June 28, 2006 | Dress Up
There are certain things I have no problem shopping for. Shoes being one of them. Shirts aren't usually a problem either. Jeans and pants are slightly more troublesome. But the thing I dread shopping for the most? A dress.
Part of the problem with buying an outfit that consists of only one piece is the sizing of women's clothes. The assumption has been made by the clothing designers of the world that if your hips are a certain size, then your boobs must match. My part of the problem is that my hips are about 3 sizes larger than my boobs. Admitedly, some of that problem has to do with my weight (which I may talk about at another time, but I'm not quite ready to yet), but even if that were to change, I think there would still be a size gap between my top half and my bottom half.
For years, I've tried on dress after dress only to have them either not fit over my hips, or to find that once the thing is on there's enough room in the boob area to fit half a dozen grapefruit. But on Monday, after almost giving up on finding a dress, I had an epiphany. EMPIRE WAIST. A few days previously I had tried on some tank top style shirts that had an empire waist thing going for them, and they fit! This revelation lead me to the conclusion that a dress with an empire waist may just be the thing.
I grabbed a couple of dresses off the sale rack at the Gap (I'm reluctant to admit I spend way too much money there, but I almost always have good luck and there stuff just tends to fit) and headed to the dressing room. I tried not to get my hopes up, given how unsuccessful the previous hour or so had been, which made me that much more excited when one of them actually fit! AND it looked decent on me! Also, totally on sale. The strapless bra I had to buy to wear under it ended up costing more than the dress itself.
For the first time ever, I have a little black dress. It's cotton, strapless, and knee length. It's perfect.
Congrats on finding the dress! That's so great. I don't have a real dressy little black dress but I found a cute one at Gap as well. It's a jersey knit tank dress. Very cute. I usually have good luck at Old Navy too.
I used to be a jeans kind of girl because they were the only thing I could find that fit. Now I can't seem to find jeans that fit over my hips and thighs so I keep wearing skirts. Great in the summer, I guess.
I love a good fit! I partook of a little retail therapy this weekend and scored a couple of great items. Pants included, which are my little problem purchase usually.
I really love this photo! I gave up on dresses years ago. I create my own personal drama in the dressing room. If it fits the boobs then not the bottom, then vice versa, natch!
Smooch,
The Tart
; )
Buying a dress is the biggest pain in the butt for me. I usually go with a skirt and top combo but I dream of finding the perfect dress.
I'll keep an eye out at the Gap, thanks :)
Des, I check gap.com every once in a while for good deals on pants. I found a bunch of cords for $12 each, and all I had to do was hem! :)
Marielle, I feel totally lucky that I found this dress, and I hope I'm able to get good use out of it. Chances are the next time I dress shop, I won't be so fortunate!
I haven't actually been into a Gap, but I bought a pair of Gap cords from a thrift shop and they fit perfectly!! I was in shock. Turns out someone had already hemmed them. But still, they are currently my favorite pants.
Perhaps I should try actually shopping there... hm. Congrats on the find!
With you all the way on shopping at the Gap. Hey, it share a birthplace with me, so I don't feel too bad about it - and the stuff fits me like nothing else.
The dress sounds totally cute. I have fit issues with dresses myself - so much so that I don't even own a little black dress, and probably never will unless I make it myself. Which, I hope, to have the skills to do... someday.