Mociun linen wrap dress | few years old, purchased secondhand
Eileen Fisher sandals
3.1 Phillip Lim Ryder satchel | embossed version 25% off at Azalea w/code GRECHEN25
Is this one of those pieces I never wear, but should keep? I am going back and forth the more often I look at it. I love the dress – it’s the perfect print for me, a flattering shape (although too big for me now), and should be easy to wear, but I don’t wear it a lot. I’ve had it for a couple of years; I bought it at MOSS designer consignment already secondhand, and have worn it less than a handful of times. Why?
When I first got it, it was quite tight on me around the waist, so not too comfortable to wear. Now it’s the opposite problem; it’s too big and shows it right around my hips. It’s actually the way the dress is supposed to look, which is honestly why I avoid this style mostly, even though it’s a “traditionally” flattering shape for a pear. I just feel like it accentuates my hips too much. It also needs a slip, and to be taped shut at the neckline (I don’t like camis under dresses like this – I don’t like how it alters the low v-neck). Which just makes it feel more high-maintenance than it ought to be.
BUT, I love it. And I know that it looks great on me. It makes my legs look nice and slim compared to fitted skirts & dresses, and it’s the perfect length.
Sigh. I think I should keep it. If I only wear it once or twice a year, it’s still worth having. In fact, maybe I’ll wear it to the blogger conference I’m attending at the end of the week…it’s sort of “nice” but still casual…
I love this dress on you. It might be my favorite look I’ve seen on your site. Have you tried a v-neck cami?
Keep it. Wear it this week. It looks fab. Cap sleeves (OK, a little bit longer than a cap sleeve), V-neck, fit and flare. This is a formula that works for you, so work it, girl! I don’t think it makes your hips look big. On the contrary, the empire waist hits you at the smallest part, and draws attention up to your tiny top half and face. It makes your legs look a mile long.
Thanks Liz! I don’t have a v-neck cami, but generally I don’t like to layer that way, I don’t know why really… Maybe it just adds to the high maintenance feel? I usually just use some fashion tape to stick the edges together. Works well enough…
Thanks laurel! Ah… Fit and flare… I know it’s a good look for me, but it always seems so extreme if that makes sense. Like it really accentuates my waist/hip ratio…
Love it! I would keep it and wear it often! An alternative since you also love leggings is to perhaps shorten it a bit (3 to 5 inches? or not, it might look just fine as is) and wear it with leggings or pants. A camisole or L/S scoopneck top underneath would be optional depending on weather, but not a must.
Keep it!!! Looks GREAT on you.
I love that dress on you and I really love it with those EF sandals!
I think patience and a second look are so valuable with dressing ourselves. One say I’m ready to chuck my J. Crew matchstick jeans but then I roll the cuff and wear with boots and suddenly they are competing for a slot in my bag for an upcoming trip… Some days I feel lumpy and later on the week I’m smoking hot and bring on that form fitting top! Buy good stuff that you love and then wait, that item of clothing will reveal itself to you in its own sweet time…
Definitely keep! I think you look stunning in this dress! There should be a place for an item that you don’t wear all the time, but still makes you feel special once in awhile =)
I agree with the others, it’s a keeper!
I agree with the other commenters; it’s a really pretty, flattering dress. Personally I’d be tempted to keep it simply for how special it is, given that Mociun doesn’t have a clothing line any more and these are kind of rare, coveted pieces.
that’s a good point! thanks 😉
you are right, as always, nanashi 🙂
thank you.
this is true zanna – but sometimes what i find happening is that i’ll “give new life” to something only once. then it goes back into a box…
i do feel like i ALWAYS buy what i love, and that fits me well, i just have TOO many things, so many that i can’t possibly wear them often enough. and then i feel overwhelmed because i do love everything and feel like it should get worn more often. so complicated ….
thank luna! i have worn it over a long sleeve top – actually the first time i wore it on the blog i think i did that…
i’m going to try and wear it as often as possible this summer, and keep the length – it’s a great length for me and i think i’d wear it more often without leggings (i’ve worn it with tights)…
I love that on you, super flattering!! Maybe try a tailor to take in some of the fabric? Such a great dress, definitely don’t get rid of it.
Keep! looks great!
Grechen, keep it! And wear it more than a couple times a year!
This is such a polished yet casual look – totally perfect for you. It may feel big in the hips, but honestly, it looks perfect. If you ever want to sell it, I’m in!
YES, wear it to the blogger conference. You look amazing.
