But first, a little background information. You remember that I had planned to wear the Ames watercolor dress at a wedding that I will be attending in Seattle in May. Besides the "chill" factor that many of you have pointed out in the comments to that post, I received the invitation last Saturday and I found out that it's an evening wedding (I don't know why I was convinced that it would be a daytime wedding). I think that I can still wear the potpourri dress at the rehearsal dinner (pretext to keep it) but I need something else for the celebration. So I have been perusing the Jcrew and other retailers websites for a party dress. I really wanted a simple but classy dress, something that Audrey Hepburn could have worn and that could become my "occasion" dress, to wear again and again.
I have a few LBDs but they are more cocktail dresses, because of the fabric (they are wool or chiffon). This time I really wanted a party dress, in silk taffeta, possibly black, with a full skirt. Jcrew as you know makes many silk taffeta dresses, but the ones that are available on the website aren't my size, or are strapless (and I don't want to do strapless, at least not ideally).
A good section of the sample sale was dedicated to party/occasion dresses and these were $60, a good very deal if you can find your size. The first problem is that they won't let you try anything on(this is really a silly policy). Buying a dress without trying it on is a big risk already but in this case it is aggravated by the fact that most of these clothes don't have a tag with the size, so you have to figure.
So when I found this dress that looked like the one that I had in mind I was happy to see that it had a tag and that it was a size 0. I have never been between sizes in Jcrew dresses (I have always been a 0), so I took a risk and bought it.
What I liked in this dress is that it has the bodice of a shift dress but a full skirt. And I LOVED the color, an indigo blue that could look very chic with the right accessories. I could even try the uber-chic black and blue pairing because it is the right shade of blue.
When I tried it on at home, I had a first (bad) surprise: the bodice was VERY fitted and I almost couldn't zip it up (the zipper is in the back). In the end it closed and even if a little bit uncomfortable at first I think that a 2 would have probably been too big around the armholes:
You see that little bump on the right side of the bodice? That's my rib-cage that is showing!
I still liked it and thought that I could make it work (also I am almost sure that my husband would like this style). I tried it with the BR blazer velvet black blazer, for the above-mentioned black/navy chic effect:
So why it is such a bad deal? Let's look at the back of the dress:
You see that spot at the bottom right? Yes, that's a big cutout. Let's call it a HOLE:
How could I buy this (you are entitled to ask)? Well, obviously I didn't see it while I was there! I forgot the rule number one of sample sale-shopping: always inspect carefully the merchandise before buying. Actually I did check the seaming of the bodice and skirt but I didn't check the hem. I mean, you wouldn't think there would be a hole there, it was hard to see.
Now I have basically two options: live with it and try to make it work or take it back today and exchange it with something else (exchanges are allowed during the sale). The good thing is that is not in the middle of the skirt (in that case I wouldn't have a choice) but at the hem, so if I have the skirt hemmed I can still wear it. But I'm questioning the result. It is true that it is not a petite dress and I have some room for hemming, but I'm afraid that it will loose its proportions (I have to cut at least 2 and a half inches), not to mention that it will cost me at least $30 bringing the price of the dress to $90-$100.
But on the other side, I'm not really looking forward to go back to the sample sale. Today is the last day of the sample sale, so it's today or never. I'm sure that I will find something, that's not the issue (there were still a lot of cashmere sweaters and necklaces) but my daughter doesn't have school today and the location is pretty far from where we leave, so it would mean a day-trip with possible lunch-in-a-box.
What do you think? Is it worth to have this dress hemmed? What would you do? Please don't say "You can do better" because honestly I'm not sure. I am not that good at party dresses as you probably know if you have been reading this blog for a while.
Hi Emma, I would say return it. You are not so happy with the fit, and that you have plenty of time until the wedding. I think that you can find something nice that doesn't need to be fixed for the same price.
ReplyDeleteIf you are up for the treck- I say return it! If you're not, then have it hemmed OR maybe have a wide ribbon (or something) added to the bottom hem to cover the hole/cut-out!?!? That might be a silly idea because I have never *seen* the dress but I thought I would throw the suggestion out there!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and definitely keep us posted! :)
I am sorry Ema, but I have to agree with the others! I would return, not matter how far the trec..It has a giant hole in the back and you paid for a whole dress!
