T by Alexander Wang dress | old!!! Sold out, sometimes shows up on sale at The Outnet
Everlane sweatshirt
Rag & Bone Harrow booties | size up one size, available in asphalt & suede for 20% off at Hampden clothing with code GRECHEN20
3.1 Phillip Lim Ryder Satchel
Candace Ang necklace | old
Me & Ro Lotus petal earrings
So, Friday I dressed for life, today I’m dressing for pretend. Actually, I would wear this outfit out in a heartbeat, but the dress is SO LONG, I can’t wear it without stepping on it – and it’s quite hot still for boots. Sometimes I tie a knot in the longer side so it’s not so long, but that creates a whole new look that I don’t want right now. I’m seriously considering getting this dress hemmed so it’s straight across and just at my ankles, but I’m not sure I can do it. The beauty of the dress is in the drape, and that would be lost without the asymmetrical hemline. BUT, I would wear it a whole lot more if I didn’t have to wear extreme heels with it. Even these booties are too short! I’d have to wear my Robert Clergerie wedges or Sergio Rossi platform sandals to avoid stepping on the hem, and I just can’t do that right now. Maybe for a special occasion, but not for Target 😉
Also, I used to fold this dress because I knew it was lengthening from being on a hanger, but I got lazy recently and started hanging it up again. Big Mistake. That’s why it’s so much longer than it used to be. That, and I’m a bit smaller…
I know a lot of you guys bought this dress when I first posted it in 2011, has anyone had it hemmed? Or thought about it? What should I do? Keep it long for special occasions? or hem it to wear more often? Actually I can wear it with these boots without stepping on it too much, I can see myself wearing it with a cashmere cardigan or sweater on top when it’s cooler as-is…
**in case you don’t keep up with comments on older posts, I went through my closet over the weekend and put a lot of things into boxes to “store” for a while. I STILL have way too many things in my closet, but taking some out helped a lot. 15 fewer white t-shirts clears up a lot of space 😉
Happy Monday!!
p.s.s: see my ‘wearing for real’ outfit on instagram 🙂
Instead of hemming it straight, can you have it hemmed to match the same hemline just an inch or so shorter? You can have the best of both worlds, the beauty of the drape and increased wearability.
in theory i guess i could, i just worry about them getting it right i guess…and how much it would cost!!
I LOVE this and think you *should* grace Target in this outfit (assuming you aren’t in danger of tripping). I still haven’t ordered from Everlane – the problem is everything is appealing. How do the sweatshirts run?
I can’t do a big clean-out or put-away. I got some ‘vintage’ I guess lug-soled knee-high Italian boots that are nicely beat up and some J Brand skinny leg jeans in a classic blue wash at the consignment store this weekend. My problems is I can’t let go of stuff because I *could* use it some day – even though the J Brands should be replacing jeans that are out of style, etc. Ugh.
haha! yes, i probably would trip over myself if i wore this to target – if the dress was shorter, i would absolutely wear it! that is the question…
i’m honestly a little soured on everlane right now. the sweatshirts are great, but they’re pilling like crazy (and they’re polyester blend so the lilly brush does NOTHING for them), and the hem is completely coming out of my newest ryan tee and it’s only been worn two times, max. the basic tees are still good, and i haven’t worn my cashmere very much, so i can’t really say much about them, but the only thing i would really recommend from everlane are the basic cotton tees at this point. even though, as i said, i do love the sweatshirts, but i hate the pilling…
i am weird about stuff – i go through phases where i want to get rid of everything (and have done that a few times, almost everything) that i’m not wearing at the moment, and then where i can’t get rid of anything because i’m worried i’ll want it later. honestly over the years, there are only a few things i wish i hadn’t sold, and those were all bags, and i’m not getting rid of ANY bags EVER again, so…
I do have 2 of those t by alexander wang dresses, a gray one and a blue one. They are a bit too long to wear easily, although part of the point is that they billow around. My issue with them is not so much the length but the pilling. The gray one especially looks horrible. But if I can wear those dresses in NYC, walking everywhere and going up and done the stairs in the subway, you can wear them driving around in Texas 😉
If I wanted to shorten them I would probably start by going to a tailor and asking about the best way. In my case that usually means going to my mom 😉 You might want to see if you can shorten the straps. That might be easier than fussing with the hem.
