Dress

I needed a dress for a summer-evening office-casual indoor/outdoor Paul work event later this month, and I went out shopping one evening with my friend Morgan (we are both feeling a little oppressed by our daytime summer schedule of Children at Home), and we FOUND A DRESS and then we had a Food Court dinner and then split a dessert crepe (strawberry/cheesecake flavor with chocolate drizzle and whipped cream). It was a good evening, though I was sweaty and tired and my hair was wrecked by the end of it. Here is the dress, if you are interested:

(image from Torrid.com)

(It looks quite a bit different on me than it looks on the taller/bustier model: longer, less babydollish, more fit-and-flare. The photo of the dress on its own is more how it looks on me.)

It’s a nice thick slippery fabric, and we’ll have to see if it ends up being comfortable when I’m wearing it on what might be a very warm July evening—but what appealed to me during try-on is that it does not seem as if it needs any kind of shapewear/slip underneath; it’s high-waisted, and it coasts over the details rather than clinging to them. And it’s stretchy: I pulled it over my head and it felt good to put it on, like pulling on a stretchy comfy t-shirt, but thicker fabric than that. The style is partly casual/cute, but the seams/pleats/pattern give it a structured/tailored look as well. And if you are pear-shaped like me with narrow rounded shoulders, and if in a sleeveless and/or v-neck item you look like your grandmother going to church, the existent sleeves and non-V neckline of this dress are a total relief/delight. And Morgan had a $25 coupon she wasn’t going to use, so she gave it to me, and that was even better, though I would have gladly paid the full $68.90 for it after trying on three dozen other dresses that were thin/short/casual/formal/babydoll/v-neck/sleeveless/needed-a-cardigan-or-slip-or-shapewear-to-work. It was an utter triumph. AND IT HAS POCKETS.

23 thoughts on “Dress

  1. Sara Flaherty

    Cute dress! And the evening out sounds fun as well. Dress shopping can suck so I’m glad it was a good night.

    Reply
  2. HereWeGoAJen

    That looks perfect. I bet you are going to look fantastic and also dressed exactly appropriately for the occasion. And it sounds like a great outing with an excellent friend.

    Reply
  3. Rachel

    Super cute! I love Torrid and buy about 90% of my clothing there. I wait for sales and use haute cash when I have it, which makes it more reasonable. I’ve actually lost about 40 lbs. in the last couple years, and am getting close to no longer being able to shop there. I will be sad and lost.

    Reply
  4. Ernie

    Dress shopping can suck, but when you find the right thing then if feels so glorious. I vividly remember shopping for dresses after baby #6, who was with my Mom and I at the mall. My other kids were home and kept calling me. It was stressful! We had a few weddings to go to that summer and I needed dressy dresses that fit. We were so elated to find perfect dresses – yes PLURAL. I wish we could have gone out to celebrate with lunch, but alas – the kids at home and their constant neediness.

    I look forward to hearing about the event. Hope the dress is as comfy that night as it was in the dressing room. Yippee!

    Reply
  5. CC Donna

    You’re going to look darling in the dress! It is “Swistle” all over! I hope you have a grand time….

    Reply
    1. Anna

      Yes! Such a good feeling (though often only enjoyed in retrospect). A dress is my go to when I am unsure of the dress code (ha) for an event. And think how cute this piece would be dressed down with sneakers and a jean jacket or denim shirt. So cute!

      Reply
  6. Blythe

    That dress is lovely! I recently discovered that he magic of eshakti— a website from which one can order dresses (and presumably other clothing) and request to have necklines, sleeves, length of dress, etc altered for an additional $10 (?). Pretty amazing!

    Reply
  7. RA

    A TRIUMPH!! I was tracking all along and then waved my hands in the air when I got to the POCKETS part. It is truly the best part of a dress, second only to bra-strap-holders with snaps (if that makes any sense). Why don’t all dresses have these features? The patriarchy, I’m assuming.

    Reply
  8. juliloquy

    Beautiful! And I love the happy shopping experience. Please post a photo from your evening out wearing it!

    Reply
  9. KP

    Swistle, you buried the lede: AREA WOMAN FINDS, ACQUIRES SEMI-FORMAL DRESS WITH POCKETS.

    Well done, you! I am jealous and inspired.

    Reply
  10. Maureen

    What a pretty dress! I can see you rocking this! The nice thing is you can wear it when it is cooler, with a cute little cardigan.

    Reply

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