I’m aware that spring is coming and the time is now for flirty florals and peaches and all that crap… But I have an emergency on my hands: My LBD is totally gross.
It honestly might as well be covered in sludge and ripped into shreds. The material (polyester, I know) is eager to absorb every textural stain it can possibly dig up, and the seaming around the bust (admittedly put under a decent amount of stress – ahem) is starting to fray and pucker… I originally bought the dress for an audition at Teatro Zinzanni (that I totally got cheated out of, by the way) and it’s been almost two years – it’s time for a new one.
I’ve decided on some criteria:
- I’d prefer natural fibers, as long as it’s not dry clean only. I wear my LBD at least once per week and can’t afford to be taking it in all the time.
- I think I want it to be sleeveless.
- The hem should be at or just above the knee.
- POCKETS. If available. I’m just a pocket freak.
- NO bubble hems. That is a good way to accidentally show your ass to someone.
- V-Neck, unless it’s a really creative cut.
- Empire waist, or some kind of waist-defining apparatus must be present.
That shouldn’t be too hard to locate… right?
Right?
Banana Republic Jersey empire-waist dress – Black
$89.99 $39.99
Okay, this is the first contender. It’s not much of one, though, really. The sleeve are long (but… they kind of look nice on this extremely plain, boring, uninteresting dress). Actually, wait… If I tip my Macbook screen to just the right angle, i can see that there’s some pleating around the neckline. Ooh.
Pass.
J. Crew Crisp Plissé-Strap Dress
$78 $49.99
Machine-washable, baby! Wide enough straps to put a bra beneath, and textural and architectural details like the straps and the tulip skirt will keep this one interesting without being “HI LOOK AT ME”-ish. Could be paired with heels or sandals (I like the way flat sandals look on the model) – there’s one one issue: It’s… not black. It’s dark grey. Do I care? Maybe not…
ELLE Pleated Dress from Kohl’s
$50 $34.99
The frilliness of the collar might limit this dress’s’s’s versatility a little bit, but I like the cut, and the light, summery feel. I just hope it would be long enough.
Back-zip Sweater Dress
$98 $44.99
I don’t really “get” why this need to have a back-zipper… But I don’t really have to. The fact is this is a long-sleeved sweater dress that I’d be buying for summer. The problem is… I’m really attracted to it (in a platonic way) and would like to learn more. Is it worth it? It’s on major sale from Banana Republic, which is quality, but who knows…
Women: Silk Ruffle Dress
$130 $84.99
This is essentially… a good basic, black dress. But that’s it – it’s good. It’s versatile, and the ruffles are cute, but I could take it or leave it. (It’s also “expensive” in the context of this post.)
So confusing! Which dress do you think I should pick?
xoxo.
