Revealing...the J.Crew Terra Paisley Dress, post-alterations:
Dress: J.Crew Terra Paisley Shift in P0 (alterations : straps shortened, sides taken in, hemmed)
Sweater: Aqua Kids cashmere bolero in girls sz L
Shoes: Aldo satin Arnoldoa pumps (sold here)
This dress has proven to be ridiculously versatile - it looks nice as a "skirt" when peeking out under a black cardigan or jacket, it's classy with heels for dinner, and chic for a night out when worn with ankle booties.
Shop this look in petite-friendly sizes:
The Bold Patterned Dress
I looked long and hard online and couldn't find anything similar to the above dress! Bummer : ( Some other picks, though:
1. Nanette Lepore Exotic Shift Dress in 0 - so $$, I can only dream!
2. Ann Taylor Petite Patterned Sheath Dresses (in leopard, graphic or pink floral) in 00P
I have never tried on anything from Lily Pulitzer so I can't attest to the sizing, but I have a sinking feeling that it's not petite-friendly. I usually do not care for their bright and busy garments, but I rather like this classic sheath with gold lace. Have any petites tried this brand in size 0?
The Kiddie-Department Shrug
1. Nordstrom Girls Bolero Sweater in L or XL
2. Flowers by Zoe L/S Shrug in L or XL (no large sizes left online, but check Bloomies in-store)
I'm lovin' this little cashmere shrug from Aqua kids (Bloomingdales in-house line). Not bad for $30 something during their winter sale! I've been wearing it non-stop with all my higher-waisted dresses. I like digging for boleros or shrugs in the children's department, since the typical "short n' wide" fit issue doesn't apply!
Let's look at the dress again pre-alterations with baggy arm holes and shapeless waist and hips (see old post here). Oh...and is that the dreaded underarm flab I see peeking out of the arm holes?
And after the ladies at Hemmingway did their magic:
The dress has a side zipper and side pockets, which complicates alterations. My tailors ended up taking the torso in along the two back darts, resulting in a larger front panel than back - oh well! The loose arm holes were surprisingly fixed by taking up each strap by an inch or so. As for the hem, this dress is intended to hit at the knee (per the J.Crew model pic), but I had it shortened so that the busy print would not overwhelm my frame.
Perfectly done - clean alterations both inside and out! Total cost: $40 including a 20% discount. Very hefty price for alterations alone, but I have no regrets since I've already worn this 3x in the past month!
I loved this dress so much I wore it to dinner the night I got it back. Here's a photo of it "in action." Silly bf could not stop stuffing his face with pork chops for one second : )