ReplyDeleteAs is, the dress does hit you at a nice spot on your leg, cutting off 2 1/2 inches or more would bring it pretty close to your knee. Why not try pinning up the dress, at least in the front to see if you would like the length and then decided?
I would return it as well. If it's snug even without a hole it's not worth trying to keep it. Exchange it for the shoes. I've been there the first day and flats were super - and just 60 as well.
ReplyDeleteThis is a big problem. My first reaction is "return" but I also understand the horror of having to drag along your little girl with a boxed lunch.
ReplyDeleteI know for myself I would get there and maybe buy more that I didn't need/want. I would probably save myself the hassle and have it hemmed up: especially if I had to drag my kids! Just thinking about it makes me tired!
This is a nice design, and I have to tell you I have a black silk taffeta dress which is very similar from JCrew. I bought it 7 years ago and I still turn to it over and over.
All that said, I'm not sure I am giving good advice. For the sample sale to have a dress with a GIANT HOLE in it is ridiculous. Really it should be returned on principle!
What a pretty dress--how disappointing that it had this flaw. The color and fabric are great and could be worn all four seasons of the year, and the style will be wearable forever.
ReplyDeleteIf I were in your shoes, I would either exchange it (if I could find something I wanted for that price) or I would find ribbon or fabric (probably in black) and take it to a tailor to have it put on over the bottom of the dress. I would definitely not shorten the dress, as the length (for this style) is just right on you as it is.
I hope you will let us know what you decide to do. Good luck!
Ema, I would say return it since the bodice does not fit as well as you'd like to. I wouldn't have noticed the hole in the back. I know having to take your daughter would be difficult but I don't think I'd be happy with the dress hemmed since it looks great length as it is. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteReturn it! It's not a great deal with the cost of alterations.
ReplyDeleteHi Ema, I say return it. It's worth the trip. Maybe plan an afternoon side trip with the little one on the way home! It'll give her a reason to be "good". Promise yourself to only spend 30 min. max in the store, time yourself if you have to, and LEAVE before you start imbibing the crewlade. If you don't return it it will spend years in your closet, mocking, cackling and taunting you. We all know "those" clothes, the unwearables that don't fit, need repairs,hems too long/short that sit in the closet smug with their little piece of white, called a tag, still attached.
ReplyDeleteI say return. It's the principle of the thing. You deserve something that has NO HOLES! Buy a bunch of scarves and offer them on the exchange if you have to. This dress has bad karma. You can (and will!) do much much better.
ReplyDeleteSince it's an evening wedding, how about your gorgeous shell pink one shoulder dress? There - now you don't need to worry about what to wear!
Emma, the dress looks beautiful but if fit is an issue I dont think you should keep it.
ReplyDeleteIf you bribe me with candy, I can probably make you one that looks alike :-)
Hi there. I think I'd return it if I was in your position, especially if it is difficult to breathe while wearing it.
ReplyDeleteAs a side note, is there someone who can tell me where the dresses in sample sales originate? Is it what the models and mannequins wear? That's interesting some of the clothes don't have tags.
No question, take it back asap.
ReplyDeleteRemember what I said before? I didn't want to go to the sample sale because I thought I would waste my money?
ReplyDeleteWell this exact same thing happened to me, only I didn't have a hole in my dress. I bought this gorgeous dress (I wanted a nice full skirt, some of the J Crew Oscar de la Renta knockoffs that they make), without trying it on. Well I am a chesty girl, and the stupid dress barely zipped over my bosom. To make it worse, the skirt was ENORMOUS. There was some sort of defect, and there were YARDS of extra fabric.
I returned it to the sample sale, thinking there was no way I could find anything. Well on the last day, a lot of people make returns. So, I got super lucky - I found a black Audrey Hepburn style dress, in my size, that didn't have a defect!!
I say, just go there, you'll be fine, and there will be almost no crowds at all. You never know, you will probably find something gorgeous.
since it isn't a perfect fit, return it. you little girl will be on an adventure with mommy.
ReplyDeleteI would say return it too, if you can stand the thought of the trek w/ daughter in tow (Believe me, I would understand if you didn't want to do that, having three little ones myself)
ReplyDeleteHemmed length might be cute but with the bodice fit issues it probably isn't worth it. Of course, as I write this I see it is already getting later in the day in NY. What did you end up doing?