Styles come and go. Sometimes they are good, and sometimes they are horrendous. A common example that I have gotten snared in is the midi floral dress. They were/are everywhere. Who doesn’t love a little floral, feminine print in our favorite color such as pink, blue or purple? As a Carmel Wardrobe Stylist, I have bought these. But I am always sorry.
Carmel Wardrobe Stylist Best Practices for Dresses
Midi dresses violate one of the most important rules I give my clients and try to follow myself. Never put a line at the widest part of your shape. This could be a heavy part of your legs such as the calf or thigh, your hips, or your waist. Wear a garment that hits above or below this part of your shape. Midi dresses, more than not, always fall at the heaviest part of your leg — the calves. That is where they fall on me. Here is an example of a midi dress for women or teens that is long and hits at the wrong spot.
To me, it also looks like a dress we’d put on a young girl. And it would be cute on her. On grown women, I don’t think it is that flattering. For me, the fullness in the waist, where I carry weight now, makes me look heavier. The overall length of the dress makes me look short. Now if some of the tiers were removed and hit right at the knee, this dress might work better. Add a denim jacket and it looks much more chic and put together. You can also wear a wedge heel or sandal.
Many women with daughters are trapped into buying the little girl dress. Even if they are thin, they want to look younger like their daughters. Don’t get caught up in that trap, ladies! Dress for the sophisticated woman you are today!
What do you wear instead?
Think structured fitted dresses instead of dresses with volume. What about a fitted shirt dress or A-line dress in a flattering solid color or geometric print? Here are some examples: All dresses are from Von Maur here in Indianapolis. Notice most of them hit about at the knee, and if they are midi, they are more solid than patterned dresses and hit at a flattering place.
Of all of these dresses, I particularly like the first one, teal a-line, and the last ruffled one in plaid. You could add a belt to all of them–particularly the third navy shirt dress. It needs a belt! But I like adding belts because it gives you a feminine shape. We all need that, do we not?
Notice these dresses would never be mistaken for little girl dresses, yet they are most flattering. I plan on buying the teal dress because it is one of my best colors, the shape flatters me, and the dress stops at the knee.
Get Help Identifying Dresses with Carmel Wardrobe Stylist Support
Need to add some sophisticated ladies dresses to your wardrobe? Reach out to me for Carmel Wardrobe Stylist help at beth@bethdivinestyle.com.
Keep it sassy, Indy.
Beth Divine, MA, AICI-CIC, Personal Image Consultant
