they really are the stars here, and unless there's something about this dress that makes it extraordinary, I'd say let it go. Why invest more in a piece you could just as easily replace? 

    You're so cute in flats. My best friend has similar tiny ankles and shapely calves, and I'm so jealous because I always wished I could look like Katrina Van Tassel, too! (pic#1, for those who haven't seen the animated Sleepy Hollow.) Proof the grass is always greener, I guess. 

    Totally empathize about the weight loss - I lost 25 lbs a few years ago. Let's just say that before I lost weight, I wasn't able to buy all my bras in the juniors section like I do now.  :(   If it helps, you still look gorgeous. 

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  • JulieJohn replied 10 years ago

    Do you look stumpy? NO. You look freakin' fantastic!

  • Lyn D. replied 10 years ago

    Your striped jacket looks great with the dress Shannon, and the shoes, with the pointed toe makes for not stumpy at all!

  • replied 10 years ago

    You look fab in the whole outfit Shannon :) I can see the fit problems with your dress though. I seems you need to way up the pros and cons of whether to have it altered or to upgrade. You would certainly get lots of wear out of a new black dress.

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I started playing dress up when I was 4 years old and haven't stopped since! My income doesn't match my tastes so it's all about figuring out how to thrift my way to a fashionable life while tossing in a few delectable items.