Why are so many dresses sleeveless? HELP!

berryblondeboys · 10-12-2011, 05:24 PM

I don't get fall fashions, winter fashions and sleeveless stuff. It makes NO SENSE. Today, I found this dress at Nieman Marcus Last Call. It is new with tags, marked down to $197 for the outlet and then another 50% on their clearance rack. It's a $600 dress. The photos totally don't do it justice (black does not photograph well), but it's stunning and a little edgy, so great for an anniversary out. I actually have shoes in that bronze color, but they are strapless slide ons, not sure how that will be for this time of year.

Anyway, I just found the dress on ebay (I got a size 12 in a store) but I am linking it because the seller shows it well. And I found it on another site. The dress is from the 2007 collection, which is why it is marked down so much in the store.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Carmen-M...454#vi-content

http://www.jansboutiqueonline.com/de...zoom-14340.jpg

The color is black, it's not slinky, but not sweater like either. It's a nice midweight, smooth black with those bronze snap/stud like sequins.

Question is, what to wear over it? It's mid October! WHy are dresses without sleeves?

I do have a shrug to another dress in black and a brighter bronze, but it's a size 24 women's! I had the dress resized to a 20 years ago, but the shrug was fine keeping it as it is. I now wear a size 12. It's really a big shrug now and gaps in the back. I also have a shawl/scarf in brass colored satin on one side and black velvet on the other, but isn't keeping a scarf/shawl on kind of annoying and it doesn't quite match, right??

I looked at boleros/wraps/shrugs/wraps and nothing works that I can see at the few stores I went to and I'm not wanting to spend a fortune and then brings me back to it - why do they make dresses sleeveless for this time of year? It's an obvious winter/fall dress, so WHY???? You just look COLD in such a dress - not 'hot'.

Suggestions on how to cover up/keep warm if the restaurant we eat out at is freezing cold? And black shoes? or the bronze slide on heels?

bargoo · 10-12-2011, 05:39 PM

A shrug or jacket , though a jacket may be too much.

berryblondeboys · 10-12-2011, 05:45 PM

But what color? what fabric? A jacket would cover too much of the shape/cut of the dress. I went to Niemann Marcus Last Call, Off 5th, TJMaxx and Marshall's before running out of time - NADA. It's a dressy dress, so a little sweater looks silly over it too - tried that.

chazma · 10-12-2011, 05:49 PM

I know im in the uk, but how about a shrug that only covers arms/back.shaped like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WOMENS-ONE...13049240528907

That way you will still be able to see the neck detail. Lovely dress by the way.

bargoo · 10-12-2011, 05:52 PM

it would have to be a cocktail sweater. dressy, but it will be hard to match. I like the wrap but they are always kind of a nuisance, slipping off. You could take the dress to a fabric shop and see if you can find a harmonizing fabric of some sort and have a wrap made and just live with having to keep it from sliding.

PS I never buy sleeveless unlesss I am positive I can wear something over it. My upper arms have gained, lost. regained and lost again too many times to wear sleeveless.

berryblondeboys · 10-12-2011, 06:08 PM

Interestingly, the shawl for the size 24 dress I have actually is the exact same color and fabric of the dress I bought, but the style clashes. Very form fitted and the billowy huge sleeves (black on outside, bronze on inside).

98DaysOfSummer · 10-12-2011, 06:18 PM

Are you looking for something to wear inside and cover your arms, or just something to get you to your event without freezing? I am not a fan of shrugs. They look like you're embarrassed by your arms and either they're too matchy-matchy or they look tacked on and make no sense. Wraps are a pain and never look right and are too bridesmaid.

I would just find a nice coat/jacket to wear over it (trench? something fitted!) and not worry about being cold inside.

bargoo · 10-12-2011, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by berryblondeboys

Interestingly, the shawl for the size 24 dress I have actually is the exact same color and fabric of the dress I bought, but the style clashes. Very form fitted and the billowy huge sleeves (black on outside, bronze on inside).

Can it be altered ?

astrophe · 10-12-2011, 06:49 PM

Alter the current older shrug, or have new shrug made?

A grown up denim jacket? Frock coat?

I don't know what look you are shooting for here. How edgy do you want to go?

A.

berryblondeboys · 10-12-2011, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 98DaysOfSummer

Are you looking for something to wear inside and cover your arms, or just something to get you to your event without freezing? I am not a fan of shrugs. They look like you're embarrassed by your arms and either they're too matchy-matchy or they look tacked on and make no sense. Wraps are a pain and never look right and are too bridesmaid.

I would just find a nice coat/jacket to wear over it (trench? something fitted!) and not worry about being cold inside.

I definitely do feel that most of the time people wear shrugs to cover up to hide. I'm not trying to do this, but I also think being bare armed in October kind of strange too - yet most of the dresses on the racks are sleeveless - even for fall. I don't get it. What if we are in the restaurant and it's cold? I don't want to wear a coat in the restaurant, but the shrug I have and shawl would be annoying too (sleeves are huge on the shawl).

astrophe · 10-12-2011, 11:56 PM

To me it's a summer dress in a black dot fabric good for a night out. I don't read it as a "fall" outfit per se. Maybe it's geography influencing how we see the dress?

Here it is warm all the time so we don't much bother. But I suppose sleeveless pieces in cold areas are to support the layering factor? When it is freezing out and you walk in a hot house or something you can then peel down to the right level?

Just get a pretty something and call it good and have a nice time out for your anniv!

A.

berryblondeboys · 10-13-2011, 02:39 PM

Ok, I bought a little sweater shrug meant for dresses. It's simple and understated. I can tuck it in my purse and if it's chilly, I can slip it on over my dress, but I won't wear it to cover up if I don't need to. I also have a nice dress coat for the evening walk.

it's been so long since I've gotten all gussied up, I almost forgot how!

bargoo · 10-13-2011, 03:51 PM

I think you are going to look great !

Munchy · 10-13-2011, 04:07 PM

That dress could be worn in any season depending on how you accessorize. A little shrug would be perfect! Have fun!

astrophe · 10-13-2011, 08:11 PM

Great! You are all set!

A.