Thrifting Queen

WIW: A Dress for a Hot Day

June 5, 2012

It's going to be quite hot here today so an easy, breezy dress was the ticket. I wear this dress year round - with tights, boots and blazer for fall/winter and on its own for warmer months. It's a multi coloured (black/white/teal/purple/blue) abstract print, wrap dress with a scalloped hem in front. It's one of the few wrap dresses that provides good coverage for me and actually "stays put". Instead of the skinny black belt it came with, today I decided to use a wider purple leather belt and am wearing my chrome with white face watch and my black/white handbag to pick up the white in the dress. I'm wearing simple black sandals and am ready for the day.

Dresses are definitely my favourite clothing item and are always my FFBO. As always, all comments/suggestions welcome.

Dress: Attitude by Jay Manuel
Sandals: Clarks
Handbag: Danier Leather (thrifted)
Watch: thrifted

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.

24 Comments

  • cheryle (Dianthus) replied 11 years ago

    Nice dress Shannon. I think it is a great length and cut for you and it is a bonus that the cross-over neckline stays in place.

    Our weather has sure shifted quickly. For some inane reason, I feel the need to go at least a few days without the heat or a/c on so it was too hot in the house to sleep well last night.

  • Deborah replied 11 years ago

    Lovely dress and this looks really good on you. I particularly like these shoes with this dress. This is a perfect FFBO.

  • ramya replied 11 years ago

    Simple and Elegant!!!

  • sarah replied 11 years ago

    You look stylish and elegant, Shannon. I can see why dresses are your fall-back. You look great in them.

  • harmonica replied 11 years ago

    Lovely dress and fits perfect! I envy all your fab bags! I like the broader belt because I think it creates more waist than a skinny belt would. Am I right?

    How would you feel about adding a chunky necklace or a graphic or dotted printed scarf? I'm thinking of a smaller scarf around your neck, a bit 1950's style. Or even a scarf knotted to your bag?

  • Meredith1953 replied 11 years ago

    Shannon I love the dress on you! Very simple but so flattering. I would love to see it styled as do for winter if you point me to a pic. I need inspiration fo winterizing soft dresses like this one!

  • Astrid replied 11 years ago

    You look so chic! Stylish and elegant. I love that dress on you! I can see it looking fantastic in winter too, like you mentioned.

  • ManidipaM replied 11 years ago

    Beautiful! Chic, simple, sophisticated, very modern while timeless classic --- something about this outfit and you hair today is making me think 'Jamie Lee Curtis', but not sure why (incompletely triggered memory)!

  • Suz replied 11 years ago

    You look stylish, professional, and elegant, Shannon. No wonder you love dresses. They love you!

    So what about this one makes the style work, do you think? I'm becoming very curious about this. Sometimes I think we rule out particular styles (because they usually don't work well on our body type) but it really pays to try on again and again, because now and then we'll be surprised to find a version that works.

    I'm starting to rule out "Grecian" looking dresses (esp. those with cap sleeves and Vs in front) as, for different reasons than Jonesy, I don't think they flatter me. But I don't want to get too rigid about this because one day I might get lucky as you did with this wrap!

  • Kirti replied 11 years ago

    Perfect! I wish I could find dresses like these that are one piece wonders!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Dianthus - I hear you about the A/C. I ended up turning ours on last night but it's always with a bit of regret. We wait all cold long winter to open our windows and breathe "real" air and then we end up shutting the windows and turning on A/C. It was pretty darned hot though.

    Meredith - I've added a picture of the dress in cooler weather with sheer hose, fishbow shoes and my purple leather jacket, as an example.

    Suz - I have tried on umpteen different wrap dresses and they are supposed to be universally flattering but I have not found that to be the case with me. They either expose way too much cleavage requiring significant under garments (making them too hot for our warm summers) or the bottom exposes way too much leg when walking or sitting. But this one is cut a little different. The dress tied inside first and the ties are fairly high up on my waist therefore making the cleavage issue much easier to deal with it. The way the front hem scallops I find doesn't accentuate my apple belly which a number of wrap dresses do. Once you tie the inside ties and bring the front of the dress over, it snaps shut very securely. As well there is a bit of a shawl collar affect at the top which again provides addition cleavage coverage. I do wear a thin black cami under the dress for work but have gone without the cami for evening out and not feel too exposed at all. I hope that gives some explanation as to why this wrap dress has worked for me when many have not - I'm kicking myself that I didn't also buy it in the black version when it was available.

    Harmonica - I like the suggestion of a chunky necklace but find once the heat hits, I wear less of that type of jewelry.

    Thanks Deborah, ramrrr, Sarah and Kirti!

    1
  • celia replied 11 years ago

    That is a fierce dress.Love it.

  • christieanne replied 11 years ago

    Looks perfect for the day! I wither and melt on days like that so this is a good reminder of keeping things simple to beat the heat.

  • Angie replied 11 years ago

    A 10!

    I just love you in a frock.

  • Beth Ann replied 11 years ago

    So versatile and so chic! You look ready for heat, or anything else the world throws at you today. Love the way you can look both confident and feminine at the same time!

  • lyn* replied 11 years ago

    I love this wrap dress on you! I just stayed up really late and cranked open the windows (no AC at my parents'); also have the same problems with wrap dresses. Universally flattering my foot!

    :p

  • rae replied 11 years ago

    I always love seeing this dress - how fun that it works for summer, too!

  • Jonesy replied 11 years ago

    This is a really awesome dress and it looks fab on you! Such a winner--love!

  • Reneeb replied 11 years ago

    Beautiful dress you look so chic and good lenght.

  • Transcona Shannon replied 11 years ago

    Angie - I love that you call it a frock instead of a dress! I was thinking about why I love dresses above all other items of clothing and have decided it's not only because I find it easy but because it gives short/wide me a column of colour (of a sort) and therefore gives me some height and helps to camoflauge wobbly bits. I find sometimes that a skirt and top or trousers and a top make me feel cut in half.

    I would love to find another dress this comfortable and versatile.

    Thanks for chiming in Celia, Christieanne, Beth Ann, lyn, Rae, Jonesy and Reneeb!

  • Kiwichik replied 11 years ago

    I really like the abstract print - great look on you.

  • harmonica replied 11 years ago

    of course, I forgot about the heat... :-S closest heat around here is in the hot water tank or in the oven

  • catgirl replied 11 years ago

    Very nice! I wish I could wear dresses like you do!

  • Aida replied 11 years ago

    Lovely! I really like the mini-echo of the purse with the watch, very clever extra bit of white. And those sandals are fab with the 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.