Misses Dress
My Fashion Dilemma: The Dress or the Skirt
Recently, I stopped into one of my favorite stores – the Studio in Brookline, MA to pick up something they were holding for me. Shopping in July is nothing short of hit or miss (often more miss than hit), but they had some inviting sales going on throughout the store, so I had to take a peek.
Our summer has been unseasonably hot, hot, hot! Very little rain, temperatures topping 90 and humidity hovering around the miserable level. As a result, my sleeveless tops haven’t seen this much action in at least 5 years.
It also makes wearing pants rather unappealing, so one of the things I have been looking for is more casual skirts. The fashion world, however, has had other ideas, and the pickings (overall) were slim. Dresses, yes…skirts, not so much. (The Studio actually had one of the best selections of skirts of any store this past spring.)
As I perused the racks, I thought I’d see what (if anything) they had left for cute skirts. Two items caught my eye right away. One was a green/yellow/brown jersey skirt. The other was a dressy dress. Ooops, not what I was looking for, but hey, there it was. It was a gorgeous ombré (gradation of color from dark to light) design of blue floating down into a shimmery taupe. I was intrigued enough to try both on.
The skirt was nice but the dress was amazing! My first thought was, “Well, the skirt is practical and the dress isn’t. It’s also comfortable and a great price…”
Then, I asked myself the most critical (and revealing) question of all, “Do I love the skirt? Am I excited to wear it?”
The answer was a resounding NO! Practical, yes. Comfortable, yes. Great price, yes. Fabulous…no!
In my heart I knew that if I got it, it would be okay. But, as I tell all my clients, okay is never good enough! Do that often enough and you end up with a ho-hum wardrobe (one of the reasons many women come to me in the first place). It’s a slippery slope so you have to be vigilant.
The dress, on the other hand, made me smile. It felt great (very comfortable), was a great price, and I felt like Grace Kelly wearing it! I admit I even had to squelch the urge to wear it home.
Yes, I have no occasion to wear it right now. But, there are two things I tell all my clients:
- When you find a dressy outfit you love, buy it – even if you have no dressy event on your calendar! If you wait until you need something, you can’t always find what you want and often end up settling for something second rate.
- If you buy it, the universe will eventually reward you with an occasion to wear it. (Or, as I talk about in Chapter 7 of “Who Taught You How To Dress?” – there are all kinds of creative ways to wear something you are saving.)
So, what do you think is hanging in my closet now? That’s right! The dress, and I know I’ll be wearing it before too long and will feel great.
Do I miss the skirt? I miss the idea of a skirt but I don’t miss that particular skirt. I’ll just keep looking. I learned first hand a long time ago that it is never worth it to settle for something you don’t love.
Have you had a similar shopping experience? If so, which choice did you make and how has it worked out (or not) for you?
About the Author
If you would like to use this article in your newsletter or blog, please feel free to do so as long as you include the following attribution and live website link: Written by Ginger Burr of Total Image Consultants, http://www.totalimageconsultants.com. ©Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Man in a dress misses a penalty!
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NEW Miss Selfridge Grey Sequin Strapless / Bandeau Dress Size 12 $34.78 |
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McCALL’S 7305 MISSES FRONT BUTTON DRESS PATTERN SIZE 18, 20, 22 $0.99 |
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McCalls 5094 Misses dresses in six looks 12 14 16 18 dress sewing pattern uncut $6.99 |
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Vogue 8316 Misses dress sewing pattern 6 8 10 loose fit frotn pleat bodice $9.99 |
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Simplicity 8008 Misses Bib loose fit pullover dress 10 12 14 16 sewing pattern $6.99 |
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MISS SELFRIDGE Black Empire Line Leather Keyhole Neckline Dress UK 10 $39.52 |
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DARLING VINTAGE VICTORIAN DRESS Misses Sewing Pattern 3111 8 10 12 14 $8.99 |
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McCalls’ misses dress pattern #8906 size 10 12 14 cut vintage $1.50 |
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Miss Me Women’s Dress $125.00 |
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Misses Size M~Cocktail Dress Evening Wear~New~80% Off Zynyas Boutique $11.69 |
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Vogue Easy Options Sewing Pattern MISSES DRESS 3 Styles 6-10 Uncut $3.48 |
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1981 Jim Henson Dress-Up Muffet Doll Fashion (Miss Piggy) CUTE!!!! L@@K!!!! $24.99 |
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Butterick Pattern 3017-Misses Formal/Bridesmaid Dress sz 12 $2.25 |
