Firecracker's Blog

My Paris dress

August 11, 2015

Angie's post today on skirt and dress style was timely for me. Last night I put on the dress I bought in Paris this summer, and which I wore on my birthday, for a day of sightseeing and hanging out with my sister-in-law and family in Luxembourg. I tried it out with different footwear and jewelry options and took photos to show you.

The dress is a pale gray washed silk, low-waisted, cap-sleeve shift with a matching knit layer underneath. It feels so floaty and divine. It kind of makes me feel like I'm wearing a negligee in public! So I want to wear it very intentionally styled like a dress.

Here are the iterations I tried.
1-2: with metallic cutout peep-toe booties
3: with gray d'Orsay Mary Janes (this is how I wore it in Luxembourg on my birthday) and muted silver jewelry
4-5: with waist tie drawn up. I don't find this look comfortable or flattering, but what do you think?
6: with pearl-chain necklace with big ivory pendant
7: with gray fresh water pearl necklace, earrings, and bracelet
8: with long silver bead necklace
9: with Brighton stylized heart pendant
10: with gray & white stone necklace on gray cord, and orange platform sandals
11: with gray & white stone necklace on gray cord, and black & white snake print sneakers

In Europe it was extremely hot, and this breezy dress was perfect for staying as cool as possible and feeling stylish. I didn't need a topper. I will have to try it with different arm-covering options, though, and I'm open to your ideas!

Thanks for looking!

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Posted in the Dressing category
This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

38 Comments

  • Angie replied 9 years ago

    Killer Stunning. So ethereal and fairy-esque. Romantic too. You were a beautiful birthday girl, my Cancerian Sister. Wasn't the weather in Europe AMAZING. 

    All renditions are fabulous. I like #1 best though. SOOOOO gorgeous. 

  • Suz replied 9 years ago

    Gorgeous dress and stunning on you!!! Wow.

    On my phone so can't see details of the jewellery so well but I love all shoe options except the sneakers. Something about the lightness of the silk seems to fight with the sneaks.

  • MsMaven replied 9 years ago

    Such a great hot weather dress. I like it best with the Mary Jane shoes and it would look good with gray or silver sandals. 

    It does look good with no necklace and the booties. I like it with the shorter pearl necklace in #7 or the long necklace in #8, but I also really like #11. The other necklaces don't harmonize with the neckline so well. 

    #11 looks perfect for a really hot day when a necklace seems just too much, but bracelets are fine.

    I wonder how colored accessories would look, but then it is such a lovely, delicate and cool-looking dress, I'm not sure that say a green or blue necklace wouldn't detract.

    I can't think of a topper idea--I'd have to see some different items on you. I think the dress looks great on its own. I will watch and learn from other YLF suggestions.

  • Peri replied 9 years ago

    That is beautiful! It looks vaguely 1920, flapper-esque but modern. For that reason I like it best with the necklaces in 6 and 8. And those shoes too. But I really like all versions of it!

  • Style Fan replied 9 years ago

    Beautiful dress.  I like the first version the best but all seem to work.  It is so lovely and floaty and the #1 captures that the best to my eye.

  • Staysfit replied 9 years ago

    I like numbers 1 and 8 the best. Absolutely stunning!

  • Maneera replied 9 years ago

    It's a beautiful dress....so pretty and romantic <3

    I like the necklaces in 7&8 the best with it. All shoes apart from the sneakers work....this piece is a touch dressy and the sneaks just look wrong with it to my eye.

  • cjh replied 9 years ago

    I like 6, with the more defined pendant, and 11, with the casual shoes, best. Great dress!

  • Transcona Shannon replied 9 years ago

    That dress was made for you Sharan - it is simply stunning.

  • JAileen replied 9 years ago

    Such a lovely dress. I'd like to see it with delicate sandals or shoes. It reminds me of Marion Cotillard in Midnight in Paris.

    1
  • replied 9 years ago

    Oh, Sharan, it's gorgeous! I prefer it in it's natural state not drawn up in the waist and I like all footwear apart from the sneakers for the same reason as Maneera.

  • CocoLion replied 9 years ago

    Fabulous dress!  I like it with all shoes except the sneakers (I just never embraced the sneakers with dress look so that's probably a personal thing).  I prefer the dress with longer necklaces.  I like the idea of wearing it with delicate heels too.  The orange Kork Eases dress the dress down very nicely, plus add a shot of color.

    As for the drawstring, I love the way it looks from the back.  Draws the eye to your excellent backside in a good way.  But it's throwing me from the front.  So all in all, I think I like it better un-cinched.

  • kerry replied 9 years ago

    I love your dress! I think the sneaks are fun but my favourite footwear choice is the peeptoe booties. I also like it best with the just the bracelets. But really you can't go wrong with any of these. What a dress!

  • Sal replied 9 years ago

    Really stunning on you!
    I love all iterations except maybe the sneakers and I prefer it not drawn up.
    I could see it with muted pinks, blues, greens or white but it is lovely with the silver.

  • Eliza replied 9 years ago

    Love this dress as it looks floaty, liberating and elegant. Like it particularly with shoes that have a bit of skin revealed; somehow they play well with its lightness.  Number one is my favorite; it lets my eyes go straight to how well your wear the beautiful lines of the dress. 

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    Thanks, everyone! I appreciate your thoughts on which looks you prefer.

