Dress me please

needanustart · December 2014

Ok so DH's holiday party is next week and I need to figure out what to wear. His job is tough clothing wise for me- he works in academia, but at a very urban music college and all of his co-workers are super hipster, young and mostly kiddo free. At work they all dress like they are in a band (usually are) or like they are the sexy female PR manager of a band (or what I envision that would look like). The party is at a really nice club and dressy, but not formal. So I need to look business cocktail rock and roll. See why I need help?! This is what I came up with. The skirt is leather. I need to know: tights or no tights, gray booties or black patent heels, or scratch this whole thing and give me ideas. I have another dress I love but it kind of looks like i'm the wife of a politician on the campaign trail.
Please help. I'm stressing out and need to block off time to go shopping if this looks dumb (be honest!)

ColieAnn31 · December 2014

I like the skirt with the booties but the shirt isn't doing it for me for some reason. Do you have any other dressy tops that would go with that skirt?

needanustart · December 2014

I have other dressy tops but I feel like leather is hard to feel like something "goes" with it. I have a black buttons down sheer shirt with silver thread running through it and ruffles that might work. Here is the other dress for reference. Too conservative, right?

riansmommie · December 2014

I agree the shirt is throwing me off with the skirt. I do like the skirt with the booties though. If you do the skirt, I would skip tights.

I also like the dress, you could make it look more "cool" if you have a thick belt you could add to it and maybe some fun costume jewelry. I think it would dress it down just enough to make it work perfect. Plus I really like the way that blue looks on you.

lioness13 · December 2014

I like the first outfit much more than the dress for the event hou described (you do look great in the dress though). I think the sheer shirt you described would look better than the shirt you have on. Can you show is a pic?

pkp2 · December 2014

I like the booties. But I have to disagree with rains mommy :-) I would try either black or colored tights with it. (Post a pic?) I agree, the shirt seems off somehow. I think it's the length of it. Its a bit too long. If it's a Christmas party, I wouldn't think you'd have to look 'business' per se. Just cute. :-)

pkp2 · December 2014

Ugh, love auto correct. @riansmommie‌ :-)

needanustart · December 2014

This is the sheer black shirt. I don't love it. Honestly every shirt I try on with the skirt looks funny, but my ass is so banging in it I really want to wear it! Haha. @workinit I wear skinny black pants or skinny jeans with a blazer to all the other work events and I think it will be too casual. I tried on a pair of my nicest black pants with the booties and it looked cute but too casual for sure.

needanustart · December 2014

subliminalrabbit said:
It's the ruffles. The ruffles on the shirt just don't work for the vibe you want. Let's see this other shirt -- it does sound like it could be a great fit!

The other shirt has ruffles too! Haha, I just love me some ruffles I guess. I always feel the need to soften up my rock n roll pieces because it's not really me. I usually wear a vintage necklace or pearls with leather.

needanustart · December 2014

I love that blue dress but you can't really accessorize it at all @riansmommie‌. The ruffle on the edge doesn't allow for a necklace, a jacket or a belt without getting in the way and looking off. You can only wear earrings with it. Which is why I look like I'm campaigning when I wear it! Maybe I can accessorize with a "vote for me!" Button.

needanustart · December 2014

WorkinIt said:
I feel like we are progressing! That skirt with a tank tucked in and a fitted blazer?

I was thinking what about a plain boat neck black shirt with a really big necklace? This would be the necklace I want. I don't have the shirt yet but I feel like I could get that this weekend without having a shopping meltdown.

needanustart · December 2014

WorkinIt said:
I'm not edgy enough

Me neither! And I should add that I don't think it's possible for me to get dressed in mostly black without adding lace, ruffles, or pearls. So one of those things is showing up if I wear the leather skirt. (Which we seem to agree is a yay part of the outfit? Not horrible on me?)

needanustart · December 2014

@subliminalrabbit‌ I really like those looks but I'm going to have to bring the skirt with me to try some shirts on because my midsection does NOT look like those bottom two pics! The ruffles may be semi-strategic.

Cricket81 · December 2014

I think a sleek tank like this one might look cool. Then add a funky necklace.

numbersgirl08 · December 2014

I love love love the pics @subliminalrabbit‌ posted. I highly recommend incorporating the leather - it's very trendy right now and would for well.