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SIMPLICITY 6025 MISSES DRESS PATTERN WITH ASYMMETRICAL FRONT BUTTONS SIZE 14 $4.99 |
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McCall Sew Pattern 3646 Easy Miss Dress Top Jacket Vest $14.00 |
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womens size 7.5 black dress shoes Miss Wonderful 7.5 A $0.99 |
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BUTTERICK – MISSES DRESS OR JUMPER – SIZE 12 $1.25 |
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1960′S SIMPLICITY 5939 MISSES EVENING SHEATH DRESS 14 1/2 CUT COMPLETE $4.99 |
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MCCALLS 4574 MISSES DRESS OR TOP PATTERN 1975 SZ 14 $7.99 |
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Vintage 80s Misses Knit Dress Sewing Pattern Bateau Neck Front Cowl Back 9100 $6.74 |
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Misses Knit Unlined Jacket Vest Top Dress Culottes Pants Sewing Pattern 4159 $5.73 |
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BURDA MISSES BLOUSON DRESS SEWING PATTERN 7512 SIZE 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 $6.50 |
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MARIAN MARTIN 9407 VINTAGE MISSES INVERTED PLEAT DRESS PATTERN SIZE 16 $7.99 |
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MISS ME COUTURE DRESS XS-S-M-L MMCD1758 $38.00 |
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MISS ME COUTURE DRESS XS-S-M-L MMCD1758 $38.00 |
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Butterick Pattern 6642-Misses Semi-fitted Dress sz 18-22 $2.25 |
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BAY STUDIO MISSES SIZE 6 PINK/BLACK LINED FLORAL PRINT SLEEVELESS DRESS! PRETTY! $5.00 |
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Simplicity 6936 Sub-Teens, Teens’ & Misses’ 1-Pc. Dress $3.99 |
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New Ellen Tracy Khaki Lined Linen Career Dress Slacks Misses Size 2, 6 $43.99 |
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McCall’s 3258 Misses’ / Miss Petite Dress and Unlined Jacket $4.79 |
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McCall’s 3258 Misses’ / Miss Petite Dress and Unlined Jacket $4.79 |
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Stunning Navy And Cream Silk Dress By Miss Selfridge Size UK 8 $9.47 |
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Simplicity Sewing Pattern 2951 Misses dress Size 4 – 12 Project Runway Design $5.39 |
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MISSES STRAIGHT DRESS JUMPER McCALLS PATTERN M4585 6 8 10 12 $7.50 |
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Vintage Miss Selfridge 1940s 1950s Rockabilly Swing Gypsy Wench Dance Dress 12 $4.90 |
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VINTAGE KWIK SEW 926- MISSES’ DRESS FOR SOFT WOVEN OR KNIT FABRIC UNCUT $9.99 |
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WOMEN MISS BISON SUN DRESS, SIZE MED FULL LENGHT $12.99 |
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SSaver Pattern 8580-Misses Dress w/flared skirt sz 6-12 $2.25 |
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Vintage White/Ivory Dress (MIss Hart) Authentic 70s dress $16.50 |
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Style Pattern 4942-Misses Button-Font Dress sz 12-16 $1.35 |
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TONNER Little Miss Matched 15.25″ Tall ‘ROCK ‘N’ ROLL GIRL’ Fashion Dressed Doll $48.99 |
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TONNER Little Miss Matched 15.25″ Tall ‘ARTSY GIRL’ Dressed Doll – Black/AA $48.99 |
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MISS ME COUTURE DRESS XS-S-M-L MMCD1755 $42.00 |
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TONNER Little Miss Matched 15.25″ Tall ‘UPTOWN GIRL’ Dressed Doll – Red Head $48.99 |
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TONNER Little Miss Matched 15.25″ Tall ‘SPORTY GIRL’ Fashion Dressed Doll Blond $48.99 |
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STYLE 2371 MISSES FITTED FORMAL EVENING DRESS SEWING PATTERN SIZE 6-16 – UNCUT $17.99 |
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B 5820 Sew Pattern Misses 8-12 CLASSICS Fast&Easy 3 Hour STRAIGHT FITTED DRESS $5.50 |
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See & Sew 3365 Misses’ / Misses’ Petite Dress $1.79 |
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See & Sew 3365 Misses’ / Misses’ Petite Dress $1.79 |
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MISS ME COUTURE DRESS XS-S-M-L MMCD1836 $38.00 |
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MISS ME COUTURE DRESS XS-S-M-L MMCD1836 $38.00 |
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Misses one piece dress Pattern Advance #9052 size 14 $1.50 |
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B 6016 Sew Pattern Misses/Misses Petite 8-10-12 JACKET TOP DRESS PANTS ~ UNCUT $5.50 |
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BN MISS SIXTY BROWN LACE BACKLESS DRESS SZ 10-12 Medium $63.21 |
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Summer Dress by Miss Chievous SZ S $1.99 |
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