Wedding Pale Pink

I found a beautiful dress for a casual wedding in May that fits well, except for the length. It's a shirt dress with a jacket that has a flared satin bottom, but it is hemmed to go to the floor, although it hits too short on me. I'd like to get it hemmed just below the knee and keep the flare, wear with thin,strapped, high heeled, dress sandals, and a long necklace. It's a very pale pink color. I was thinking silver colored shoes, bag. I need advice on hem length, shoes, and jewelry. I'm middle aged, but not old yet. I'd like to look fashionable, but am a bigger sized women (18).



I love a satin shirt dress for dressy occasions.
About the hem, I agree that shortening it is your only option, however, I think that knee length, not just below, is the better choice. Also, leave yourself some time to find a back-up outfit if the shortening is a failure. Sometimes, cutting a skirt interferes with the way that the hem falls, because of loss of the weight of the cloth below. I've had this happen, so I only take these drastic measures when the item has no useful life without the major alteration. Remember that you are taking a chance. If you want to go through with it, have the tailor cut the dress (ouch!) and leave a generous hem that can be pinned, and tried with the shoes, to find the best length.

Silver shoes are too light to support the palest pink color. Try pewter, or moss green, and don't choose a shiny metallic. The shiny satin needs a matte texture for support. Also, consider a print shoe, like this:

Very Gorgeous

Daytime Straps
Multi

Don't match the bag to the shoes.
If you choose the colored shoe, try a moss green clutch. If you opt for green shoes, add a print clutch.

Green

Embellished

Try a very large bunch of twisted, short pearl ropes for the necklace, and one or two silver bangles for your wrist.

Don't overwork your hair. A few loose waves added will take the age off any style.

Enjoy!

Summer Scarves

I'm wondering what your thoughts are on at what point it becomes too late in the year to wear long scarves. Living in the south, it warms up sooner here than elsewhere, so maybe it's not a calendar cutoff, but a temperature guide?

Thanks!
Kat



It's not the length of the scarf, it's the fabric! This year, there are many summer scarves that will work in warm weather. They're not about keeping warm. Look for an open weave, a very narrow scarf, and summer colors. Crinkle fabric is great. Avoid voluminous wide scarves worn pulled out over the chest. Instead, twist the scarf for a narrow look. BTW, a crisp white shirt, white jeans or shorts, and a long, narrow summer scarf in hot pink or mimosa yellow makes a great summer outfit.

Summer Scarves

Choosing Shoes for Skirt Length

Pres, I have a question. Are flats okay with a pencil that comes
to just above the knees? What should I take into consideration in order to wear
flats with a pencil or straight skirt?
Thanks,
Min

To take into consideration:
a) The width of the skirt. A fuller, gathered skirt requires a shorter
length. Some straight line full skirts, like those on crisp
shirtdresses, especially if there is a high opening on the button
front hem to expose the leg, can support a longer skirt, and flats.

b) The length/width of the calves, as well as of the thighs. If your
thigh bone is short, and your calf is curvy, this requires a different
look than long thighs and narrow calves. If your thigh is wider, and
your calves shorter (think Ilie) then a heel will produce a tipped-up
foot to lengthen the leg line, and make you look tall.

c) The type of shoe. A very low profile flat, which exposes the entire
foot, will support a hem differently than a bootie which goes to the
ankle, or a gladiator that puts lines across the front of the foot.
Knee high boots can rescue a midcalf skirt (But a wide or gathered
midcalf skirt, plus flat boots? And a shorter wearer? No rescue.)

d) The stockings: contrasting, or matching, as well as texture (micro
fishnets versus heavy cable knit) all figure into this.

e) The event. Some occasion require heels, which connote formality,
and professional strength. A job interview is an example, as well as a
court appearance, in contrast to some regular days of back office
work.

Remember that skirts can be too short, not only too long, and
that high heels compound this error. You can rescue a short skirt,
especially a bubble hem, with the right flats.

And so, dear Min, you can see that I haven't answered your question.
You do have to put the outfit on, and see.



Min: Actually this is very helpful. I knew there wouldn't be just one
answer but what I wanted to know was what I should consider when
trying to choose the right shoes with a skirt/dress.

My instinct was that for a more casual look flats would possibly
work. I also like to use flat with shorter skirts to avoid looking
like a street-walker.

So thank you very much for your thoughts and insight. I'm going to
save your comments in a file to pull out when putting outfits
together.


More, From Siepres: Min, I think Pres described the rules best. Here's how I interpret them for my body. I will only wear flats with a skirt above the
knee. Anything below the knee, and flats just make my legs look
dumpy. Directly above the knee cap to about 2" above the knee cap,
works for both flats and heels (although I prefer the heels). 2 to 4"
above the knee (which is the shortest I'll go) is usually reserved for
flats only. Now, I *might* wear heels if the skirt is fuller or a-
line shaped because the only sexy aspect is the little bit of leg I'm
showing it. It depends on the vibe I'm going for. Flats with fuller
skirts at a shorter length can look very cute. Now, I *usually* never
wear heels with a pencil skirt of this length because then you have
the curve-hugging sexiness of the pencil + the sexiness of the legs =
too much sexiness. It can start looking like you're trying too hard
(especially because I have the curvy top half to consider too). I
think deciding on the right shoe/skirt length is definitely going to
depend not only on the individual pieces of the outfits but also your
body shape and height. Because Ilie is only 5' tall, she wear a
shorter skirt or even short shorts with heels and still look great.

Do these Shoes work for Me?

They are Here
I love the bronze. But I don't know if they would finish an outfit with anything I have, like my brown dress or my black DK jeans. I'm still at sea with shoes.
Judyanne

They would look great on you. The shape is terrific.
The length of the jeans is key (aren't they hemmed for lower heels?)

The bronze shoes would support a Brown dress, although not ideally, since they are in the Brown family themselves. However, if you finished that outfit off with another accessory well outside of the Brown family, like a Saturated (Saturated!) Turquoise necklace, scarf or bag, it'll look perfect. Also, that great Bronze will support just about anything else on earth besides Browns; is particularly smashing with B&W.

Here's a tip for picking shoes: They should be so gorgeous that they make you froth at the mouth. Then you know that you have the right ones.

Length for Maxi

As a follow up to my maxi-dress question: I found a fantastic dress, no ruffles, no large floral print, now, what IS the proper length? Right now it drags on the floor, but I can sew. I have NO plans to wear wide strap flat sandals. Thanks, I'm super excited to wear this dress.


The dress sounds perfect. It should cover most of your shoe. No ankle showing, please.

No.


Do you know why she's barefoot? Because she's too tall for that dress.

And you thought models had it easy.

The SOS Gang agrees with me:


Siepres: I think that covering at least part of the shoe is the most universally
flattering.


Halfpint:
Mine, with the perfect shoes (there's that word again, LOL) will be
the length that I wear my pants. No more than 1/2 inch from the floor
with the very tip of my shoe/toes showing in front. S is right, too
short will make me look shorter, which is not my goal with a perfect
outfit.

Joanne:
Ok, I'm relatively tall (5'7") and I wear mine like HP wears hers -
with just the tip of my shoe showing. That ankle length just looks
dumb. Even in the photos in Nordstrom, those beautiful models look
funny when their whole foot and/or ankle shows.

Ilie: As long as possible without dragging on the floor. (so you can have shoe versatility and shoe peeks out only)
nothing at the ankle or above~avoid that look at all costs, very stumping.