In my experience, the shavers are the best way to deal with pilling on synthetic or -blend knits. There is the hand shaver, which looks kind of like a comb (I think the one I have is called “d-fuzz-it”) which is easy enough to use on small areas, as well as the electric shaver. I have one but haven’t tried it yet (keep forgetting to get batteries). I was worried that I might create a hole using the comb, but so far that hasn’t happened. There are lots of reviews of the various kinds on Amazon and they make for entertaining reading.
haha, joanna 🙂 another friend from NYC told me that a while ago – i was concerned about comfortable shoes and she was like, why? you DRIVE everywhere!!! to which i have nothing to say…except that i WISH i didn’t have to drive everywhere. i hate it.
and you’re right, i can manage with this dress being a little long; i do LOVE how it billows out when you walk, like you have a train LOL. and i’ve already had the straps taken up. can’t do that again!!
i haven’t had an issue with pilling on this, maybe because i don’t wear it as often as i should…but i’ll try a shaver for some of my polyester blend stuff, i have an elizabeth & james sweatshirt that is a COMPLETE disaster from pilling, i can’t stand to wear it!
I have the T-Wang dress in gray – it doesn’t pill if you wash it on gentle cycle and lay it to dry, btw. Don’t stick it in the dryer and it will always look and feel amazing. I can wear mine with flats but that’s because I have been blessed with a big chest. LOL.
I could never hem it. I would worry about it changing the look – but if it’s dragging on you than maybe you should.
lucky!! 😉
i have never dried mine either, maybe that’s why no pills…although i wonder if i dry it if it’ll shrink up a bit in length? probably not worth it though. i just need to wear it and get over it !!!
I haven’t dried it. I don’t even have a dryer! I’ve just handwashed it once. I don’t know why I have a problem with pilling 🙁
i don’t dry my everlane sweatshirts either or my E&J sweatshirt, and they pill horribly. i guess it’s just the fabric blend….
I agree with Joanna: Try shortening the straps rather than changing the hem. As I recall, mine has some room in that area. You don’t want to lose the flow and drape of the dress…that’s what MAKES it!! I still love mine, but never even thought of layering it like you did. COOL idea! I’m going to try that. And at the risk of sounding “nana nana boo boo,” I’m tall enough that it’s more like ankle length on me!! 😉
Have you tried to belt the dress and kinda blouse it? That could buy you sometime until you figure out how to shorten it. While hemming it properly could be expensive you’ll wear it a lot more so that balances it out?
I love the dress on you tho…
You look just adorable! I really like this look; I always like your looks! They are stylish, versatile, wearable, unique, and tres chic! They inspire me:) I love that you shop Target as well:) Extremely cool, and I love the color of the top on you, too! Fabulous look.
Love your ideas. Wanting to embrace them more, and really go back and see your “evolution”. I am trying hard to add in as much activity as possible, while looking stylish, and working 25 hours online. A conundrum, but a lot of what you are showing us is very versatile and quite fun. Hmmmm…..inspires me a lot! All the best, always!!!! Kim
Just wanted to add my 2 cents on Everlane…except for the basic tees I’ve ordered, I haven’t really liked anything else I’ve gotten from them. The original Ryan tee (they’ve since redesigned it) pilled, and everything else I have bought from them I’ve returned, including the sweatshirt, tote bag, and the seed stitch sweaters. The quality just wasn’t really there, and the fit was odd.
I haven’t tried their cashmere or silk blouses–there’s a plethora of quality options in the same price range on The Outnet and other places, so I’ve preferred to get them from the brands I know fit well and are good quality.
The one thing I can say about them is that they have free shipping on 2 items or more and free return shipping, so no issues with sending stuff back.
Oh, and that’s quite an achievement, ridding yourself of excess t-shirts! (Because what else could you call 15 EXTRA white tees?!? 😉
Let the dress debate continue. I love the long flowing look. But I also don’t like tripping over my boots. Gotta be a happy medium somewhere. I’d wear that to Target, and give ’em a taste of class!
thank you kim!
you’ve just inspired me to do a “day in the life” post – just to give an idea of what i do most days. although i’m afraid that wouldn’t be very interesting 🙂
thanks irena – i have tried to belt the dress, and while it does shorten it, i don’t like the overall look with this dress. i’m SO WEIRD when it comes to belting!! i don’t like it generally, only when the dress has a cinched waist already, you know? anyway, i have a problem with accessorizing 😉
i did shorten the straps already. but they’ve stretched again! and yeah, way to rub it in. 😉
i think i’ll be able to manage when it gets cooler and i can wear these booties with it…i’ll just have to hold it up a little as i walk!
<3 😉
I really, really like that idea, Kim and Grechen!
Thank you – and Jen – for being so honest — that kind of pilling issue or finding holes in fairly new tees would drive me up a wall.
the basic tees are GREAT, i recommend them highly – the $15 cotton ones – but i’d skip the ryan tees. i like the ryan tees (the new formulation doesn’t get holes for me, but the old one definitely did), but they’re not AMAZING. the price is good though…
the silk top i have is very good, i just don’t ever wear silk. i would probably recommend their silk if you’re not already beholden to another brand. and like jen mentioned they have free shipping on 2 or more items, and i’ve had VERY good CS when i had problems with items, and it’s easy to return, so they do that well.
i do still love and appreciate the company overall, i just think i’m a little over all the hype.