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| Outnet.com: Sonia Rykiel, Vince, Reed Krakoff, Marc Jacobs |
I don’t
know about you but I never leave time to buy myself something to wear for the
holidays. Maybe you’ve poked around in
the Misses department in between buying a sweater for your husband and another
pair of gloves for your sister. If
so, then you’ve noticed the racks full of dresses and most on sale. But have you carved
out some time to shop for a Christmas dress in between the endless gift buying,
cooking and decorating? We should all
take an afternoon off, grab a friend or not, have a nice lunch and try on some
dresses. And I think I’ve rediscovered the
style that will make this easy and painless.
The Shift Dress
You may
have worn one in high school although peasant dresses were more popular with
the hippie generation on the few occasions we took off our jeans. The shift dress is a perfect style for a
second life when our bodies tend to take on a shape of their own. By definition, a shift dress is a boxy style
that hangs straight from the shoulders with no waist definition. The only fitting is in the darts at the bustline. A shift is usually sleeveless although there
are variations on that. The hem hits at
or above the knee and the neckline is typically scoop or boatneck.
This silhouette
dates back to the 1920’s. The irony is it
was first worn by the young flappers who spurned the fitted waists and house dresses
of the turn of the century. This move was
less scandalous and more practical in that the modern women wanted to wear something
more comfortable to dance and shift their hips in. Our grandmothers might be amused to see that
we have reconsidered a style they helped to invent.
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| I guess these hemlines were considered risque back then! |
A number
of online fashion and shopping web sites have been promoting the shift dress
this season. Real Simple recently featured
shift dresses and gave pointers on how to select one based on your shape and
height. The most inspired collection I
found is at TheOutnet.com although I should warn you there are limited sizes
left. Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus each
have an impressive assortment of shifts, a lot already marked down.
While the
shift dress has a specific shape the overall
look is as
varied as the designers that include it in their collections each year. Take a look at some in the slide show below
and click on the store links above to find more about the shifts you like most. But first remember to take some
time off for yourself…even if you don’t wind up buying a dress. In that case buy an accessory and shop your closet!
Maryl,
ReplyDeleteBig thank you....I had never been to outnet.com before....
Hapy Holidays to both of you!!
Cheers, P.K.
Thanks PK. I've yet to buy a dress at outnet but I feel this is my year? Happy New Year!
DeleteA lovely selection - and I like the fact that they're not black!
ReplyDeleteYes, I like that we're back to color although I do miss my black at times!
DeleteI would freeze in some of these thin little sleeveless numbers. The Chloe dress is divine! Nearly every time I see a dress on the rack that I like, it's too skimpy. (I'm tall but not a plus size.) Are you wearing your dresses 6-8 inches above the knee?
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't wear short skirts. My upper legs, that would be my thighs, aren't that great. But since I'm not that tall the lengths tend to be longer and closer to my knee. Black tights can help too.
DeleteSo takes me back to my wardrobe in NYC in the 60s. LOVE that style!
ReplyDeleteI'm there with you Carolyn. Let's bring them back!
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