(no subject)

[mrissa]

I am contemplating this dress to wear to scottjames's wedding and other events thereafter (and possibly before).

The cons:
--It is more expensive than any dress I have ever bought myself.
--I don't know if it would actually fit me and would have to pay shipping to find out.
--It requires dry-cleaning.

The pros:
--It is violet. No anemic color, no mixture of colors that never belonged together, no accidental Gothwear yet again. Violet, violet, violet.
--It has a waist. Coincidentally, so do I. Further, it appears to be shaped for someone with curves without going for the "boobs on a platter" look. And while some of you may speak favorably of the boobs on a platter look, either in general or in specific, please note that I don't feel it's quite the thing for one's ex-boyfriend's wedding. (Yes, we've been friends for many years since and were friends for many years before. Still, this is not a technicality one-date former relationship but a for-real-and-serious former relationship, and I do not want to be the tacky ex-girlfriend. Somehow this is a much worse role in my mind than the tacky friend would be (although that, too, is outside the bounds of my aspirations for this event).)
--It is a "classic" line, by which I mean it is not attempting to be up-to-date and fashionable in any way, by which I mean I could theoretically wear it again and again without people thinking, "Oh, summer of 2005."
--The dry-cleaning means that I would not be the one to iron it.
--I could send it back if I didn't love it.
--It would save me many, many hours of shopping, and it would save the people around me many, many hours of my wailing. And frankly, I'm not sure where I could go besides Dayton's; I've looked several other places already. So other thoughts for apparel would be welcome if this dress seems not to be It.

Thoughts?

Comments

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

It's gorgeous, and you'll look fabulous in it. Get it!

[splash-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's lovely. I think it would suit you just right.

[skylarker.livejournal.com]

It's pretty. Mmm, violet. It has nice lines; if you can afford it and don't mind the hassle of returning it if it doesn't match expectations, it sounds like it's worth getting.

[sensational.livejournal.com]

That dress is just gorgeous and I imagine it'll be next to impossible to find something like it in stores (where there is never anything simple and gorgeous, it seems). Go for it. What's a little spent on shipping when compared to all the time spent in stores not finding what you want?

[valancy.livejournal.com]

Get it. You will never, ever regret having a truly nice dress that goes to weddings, operas, ballets, and other fun/unplanned events.

[mkhobson.livejournal.com]

That is absolutely gorgeous.

[palinade.livejournal.com]

What about these stores?

Coldwater Creek (http://www.coldwatercreek.com/asp/productlist.asp?SearchMethod=UseCriteria&deptid=1&deptlabelimage=womensapparel.gif&ProductTypes=6&Sizes=2)

Nordstrom online (http://store.nordstrom.com/category/cat_boutique-medium.asp?category=2376776~2374327~2374331~6001837)

TJ Maxx online (http://www.tjmaxx.com/catalog/thumbnail.jsp?categoryId=2306&pCategoryId=237&Ns=CATEGORY_2306)

Banana Republic online (http://www.bananarepublic.com/browse/visual_index_enhanced/visual_index_enhanced.htm?cs_catalog=BR%5FSummer2%5F3%5F2005&cs_category=2019)

Some of them might be about the same price/style, others might give you other ideas. The colors range from classic black/creams to the more trendy bright summer colors, so I'm not sure exactly what you're most likely to shy away from. Otherwise, the purple J. Peterman dress is fantastic.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I looked at Banana Republic and found a dress for mechaieh (not that she was looking...), but they tend to be cut wrong for me. And I've had some trouble with Coldwater Creek's cuts as well -- things that look flowy and fine on other people tend to look frumpy on me unless extremely well-chosen. But they're certainly worth looking at, and I didn't have the others bookmarked. Thanks.

[sraun]

That is a gorgeous dress, and I think you would look wonderful in it!

Do you have a time machine available? I wanna know how you're going to get to Dayton's to go shopping - with a time machine, you could go back to a suitable English era and get something hand-made! ;-)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I don't have to say Marshall Field's if I don't want to.

[dichroic.livejournal.com]

DIdn't know J. Peterman was still around. I'd consider buying it if I hadn't just resolved not to buy any more clothing for a while. My only issue is that, while I haven't bought from Peterman, I have from Banana Republic back when they sold through an illustrated catalog. Nothing was ever quite as graceful in the fless as in those drawings. Still, this one has simple enough lines that it's easy to envision how the real thing would look, and I think it would flatter your shape.

[gaaldine.livejournal.com]

Have you looked at Ann Taylor online?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I looked at Ann Taylor in person. They may have more stuff online. Ann Taylor stuff has a history of not quite small enough waist for me and looking bunchy and weird, so while I like their stuff, I'm a little wary of putting too much hope into it.

[gaaldine.livejournal.com]

Ann Taylor Loft online?

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

They're not cut any curvier than Ann Taylor, dear, but as I did not look at the one in Bigdale, they're probably worth checking out.

[gaaldine.livejournal.com]

I had some luck with Ann Taylor Loft for the wedding we went to last month. In its defense, the dress I found was lovely, curvy, and in acceptable shades of white, green, and yellow (it was a floral print). As you know, though I'm a wee bit tiny, I'm not exactly un-curvy and waist-less.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

It is true, you are not a linear gaaldine. Styles do vary. I will look.

You look much better in yellows than I do. I saw a perfectly lovely dress in a kind of a daisy-center yellow, but as I do not wish to give scottjames and his bride the impression that I am about to vomit on the other wedding guests and/or die, I did not even try it on.

