We all love a dress right?
It’s the time of year to go out and buy a sparkly number to wow our loved ones on the big day or at the Christmas party.
Actually no. The truth is that some women who feel they “should” own a dress for this time of year, never feel quite right in one.
I’ve had many clients who tell me they would love a dress, but they can never find one that makes them feel great. The truth is, not everyone will look their best in a dress. We are all different (as I keep on saying) and if you look super glam in a trouser suit, then I urge you to stop trying to wear what you think you should be wearing.
3 Fabulous alternatives to a dress (if a dress is just not your thing).
I have just returned from a fabulous weekend away at a conference.
It was a two-day event and we were treated to lots of incredibly inspiring stories and talks by lots of amazing women.
Clothes being my thing, I took great delight in noticing all the effort that all these women had put into their outfits for their time in the spotlight.
It really cemented my understanding that we are all so beautifully different, and the colours and styles we saw up on the stage were plentiful.
Out of the 20 or so women that got up onto the stage, just about every woman wore a dress.
We saw maxi dresses, flimsy silky numbers, cute prom style ones and simple shifts.
It got me to thinking.
Would any other attire have been appropriate? Do we expect to see ladies up there on the stage in a dress or could something else have been just as dazzling?
Since we are in the run up to Christmas and it’s the time of year for digging out a party dress, I wanted to give you some alternatives.
If you don’t feel very much like a “dress person” or if you just fancy a change, check out these ideas and the next time you are out and about choosing clothes why not give one or two a try.
The Reality of Dresses
- The wrong cut will add pounds – and most women don’t want that
- You are very likely to need to wear tights or hold –ups to cover up your winter legs. This just adds another element of discomfort and potential for last minute stress (ladders anyone?)
- Choosing the right footwear to wear with a dress can be extremely tricky. Get it wrong and your legs can look like tree trunks.
The Alternatives
1. My first alternative to a dress is a jumpsuit.
The very word “jumpsuit” takes me right back to my childhood when they were all the rage but this time around they are pretty sophisticated. (I promise).
Believe it or not, a jumpsuit can be incredibly flattering. Wearing one colour from head to toe makes you look taller and slimmer.
A neutral coloured jumpsuit is basically a blank canvas for accessories. You could add a sparkly costume necklace or some over-sized glitzy earrings, a cuff and metallic shoes. Oh and a glitzy clutch bag.
2. The next look is a skirt.
A skirt is a wonderful alternative to a party dress and the way to wear one this season is with a light knit. You will stay cosy and warm and the mix of textures make this an eclectic look.
Beware of ankle straps if your legs are anything but gazelle like. An alternative would be a heel with a low front. This elongates your leg rather than cutting it off and drawing attention to your ankles.
3. A last but not least – Trousers
If your legs are your best feature, its a shame to hide them under a dress. Choose a plain fabric OR give print a go…
The size of print you wear needs to work with your scale so try a few before you decide on the right sized print for you.
Wearing shoes that are the same tone (similarly dark or light) as your legs will make them appear longer.
Find a gorgeous top to go with and enjoy yourself!
So if you are just not a dress person, I hope this has inspired you to try something different.
Love the a symmetrical cut of the skirt. But with a fluffy jumper won’t you look bulky? What other top would you were that shows off the skirt but keeps you sleek on top too?
It would be impossible to make you look bulky Georgie! I couldn’t wear the white fluffy jumper though, as I am slightly top heavy. An alternative would be a fine sparkly knit. Give that a go.
Nice and festive!
Love the asymmetrical skirt and the jumper! I’m very much a dress person. I used to wear trousers alot but as I’ve gotten older I’ve gravitated towards dresses. I feel glam in a dress and I love killer heels! I’d definitely try the jumpsuit now. Thanks for that Helen.
Some very useful tips for alternatives to wearing a dress. I wear dresses a lot more now than when in the corporate world but do still like to wear trousers a lot. Jumpsuits make a nice alternative.
Great tips Helen and I love all the outfits you’ve chosen. I’ve found myself gravitating to dresses and skirts more, lately. Interesting about jumpsuits (I had a pink one back in the mid 80s), I’ll have to check them out, next time I’m window/clothes shopping!
Another fabulous post darling! Love it
I am definitely a trouser girl most of the time.
I would love to wear more dresses and love dresses but very rarely find one that i feel comfortable in, so hardly wear them – so my in between is definitely a skirt and top and loving Look 2 in your post! ❤ xx