Why are so many dresses sleeveless? HELP!
 

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?

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

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Can it be altered ?

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.

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).

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.

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!

I think you are going to look great !

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

Great! You are all set! :)

A.