Eclectic Joy

Angie is right! (Of course)

June 21, 2014

I linked this post to Angie's blog post about wearing toppers with sleeveless dresses: Don't, because last night we went to a symphony concert.  Nearly every woman of any age had on a sundress, as it had been a hot day turning into a hot evening.  It was fun to see the fashion parade by.  But what stuck me was that those who left off a topper looked far better than those who wore one.  In fact much of the time the topper ruined the look.  I have to mention that one young lady had on a short black fit 'n flare dress with floral fashion sneakers and looked adorable.  I wish I could have whipped out my phone to take photos but it would have been noticed.  I wore my pink EF lantern sleeveless dress for which I don't have a good topper but didn't need one.  Angie, you are so right about those toppers.

First photo is the dress that I wore.  The second shows the clutch that I used. 

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Posted in the Dressing category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

25 Comments

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    You look gorgeous in that dress, Joy. Glad it was comfortable without a topper. Like your second outfit, too--very sleek and professional looking.

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Happy to see that lantern dress come out to play again, Joy. 

    May I ask you if you bought it in petite? There are many EF things I like, but I always feel sized out of them. It may be a misperception; I haven't had the opportunity to try a full range on, due to the cost of returns, duties, etc. We have an Eileen Fisher online in Canada but even pricier, and the full range of sizes are not available in the dept. stores. 

    You're so right about Angie being right. 

  • Suja replied 9 years ago

    Yup, I am completely rethinking toppers on dresses after that post. I am only going to buy sleeved dresses from now on, as I have plenty of sleeveless dresses.

  • Adelfa replied 9 years ago

    Yes, this has been a revelation to me too. Giving me permission to stop the hunts for the fantasized perfect toppers. Of course this doesn't help when you're going to a wedding in the Oregon mountains and you're wondering what you're going to wear... or if it would look that bad to put a topper on this or that sleeveless dress... But Angie is still right!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Suz I bought this dress and similar ones in a regular XS.  It hits at the bottom of the knee on me.  Debbie has this dress in sapphire ( so do I) and I can't remember if hers is xs or s, but I don't think it is petite.  EF pants run short so I don't buy them in petite and even wish the regulars were longer.  Some of her tops are quite big, long and flowy, so I look for those in petite and a PP (smallest size) can work.  In regular sizing many XS are good but all Smalls I've tried except one sweater are too big for me to fill out.  The cotton tees are rather fitted and a PP is too small.  The linen tee and tank I have run large and loose.  I am wearing an XS today but a PP would probably be a better fit.  I'll try to add photos of that tee from my phone to this message.

    If you want me to try on a particular piece of style, I would be glad to. 

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  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    You looked beautiful last night, Joy. GORGEOUS colours. 

    And I love the sound of the lass who matched her fit and flare with sneaks. xo

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Thank you, Angie. :) It was a treat to see so many women in dresses, not the norm in this part of the country. A popular color was white, no print, just white. I warning to those who wear white: white undies show. Choose your nude instead. You could see some white thongs even through a couple of layers of fabric. Lengths were everything from mini to maxi.

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Yes - flesh toned undies are better under white dresses. I LOVE white dresses. I hope you have some, Joy. xo

  • lyn67 replied 9 years ago

    Your's is absolutely beautiful! That's a gorgeous shade of red, and YLF in it Joy!

    Did you(and Angie) mean sleeveless are looking better without toppers even on a curvier person, too? Say having a heavier frame, too?  I never have the confidence to wear my sleeveless dresses sans a topper exactly for this matter, I feel I have  some linebacker shoulders and upper arms:-(( so think is much betterl when having a jacket on...But don't want to  fall in a fashion faux pas, either:-(...(???)

  • replied 9 years ago

    Joy you look splendid in your sleeveless dress. What a gorgeous colour.

    I'm a little confused though on this jacket and sleeveless dress rule. If you saw someone with a jacket on over a dress, you would be non the wiser as to whether it had sleeves or not if they kept the jacket on. Or am I just being a bit thick?

  • cinnamon fern replied 9 years ago

    Suz, I am 5' 4" (thanks to yoga), and my only clothes in petite sizing are bootcut jeans and some EF tops and sweaters.  Tops in XS always seem like too much fabric (and sometimes too small in the shoulders too), PS works.  I think PP would fit you.

    Joy - I love that dress on you.  Elegant and happy.

  • merwoman replied 9 years ago

    You look gorgeous Joy - and the fit on that dress is impeccable! So true about the toppers!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Angie, stably, I do not have any white dresses. I would love to have a white sheath or shirt dress.
    Lyn and Diane, I was referring to Angie's blog post. I' sure many of these women must have had large arms but I didn't notice them, only the overall look. My arms are not as trim as I'd like, saggy with age, but I've stopped trying to hide them and be comfortable. I also IT tendencies and broad shoulders for my size, but find that no sleeves, especially cut in just a little, actually visually reduces the shoulder line and size of the shoulder. It's all I the fit.
    Diane, I saw women in jackets and cardis that obviously did not ever go with the dress. It was as if they had grabbed something at the last minute. The dress may look breezy and of light weight fabric but the topper of heavy dark wool or polyester. The building is mostly glass with a great view of the city, but the light streaming in during the day warms things up. Add body heat from hundreds of people and No one needed a topper for warmth. Merwoman and Cinnamon Fern, thank you for the kind comments.

  • Lyn D. replied 9 years ago

    Lovely Joy, red is gorgeous on you, and your arms look Fab!
    Thanks too for the information re- EF sizing! - I had an on-line browse yesterday and quite like what I saw.

  • Debbie replied 9 years ago

    Joy-you look wonderful in that dress. I too have both the pink and the sapphire. Mine are regular small and fit great. The length on the lantern dress is perfect!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Thank you Lynn and Debbie. Debbie, then we are EF twins twice. That dress is so fab on you! I found a linen EF straight sleeveless shift dress today at The Rack that my shopping friend insisted I bring home. It is more casual but longer on me than I thought it would be. Tiny red and orange striped fabric and from last summer. I think it came in another color too. I never tried them thinking they would be too short. It will be perfect for hot weather. I'll try to post it early next week. I think it will be my new summer casual outfit if it passes YLF approval.

  • Debbie replied 9 years ago

    Joy I can't wait to see it. EF has wonderful dresses. The lengths are what I like.

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Love that dress on you every time!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    I was just looking through Nordstroms EF things on sale and saw a white crinkly cotton dress that is the right length but still more than I want to pay. Still it would be nice to have.
    http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ei.....ts-_-1_5_A
    (I can't see to collect this on my pad.)

  • replied 9 years ago

    I love you in the EF dresses Joy! That clutch is one serious cherry on top, so fabulous!

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Thank you,Claire. A young lady came up and complimented me on the dress and clutch.

  • sarah replied 9 years ago

    Joy, you are gorgeous in that dress, and I love the clutch with it. What are those shoes, by the way?

  • Joy replied 9 years ago

    Sarah, the sandals I think were an Angie pick a couple of summers ago. They are Born, but I don't see or remember the name of the style

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Joy, (and Cinnamon Fern, too) thank you for your advice on the EF sizing situation; this is helpful, Joy. I'll bet things would fit us in much the same way. I guess my problem is that I have tried on mostly tops and petite sizes were not available in the Toronto store where I was trying. I need to do a serious research trip the next time I am in the US and really try more things on. 

  • Kiwibird replied 9 years ago

    That dress is gorgeous on you Joy!  

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