Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 21:27     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
I would look at Hobbs, maybe:

https://www.hobbs.com/us/product/petite-bronwyn-silk-dress/0124-5242-3793L04-GREEN-MULTI.html#navAjax=true&imageType=model&is=true&sz=60&start=60&cgid=clothing-dresses&isSecondPage=false&pid=0124-5242-3793L04-GREEN-MULTI&pos=101
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 20:55     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
Anonymous wrote:
Can someone help me find a similarly forgiving dress - but in a better quality than Coldwater Creek?


It’s pretty but would need a belt. I like that there are no tiers. I refuse to buy a dress that looks like it belongs on the prairie
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 20:39     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
https://www.macys.com/shop/product/calvin-klein-womens-3-4-sleeve-printed-chiffon-dress?ID=17294817&isDlp=true&isDlp=true

Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 20:11     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
Anonymous wrote:Boden. Many dresses of a similar silhouette and vibe, but in better fabrics.

I find Boden looks a bit too casual overall. OP's dress is trying to be on the dressier - maybe a Sunday dress as my grandma says.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 19:54     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
Boden. Many dresses of a similar silhouette and vibe, but in better fabrics.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 18:42     Subject: Re:Help me find this dress, but better
And sometimes a DCUMer can identify a designer or name brand dress that Coldwater Creek or whoever is trying to knockoff.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 18:36     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:NP - serious question. What is wrong with the dress? I don't have much fashion sense, and when I see myself in photos I don't like my clothes, but can never figure out what I'm doing wrong, because I'm really trying to look good. This dress seems fine to me. So what do those of you who dislike it see that I don't?


It’s a shapeless sack like dress and it’s difficult for me to imagine where one would wear it and have it be appropriate. It’s not for work, not for casual out and about in warmer weather, not for a wedding or event guest unless the event was extremely casual. In which case you could still find something better.

Not everyone looks good in darts and belts as severe structure. This dress has some shape compared to lots of dresses that have a lot of material pulled together with a belt.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 18:34     Subject: Re:Help me find this dress, but better
It seems to have a bit of shape (rather than a straight shirt dress, for example), “forgiving” and a bit of whimsy, (could be Sunday church event, shower, brunch, etc) but cheap materials at least. But for the big bust hourglass woman, it has a bit of potential, IMO. But how it can be improved, I don’t know.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 18:30     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
OP: You’ve gotten some great responses.
Sometimes DCUM comes through (with a side of snarky comments from those having a bad day)
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 18:25     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
Anonymous wrote:NP - serious question. What is wrong with the dress? I don't have much fashion sense, and when I see myself in photos I don't like my clothes, but can never figure out what I'm doing wrong, because I'm really trying to look good. This dress seems fine to me. So what do those of you who dislike it see that I don't?


It’s a shapeless sack like dress and it’s difficult for me to imagine where one would wear it and have it be appropriate. It’s not for work, not for casual out and about in warmer weather, not for a wedding or event guest unless the event was extremely casual. In which case you could still find something better.
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 18:17     Subject: Re:Help me find this dress, but better
PP here. If you don't like the way your clothes look in photos it may be about how you pose in the photos, as opposed to the clothes themselves. I read somewhere that red always photographs well....
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 18:16     Subject: Re:Help me find this dress, but better
Well, it's all in the eye of the beholder but personally I think it's the layer of chiffon (or whatever the sheer fabric is) over the dress and the chiffon sleeves that make it read a bit matronly, like something the Queen Mum or Hyacinth Bouquet would wear. I do like the colors and the smaller print, though. It's also a bit shapeless and lacking in structure. I'm 49 and find that I look better in dresses that have a bit more shaping like darts, set-in shoulders, a defined waist, as opposed to looser fit, flowy dresses like this one. If you have a bust this dress will just tent out over it and make you look bigger. Hope that helps.

Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 17:58     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
NP - serious question. What is wrong with the dress? I don't have much fashion sense, and when I see myself in photos I don't like my clothes, but can never figure out what I'm doing wrong, because I'm really trying to look good. This dress seems fine to me. So what do those of you who dislike it see that I don't?
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 17:56     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
Garnet Hill or Boden
Anonymous
Post 02/29/2024 17:28     Subject: Help me find this dress, but better
Anonymous wrote:What do you like about this dress? And where are you going to wear it/what formality level are you looking for? Honestly high quality brands aren’t going to be making dresses that look like this one. Thats a very “Coldwater Creek” silhouette.

OP here. I don't wear dresses often and the only ones that look decent are V neck wrap or a sheath shape with zero horizontal stitching and no belt (some runching at the waist is ok) in a forgiving fabric. This Coldwater Creek dress, while awful, at least mostly meets those requirements. I thought maybe someone could help me step it up big time. But I guess I'll stick with the tried and true.