A thought experiment: is there any way to style this dress and not have it look like a costume for a JFK era drama?

[Anonymous]

How old are you? This dress reads very young. I’d skip it.

[Anonymous]

I wear this sort of thing all the time and I'm 38 and slim-ish (BMI 22 - 23). I agree with black tights and flats. The thing that would take this over the top into costume territory would be a vintage hairstyle which I'm sure you're not planning on.

[Anonymous]

I immediately thought pumps.

https://www.stevemadden.com/cdn/shop/files/STEVEMADDEN_SHOES_EVELYN_BLACK-PATENT_LIFESTYLE-1.jpg?v=1691499090

[Anonymous]

I’m on the Hill all the time for work and see lots of young women staffers wearing dresses like these, usually with pumps.

[Anonymous]

I have seen this on people in real life. It is cute but reads pretty twee. I would not go for it post-30.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have seen this on people in real life. It is cute but reads pretty twee. I would not go for it post-30.

Yeah I agree. Its a cute look for a young professional. If you are over 30, you could MAYBE make it work but only if you are very petite, like a size 0-2 and 5'0.

[Anonymous]

It is a terrible rip off of giambattista valli which is adorable. Hard pass on this crappy dress.

[Anonymous]

I’d also chop off the bows, and replace with big white buttons, channeling Courreges from the ‘60s!

[Anonymous]

I think the right black ankle boots (sock boots?) might modernize it, or a mule style heel. I would stay away from traditional pumps or flats.

[Anonymous]

I think modern knee high boots and modern hair (straight and down or middle part with a low ponytail) would help keep this outfit modern.