Thrifting Queen

K/R Calvin Klein dress and striped blazer

August 4, 2012

DS wanted to buy some clothes at Winner's today as part of his birthday gift (turns 17 tomorrow) so off we went. He chose a pair of dark wash Diesel jeans, a button up grey & black Calvin Klein shirt and a DC red & grey tee. Very nice I must say.

While there I found this Calvin Klein jersey knit long sleeve dress. We all know how hard it is to find long sleeve dresses for the colder months. I also found this black/white striped knit ruched 3/4 sleeve Ambition blazer. Both have come home with me and I would love your feedback. I wouldn't necessarily wear them together this was just the easiest way to show both items!

Dress - keep or return?
Blazer - keep or return/

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Posted in the Shopping 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.

30 Comments

  • April replied 11 years ago

    Definitely keep the dress! Wow.

    The jacket I'm going to leave to others. Not a fan of black and white stripes, so I'm not the best person to be objective about the fit.

  • Parsley replied 11 years ago

    Hmm, I'm going to take the opposite viewpoint. I'm not at all sure about the dress- the pattern placement is bothering me. I don't think it's as fab as a lot of things you already have.

    The jacket, on the other hand, I really like! I'd like to see it styled with something else, since it's making me dizzy with this dress, but I think it's a keeper!

  • kellygirl replied 11 years ago

    Love the dress. I think it looks awesome. The print is eye catching and fun. Great colors on you. I actually love the blazer. I could see it paired with your Doc's for a fun look! Both are keepers in my book!

  • Krista replied 11 years ago

    Keep both! You will be able to style both in a great way. I look forward to colder weather so that I can see you work your magic with that dress! Wowee!

  • Jem replied 11 years ago

    I love the dress, it's so pretty! I noticed that Winner's is starting to get in some nice looking fallish dresses. The jacket looks nice, too! I think I may have the same one at home, but if it's the same, yours looks like it's hanging nicer than mine. I was going to try to tack down the facing, because it keeps wanting to come out, although yours might just be a nicer one.

    Did your store have the teal jackets in? Ours had plain teal and ones with black lapel and pockets. Also, they had burgundy skirts! Ooh, I love fall clothes!

    Anyway, I say keep on both.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Jem - I have noticed a huge step up in Winner's lately. Better brands and more options in sizes. I am disappointed that they're not carrying as many petite sizes though. I didn't see the teal or black blazers - at least not yet. This striped blazer also came in a grey/black stripe - I wonder if that might be more versatile come fall/winter???

    Parsley - would you feel better about the dress with a jacket over top? I suspect I'll be wearing it a lot with either my black leather blazer or other topper, tights and boots once the really cold weather arrives.

    Interesting replies so far...

  • cinnamon fern replied 11 years ago

    Not Parsley, but I think the pattern placement on the dress would bother me even with a jacket on top. Especially from the back, the lack of matching bothers me.

  • MsMary replied 11 years ago

    I think they are both great! (But not necessarily together.) I think the random look of the pattern on the dress is fun and fresh.

  • Jamie replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, you rock dresses!! I love the colors of this one, and it looks really good with those shoes. I hesitate only slightly about the pattern on the dress, but it's probably just me. It looks like there is ruching or tucks under the bust, and the direction of the pattern from that point to the shoulder creates a Y or a V shape. This creates an illusion of width in the bust area. That's the only thing I'm not fond of, but it's really minor, and like I said, it's just me. I like it best when you push the sleeves up a bit as in #3.

    I like the jacket, too, but I'd love to see it apart from the dress to get a better idea. I think it has a lot of good potential, though!

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    I really love the dress on you! I could see it working so well with a jacket layered over it for the colder months. In general, I like the jacket, but I'm not a huge fan of the ruched sleeves (I like to be able to wear them long or scrunch them, depending on my mood :), but if you are a fan of the auto-scrunch, then I think the jacket is cute and fits you well.