    JAileen, it's too bad I don't have delicate footwear. (They usually feel so wrong on my high-volume feet.) I like Marion Cotillard's look! Oh, I have one pair of sandals that might work; I'll have to try them.

    MsMaven and Kiwigal, thanks for the thoughts on colored jewelry. It's another area that is fairly lacking in my wardrobe, though I do have one that I tried and didn't photograph. I kind of liked it, but it's old and needs polishing.

    Hmmm, mixed reviews on the sneakers. I think I was wearing them when I bought the dress and thought I might wear them together for sightseeing. But the Mary Janes are actually just as comfortable for city walking, and I liked them better with it.

  • replied 9 years ago

    Very lovely, I'm liking the first one best, looks a little more sophisticated than the others, something it would take experience and self assurance to wear.
    I'm trying to say you look very chic.

  • jenanded replied 9 years ago

    How beautiful!

  • texstyle replied 9 years ago

    Lovely dress - I think #1 steals the show for me all around.

  • Susie replied 9 years ago

    What a beautiful dress! It looks so lovely on you and I like #1 the best, though I also like it with the Mary Jane's almost as well. For the jewelry, I like the short necklace and really like the more delicate longer ones. I have a poison eye for dresses with sneakers (especially with the soft fabric of this one) so that's not my favorite rendition.

  • Thistle replied 9 years ago

    I like the booties in #1 the best. Very on trend.

  • Cococat replied 9 years ago

    What a gorgeous dress! The colour and style suit you beautifully.
    I prefer it with the booties in no 1, but I think it looks great in the other pics too. I don't mind it gathered for a slightly different look.

  • Elizabeth P replied 9 years ago

    Oh my goodness, what an amazing dress!

  • Deborah replied 9 years ago

    So beautiful!  I like all rendition except the sneakers:(

  • Runcarla replied 9 years ago

    Can you wear this lovely dress over your stone ankle pants? It is such a pretty garment, that I would like to see you able to wear it on more occaisions than warm weather alone. #1 is my favourite interpretation.

  • kerlyn replied 9 years ago

    Beautiful dress!  I like it best with the long pendant(#6).  Lovely!

  • Jaime replied 9 years ago

    Love it! I like it best without a necklace - #1 is my favorite!

  • unfrumped replied 9 years ago

    GReat dress! #1 is perfect.
    I'm not keen on the sneakers either but I think it's the laces and style.
    I think you could do a slip-on, like a pale silvery Van or something (not go to buy those, but just for ideas).
    I think a faded denim jacket might work, with sleeves cuffed or rolled, loose fit (of course that's not a dressy look), or a very soft pale leather, or pale linen. Something organic, softened palette.

  • Cerinda replied 9 years ago

    Squeak!  Killer.  I vote for metallic booties and pearl pendant.  I don't remember seeing you wear tonal and low contrast, so I get a real frisson from this.  Wow!

  • Parsley replied 9 years ago

    You look lovely in that dress, Sharan! And what a fabulous souvenir of Paris!
    It looks trendy with the metallic booties, but I agree with Denise that a pair of delicate heels would be pretty, too.

  • Brooklyn replied 9 years ago

    So pretty. The fabric looks very luxe. I like it best with the peep toe booties and sandals. And I prefer the long necklaces in 6 and 8 (keeping with the 20s theme) but I think no 7 works too. I prefer it without the waist drawn up. :)

  • Beth Ann replied 9 years ago

    What a gorgeous souvenir!  This dress is simple, but very distinctive.  I like it best in #6 and #8.

  • Deb replied 9 years ago

    Stunning dress. Great shape, drape, length, colour, fabric and so French! The quality looks good and it is both classy and classic enough to wear for many years. It looks absolutely lovely on you, especially worn long with long necklaces and lighter, delicate shoes. Give the sneakers a big miss though.

  • tulle replied 9 years ago

    I love the delicate verticality and 1920s sensibility of the long looped necklace in #8;  it suits the dress, I think.  Looks beautiful on you, and must be a dream to wear.

  • dashielle (Ann) replied 9 years ago

    Love love love that dress and you wear it beautifully! I prefer the peep toes as more modern than a strappy sandal, but I'm like you in that I need a little heft to my shoe or my feet look out of place. I also really like the chunky pendant for the same juxtaposition against the gossamer dress.

  • Firecracker (Sharan) replied 9 years ago

    My word! Thank you all for your comments and ideas.
    Carla, I like the idea of winterizing--or autumnizing it anyway--by trying it layered over pants. Thank you!

  • Vicki replied 9 years ago

    Happy birthday you gorgeous Parisian traveler, Sharan! I love your new silk dress with drop waist, which is so feminine and flirty and can float on so many different shoe choices due to its light and airy nature.

    I love the first pair, especially, and ballet flats are also great options. Best wishes on an exciting year ahead.

  • goldenpig replied 9 years ago

    Fabulous dress on you and what a great Parisian souvenir! I like #8 best because the necklace and Mary Jane footwear matches the 1920's flapper sensibility best. The modern sneakers are too heavy and jarring with the delicate dress. I also prefer it un-cinched to keep it loose and floaty.

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Welcome to my style blog. Dressing is something all of us do each day, but for me it is also a hobby. I like to find new ways to wear the clothes I have, make new clothes to add to my wardrobe (yes, sewing is another hobby!), shop for clothes, read and discuss fashion. Following You Look Fab has fueled my interest in taking outfit pictures to see where I've been and to get different perspectives on style. Thanks for joining me. I always appreciate hearing your thoughts.