I think you should go with either a silky, drapey black tank tucked in or a sweater like those pics above. The skirt is fitted so the top can be more flowy. But nothing too ornamented - keep the skirt as the interesting piece.

needanustart · December 2014

I like where this is headed rabbit.
I definitely just have an issue with looking 100% edgy because it's not really my style and I have a stocky frame and I always feel like I look kind of manly if I don't soften my look.
I'll go buy me a black top with a bit of lace or something this weekend.
Money isn't a factor really as I never buy myself clothing, it's more "do I have to go clothes shopping this close to Christmas?!" Whiney stress thing.

needanustart · December 2014

Thank you ladies, I'll be back with pictures when I solve my lace addiction issue!

daffy2k · December 2014

I think you've got great suggestions so far. I'd take the skirt shopping with you and try stuff on with it. I really like some of those sheer lace tops rabbit linked. I would just put a thin lack cami under instead of the bra/bralettes they have going on and that should mask any tummy issues you are worried about.

daffy2k · December 2014

What about this top? I think you could rock this with leather... https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/astr-print-lace-mixed-media-tank/3756472?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=4475&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-1_12_C Sorry, I can't just add the pic. Photos will never load when I'm on the iPad for some reason

hellooldfriend · December 2014

I agree with Rabbit about the top. Let that skirt be the center piece of the outfit. The ruffles will be louder than the skirt, and we need to to accentuate the booty. I say nice, calm black shirt, or even eggplant, tights and booties. A blazer would work unless you did something with sleeves. A funky necklace Is always good too.

Btw the skirt is a go for sure.

needanustart · December 2014

Just to give everyone an idea of DH's coworkers he had this exchange yesterday. A male coworker, whose wife is pregnant with their first and due inFebruary, came over to DH's desk and asked him, "how long is it before things get back to normal?" Because, he's in a band and they are touring starting in March. So he'd like to be on the road in about a month. So they are really, really clueless about kids!
DH wanted to be like, "um, never?" But instead he told him it depends in the baby. He figured it was pointless to scare him!

needanustart · December 2014

Please tell me not to panic and that DH is just a dummy. When I mentioned I was wearing a leather skirt he's like, "K this is dressy. This is at the Harvard Club." (He is not at Harvard, but the Harvard Club is a big thing around here). I already know that his female co-workers are dressing less than if they are going to a wedding, so I feel like a dressed up leather skirt is totally fine. He just doesn't get women's fashion, right? I mean he either looks like a lumberjack or the groom at a wedding with very little gray area in between (he'll wear a black suit for this event I think). I think he is imagining I will look like a biker since he just saw it lying on the bed out of context. He's wrong, right?

needanustart · December 2014

mcbush said:

He's wrong. it's not too short, right? If it were really short, I'd maybe question, but as long as it's "appropriate" I think leather is fine.

It's like four fingers above the knee. Definitely not too short and I plan on wearing black tights I think. Mainly because it's going to be cold as hell and even if it looks better with bare legs I'll look dumb and chilly.

hellooldfriend · December 2014

Anus tart, you know he is wrong bc he is a husband! But I say stick with tights instead of bare legs, that always keeps things a little dressier. And maybe do a little something extra with your hair.

needanustart · December 2014

Okie dokie reporting back. I bought three tops and I think I have it narrowed down to two. First, totally not what we discussed. It's hard to see in a selfie, but it's a black dressy fabric with leather inserts on the side and shoulder and a peplum. It makes the skirt look more like it could be a dress. I likes the back a lot and the peplum with the zipper in the back makes my heinie look great!
The second is almost exactly what I agreed to in our bump contract. 3/4 sleeve black sweater with a bit of lace detail at the top. I have one more plain black blousy top but it looks pretty boring.
So 1, 2 or I failed again please!

lioness13 · December 2014

I love 1! The peplum sets it off! Wear some great statement earring with it and you're set! 2 is cute too.

needanustart · December 2014

If they are both acceptable I may let DH pick. He'll be happy if I ask him

(can guarantee he will pick peplum because it's very Jessica rabbit).

hellooldfriend · December 2014

Good work lady!!!

needanustart · December 2014

Thanks guys! I am definitely keeping both tops. I got them at H&m so it wasn't like $1k or something and I NEVER buy myself new stuff! The skirt was free from my sister so it's like I made money on this, right? And DH knows how frugal (ok cheap) I am so he would never give me a hard time.

Especially since he's now warmed up to the idea of leather and asked last night, "did you say something about doing a leather fashion show for me?"

needanustart · December 2014

34blondie said:
Definitely keep both! Not that I really know you well but #1 feels more "you" to me for some reason. You look amazing!

Thank you! It's probably the peplum. Peplum is just another word for "horizontal ruffle." I told you guys I like ruffles! I generally want to look like Effie Trinket if it was acceptable.

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