  • Parsley replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, yes, maybe I'd like it better with a jacket. The colors are great on you!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Jamie - yes, there is a band of pleating under the bust approximately 4-5 inches in width. It does indeed create some width in the bust area but for me, that can sometimes work in my favour. It helps to balance out the width of my hips and also helps to give me a waist underneath my bust, if that makes any sense.

    Jonesy - I almost always scrunch my sleeves anyway so I don't mind the auto-scrunch.

  • Mo replied 11 years ago

    I love the dress on you!! Lukewarm on the blazer, but I'll admit striped blazers aren't my fave in general, so perhaps I'm too biased.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Hmmmm...the more I look at the blazer (both on me in the mirror and in the photos) the less I like it...

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    I LOVE the frock WITH the striped jacket. Keep, keep, keep!!!

    A perfect cold weather frock. Maybe shorten the sleeves a little.

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    I forgot to mention that my son's birthday is also tomorrow (he turns 14)! Will you be up late tonight baking a cake just like me :)?

    Maybe try the jacket with your BF jeans and a T or button down?

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    We posted at the same time, Jonesy. HAHAAHAH!!! It always cracks me up. I'm so simple minded.

    Happy birthday to the dear sons of YLF :)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Well Angie has spoken - that's that then! It's funny how you like the blazer and dress together Angie - I had just put them on that way 'cause I was too lazy to change out of the dress to show the blazer! You are soooo adorable with how much you love posting together!

    Jonesy - yay for our birthday boys! Baked the cake this morning as a matter of fact - triple layer chocolate with vanilla cream between the layers and vanilla icing with sliced strawberries on top. My son's favourite. He's having three of his friends sleep over so we're ordering in pizza for the boys and they're going to stay up all night playing video games and then have a midnight bonfire in the backyard - weather permitting (we have a fire pit). Then in the morning I'm making them all chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast. I truly like all his friends so should be fun. What are you up to for the celebrations?

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, the first thing I thought when I saw this dress on you is how elongating and slenderizing it is. The pattern does not bother me at all.

    I have a similar striped jacket so I vote yay!

  • qfbrenda replied 11 years ago

    I really like them both!

  • sarah replied 11 years ago

    I like them both! That dress is great on you.

  • JR replied 11 years ago

    I love the dress! And I think it looks lovely on you. I wish I could justify buying it for myself! Assuming my local Winners had it...

    The blazer I don't like at all, but please note I almost never like striped blazers period, so you're probably better off ignoring me on that point. I would rather see this dress with a plain blazer or even a denim jacket.

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    I love both! You always find the BEST dresses.

  • fern replied 11 years ago

    What Rae said ^. I think you have some kind of dress magic. Dress karma?

  • texstyle replied 11 years ago

    I really like the dress a lot - it's very flattering on you and good for fall! I think the jacket makes it more modern - even though I shy away from heavy contrast stripes for myself, looking at you in it makes me want one. Great finds.

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    My goodness you are a clever shopper! These look great. You'll get a lot of wear from both I expect.

  • Claudia replied 11 years ago

    A big fan of that dress here. Very flattering, great colors/pattern.

  • Jjsloane replied 11 years ago

    I want that dress! So fun and fluid. I also like the jacket although would prefer it shorter with this particular dress.
    Yikes I just found it on Bluefly for $49 today!
    http://www.bluefly.com/calvin-.....in_Dresses
    Wanna be dress twins Shannon?

  • Vicki replied 11 years ago

    Shannon, These colors were meant for you and I am so thrilled that you can find the most amazing things. Keep, keep, most definitely!! p.s. What a fun 24-hour birthday celebration you had for your DS. That kind of menu is right up my alley! Plus, I like the fire pit idea, too. ;)

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    So Jeanne - did you buy it? Are we dress twins?

    Vicki - we had so much fun at the party! Sometimes "unhealthy" eating can be just the ticket!

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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.