[gaaldine.livejournal.com]

*shrug* I've surprised myself lately by finding colors that work well on me that I never imagined would. Don't know if it would be the same case with you, though. My skin color is *cough* slightly darker.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I do tend to hold things up "just to see," if I'm shopping with someone else who can give me a quick thumbs up/thumbs down. But sadly my instincts have been wrong in the opposite directions when I've tried on unusual shades for me lately. I tried on an orange dress I thought was dark enough, and it wasn't, and, oh, the horror. Ditto for one of the pale grass ones, "just in case." Zombie M'ris. Yikes.

[writingortyping.livejournal.com]

It looks delightful. And color me surprised as well that the J. Peterman catalog still exists.

A reasonably substantial silk georgette is worth paying for. It will last for years, while all of its cheaper sisters wilt like the fainting ingenue in the Edward Gorey titles for "Mystery." I have a great silk dress (which, like this one, dresses up for more fancy occasions and down for the less fancy ones) that has seen me through weddings, parties, and one fancy steeplechase attendance (with hat) since about 1999. It shows no signs of either going out of style or of wear.

Go for it.

[jenett]

I think it is a gorgeous dress, and a reasonable investment given that it's not going to suddenly look unstylish or anything silly like that. It strikes me as a very adaptable and usable dress for a variety of things.

And it is very beautiful, and this is a significant plus. (As far as sizing: any chance you could do measurements, and ask them whether they think it'd fit, or which side would fit best?)

[ellameena.livejournal.com]

I like it. From a seamstress point of view, there's no way to alter it if it doesn't fit in the bosom. Since bosoms are of many and various sizes, it's not clear whether you'll get the fit you need off the rack, and as you said you'll have to pay for shipping to find out. Waists can be let in or out, so that's fine. It's a very pretty dress and I highly approve otherwise. I'd say it was worth the, what, five dollars or so shipping to try it on.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

That dress is gorgeous. I'd go for that. How are you going to find anything so simple yet so very elegant in any store?

[pariyal.livejournal.com]

Do it!

(envy)

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

buy it.

[kirbyfest.livejournal.com]

I just ran into your post via friendsfriends, and of course had to look at the dress. It's beautiful. The reason I'm posting, though, is to say that I own a J. Peterman skirt that I've had for years and it has worn like IRON-- excellent quality. Plus, like your dress, it's a really timeless style and I get compliments on it every time I wear it. It cost me more than I could afford at the time, but it's been worth every penny.

So, I'm a random person saying you should go for it. :)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Heh. Thanks!

[wilfulcait.livejournal.com]

Stunning. Absolutely beautiful. You'll look classy.

[mkille.livejournal.com]

It's pretty in general and in specific, as others have said. As for expense, my two rules of thumb are "how much of a heart attack would I have if I spilled something on this?" and "how many hours would I have to look for something else, and what would that work out to at minimum wage?" (Cost-benefit is tricky for clothes...)

[seagrit.livejournal.com]

Oh so lovely... That's the style of dress that *I'm* always looking for. I'm a bit particular about my purples, so I'd probably see if they'd send me a swatch of the color first to make sure my computer screen isn't fooling me, before I spend that much money. But that's the kind of dress that would make you feel like a princess while you're wearing it. And such a neat description... :)

[sculpin.livejournal.com]

Well, my first thought is, "A waist! A waist! Good lord, woman, snap it up!" *grin*

It's lovely, and it looks quite versatile.

[scottjames.livejournal.com]

I'd say go for it. You'll get a lot of use out of it if it fits (and get out of a lot of shopping), and you'll only be out shipping costs if it doesn't.

[songwind.livejournal.com]

You'll look great in it, I think. :)

[ladysea.livejournal.com]

I love it. Very pretty.

Good points all around.
But I still think you should get it. =P

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of J. Peterman before, but they have the same marketing trick that BPAL does - matching a good product with a really evocative writing style. Alas, their sizes stop one size before I do.

It's a lovely dress, and very versatile

[kythiaranos.livejournal.com]

I won't offer advice, being terrible about clothes sense myself. But it is a lovely, lovely dress. (Boobs on a platter! *snerk* I'll be laughing about that one for days.)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Seriously, I have tried on many dresses that ended up looking like I was about to ask, "And may I offer you some tit? Or maybe some coffee?"

Some dresses look extremely different on different body shapes. It's strange but true.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

That one looks like it might be a very fine thing to put a Mris in.

If it doesn't work out, or if you want other options, ask elisem about places to shop for the kind of clothes you want to find. She has much arcane knowledge.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

That does come with the drawback that I would have to figure out how to describe what I want ("something that doesn't suck!"), but it may be a good idea in general. Especially as elisem has now seen me several times and may have some notions of what I wear.

[miz-hatbox.livejournal.com]

The price is seriously reasonable for a quality silk dressy dress, and as you say, it's nice and classy. and then you'll always have it for other events, with a shawl or a scarf or whatever to dress it up or down.

It's an investment in yourself. Get the dress!

[deva-fagan.livejournal.com]

It's a beautiful dress and a lovely color. I think it's definitely worth spending money on something if it's high quality and perfect, which you should be able to determine once you have it in hand. Good luck!

[(Anonymous)]

It looks very pretty, but I know I would have a hard time spending that much money on any item of clothing, so I won't push you for or against. I don't think I've ever spent that much money on a dress, including my wedding dress, so I understand the reticence.

Heathah