Personally, I think you look fantastic in the dress, and it’s not outrageously big (tailoring, as previously mentioned?). But, let me plat devil’s advocate for a sec: You sound like you’re trying to convince yourself to keep it, and we’re all more than happy to enable you to do that! (Me, too, ladies!????). Plus, isn’t perfect fit one of the main “keep” criteria? Ask yourself if you’ll REALLY wear it, or will it just take up valuable closet real estate? Tough questions, but we have to be tough to enact change! Just food for thought…
Grechen, I gasped when I saw this picture popped up. You look fabulous in this dress, please think about keeping a spot in your closet for it.
I would suggest you wear a belt if you feel like it is too big in the waist but I know you don’t wear belts. Honestly, you can’t tell particularly because the waist is defined. And I don’t think it makes your hips look bigger especially because the sleeves give some width to your top half (not in a bad way, it’s just the nature of cap sleeves) and make you look shapely without putting a spotlight on any particular area.
Do you have any of those cami bras? The ones with the panels of lace that keep you from having to wear a cami AND a bra. You have a bust size that lets you get away with a lower neckline, but I can understand wanting a little bit more coverage.
I think this dress looks fantastic. That being said, I also know what it’s like to have things like this (things you know are flattering for your shape, etc.) in my closet, that I never wear. I don’t want to talk you into it if you honestly don’t see yourself wearing it. It is a bit more dressed up than a lot of your outfits, so might be nice to keep on hand for occasions when you need to be a bit more formal? I think it’s always a good idea to have a back up or two for these occasions…
You do look great in it–definitely doesn’t look too big…it drapes beautifully and gives a lovely silhouette.
I agree that the dress is a keeper! And with the other comment to try a belt with it. Especially a thicker one – 2-3″ or so. I think you have the perfect body for this style. I try to wear this style of dress with my 34 E chest and get comments like “really awkward, Mom!” I’m also still loving those shoes – might need a pair!
The dress does look good on you and I think it’s quite slimming as it’s gathered at the narrowest part of your waist. Yes, I also get annoyed with gaping necklines .. but I’m no seamstress either, so I’d opt for the camisole.
Monica.
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I agree with everyone, the proportions of this dress look great on you. It is a really polished “lady-like” look. I think your every day style seems to be a little more casual than this, very nice clothes, but more relaxed, and so that’s probably why you don’t wear this dress as much. Do you like the proportions of the dress without heels? I think its fine to keep a dress that you’ll only wear a couple times a year, if it fills a niche that your day-to-day wardrobe doesn’t. Also, I totally agree with you about not liking tank tops under v-neck tops. And I love those shoes!
i do like this dress, and i think because of the length it also works with flat sandals – although it’s better with heels – so i can wear it a lot more often than i do…but you guys are ALL right, it’s worth it just to keep for wearing only a few times a year. i suppose i hesitated because it’s such a different style for me, but i do NEED to have a few things that are “different” in my wardrobe…
As everyone else has pointed out, you really do look great in this dress. However, I can totally understand why you don’t wear it that much! I have a similar dress and while it fits great and is appropriate for many situations, it just sits in my closet. I think (even though it has a cool Mociun) print that this style is a little “sweet” or just falls outside of your typical taste (mine too!).
All that rambling and I still say keep it 🙂 it is nice to have something you can throw on and KNOW will look good in any situation.
YES. it is just a little too “sweet” as you put it…i guess i could stand to be sweet every once in a while though 😉 i normally veer away from sweet, i even prefer sour candy LOL
This dress looks beautiful on you! I usually don’t advocate keeping items you don’t love or feel you need to fuss with, but this seems like a fairly comfortable, slightly special occasion dress. Keep! And as for the neckline, that drives me crazy too, especially with my small chest, but why don’t you just put in a couple of tiny stitches to keep it shut permanently? I did that with a J.Crew dress that was way too low and it looks fine. Oh and this dress does not make your hips look big. It’s perfect. 😉
thank you! i thought about that, actually, stitching it up, but it’s a true wrap dress, and it would be nearly impossible to get into 😉 or very difficult anyway…
Keep the dress! It’s lovely on you, and uber flattering. If you end up selling, let us know 😉
It’s “prettier” than your usual style. My litmus test would be, do you have occasions where you will need something like this, and you have nothing else?
Lunch with girlfriends, date night, blogger conferences:).
I have a navy linen shirtdress that I keep just for lunches with women. Weird, but there you have it.
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haha. yes to blogger conferences. i have some occasions, but not many, but still it’s worth having definitely. and since i bought it secondhand, the cost per wear was already sorted out 😉