17 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.
Sources:
- Dress: Target
- Top: Anna Sui for Target
- Belt: Old Navy
- Tights: HUE
- Wedges: thrifted
End Notes:
Right, so I’m currently a big, big fan of this navy Target dress. Today it went back and forth easily between campus and being back on the floor with baby e. The fuller dolman sleeves, the cinched waist, and the almost tulip-shaped skirt make jersey more fashion forward and give me some pretty serious curves.
I like how dramatically the feel of the dress changes with the addition of a wide belt and a patterned red top underneath. The combination only adds to the vavavoom factor while adding a little bit of a retro feel. And actually, the elastic-back gray belt serves a practical purpose: keeping the blouse beneath snug to the body and bunch-free.
17 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.
Like many jersey dresses, this one has an attached tie, which can be both a help and a hindrance, depending on how you’re trying to style a given look. We’ve all become relatively adept at wrapping attached ties around a cardigan to avoid unwanted bumps, but sometimes I find that I want more definition — either in color or texture or width — than a dress’s attached belt can provide.
Wide elastic-back belts like this one and my old standby wide brown belt are perfect for covering up attached dress belts. I wrapped the jersey tie around back then brought them to the front and tied a simple knot. I didn’t double knot as I would usually in order to sidestep a protruding and unsightly lump. While a single knot wouldn’t usually provide enough holding power, the stretchy elastic of the belt keeps everything together. As an added bonus, the width of the belt actually let me move the visual waist of the dress down just a little bit further, closer to my natural waist (yup, long torso strikes again).
Unrelatedly, in the time it’s taken me to type this post, baby E. has unloaded a shelf of books on 19th century French fashion, art, and imperialism, unpacked his box of toys, pulled up on the bottom step, and taken down a basket of cloth napkins. Good thing this dress has a lot of ease, allowing me to swoop in, super hero-like, at key moments.
17 March 2010, originally uploaded by academichic.
Lovely! I really need more belts in my closet, especially a wide one like yours. I’ve actually resorted to “borrowing” some of my mom’s vintage belts! I guess I unintentionally participated in this week’s challenge! Any chance you’ll be doing a bibliography like scarf month?
Here is my layered belt look: http://lizzypunch.blogspot.com/2010/03/avatar.html
I’m in love with this combination! I wonder if it’s my shorter torso that keeps wide belts from staying in place without loops. At any rate, the layers and belting are really working!
I have that gray Old Navy belt, and I’m a little obsessed with it: I have officially worn it 3 times in the last week. I love the stretchiness, and the way it can bring together an outfit. Case in point? This going-out dress I cobbled together the other evening: http://lemonality.wordpress.com/2010/03/14/makeshift-shift/
Love this dress on you!!
Stunning!! Form, color, pattern, aahhhh!
You look amazing! That dress is just gorgeous on your frame, and I’m glad to hear that it doesn’t impede your swooping abilities!
That really, really works on you- I love how you can create curves!
this is such a lovely outfit, and you look gorgeous!
I have been looking for a double buckle belt for AGES. Everyone who wears one, you included, looks great with it :)
I love this outfit! I had a semi-related question – wondering if you are still breastfeeding, & how you are managing to fit that into your wardrobe. I was surprised by how much breastfeeding limited my outfit choices. (I am actually still breastfeeding, but down to once or twice a day at home, so I wear unsuitable dresses & pull them all the way up for access!)
I love this look. I am usually hesitant to layer tops under dresses but you might have just challenged and inspired me again. Also, love the double buckle belt….i need to find me one of those.
Brilliant! I’d never have thought to do this, but love how the jersey ties peek out from beneath the big belt.
Amen to the uses of a great jersey dress.
Super cute! I love it!
I love that dress, do you have a link/brand name so I can find it?
Amazing! I love the bright color peeking out!
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