Dress: Asos
Belt: DIY
Shoes: Forever New
You know that you probably Have A Problem when you’re able to identify a stranger’s clothing by brand, and you know exactly how much it cost, whether it came in your size, and what other colours it was available in.
Earlier last week one of the new interns at work came by my desk, wearing a great rust-coloured dress. I knew it was an Asos dress. I’d seen in online, and had dismissed it as simply “nice“. I was wrong. It wasn’t nice; in person it was GREAT, and the moment she turned her back I went onto Asos to discover that apparently I’d been the only person hadn’t seen its potential and it had sold out in a all sizes and colour incarnations. Bummer.
Sometimes shopping online is simply like that. You don’t realise how good something looks until you seeing it sashaying down the street on someone else’s back.
This dress was the same.
On the Asos website it’s OK. It’s a midi length dress, cotton jersey, with a ballet wrap front.
I saw the dress pop up in the “New Items” section months ago, and I didn’t really give it a second look. I have a full bust, so I don’t always have the best luck with wrap fronts, and cotton jersey isn’t always the most flattering of fabrics.
Then I saw it walking down the street in front of me.
The girl wearing it looked so effortlessly chic. The fabric was obviously heavier than I’d imagined (closer to the kind of jersey you find in leggings than the kind you find in t-shirts) and the cross-over bust sat high enough to be elegant and modest. I wanted it.
And of course, it had sold out.
So I’d been stalking the product page for six weeks, and lo and behold Asos re-released the dress in a range of new colours.
To be honest, I’d have preferred the original black, but the blue has its charms, too.
I wore it with my DIY’d velvet belt, a spangly pair of earrings, and some sparkly flats, and I felt gorgeous, but comfortable all day.
Belt: DIY
Earrings: Lovisa
Shoes: Forever New
you look awesome! and blue is really better than black 😉 black is just so boooooooooring! everyone has black dress!
True, LOL!
You look gorgeous but I think that with this skirt’s lenght it would have worked better with heels than with flats…Sorry for my awful english…
Agreed. I don’t wear a lot of heels though, I have to admit. I work on my feet, and I do a lot of walking, so I’m usually more comfortable in flats 🙂
This is gorgeous. If you’d have had a direct link I’d have bought it right away but I’m in bed already and hate seriously shopping on the phone. You look stunning in blue.
LOL, thanks Tinkster. Me too! I think I put the link up in the comments…. would people prefer it if I linked to the actual item (where possible), not just the shop?
Yes please !!! I can never find the good stuff !!!
You look beautiful! That dress is lovely.
Thanks Jocelyn 🙂
Very lovely!
I agree with you re: style- jacking, sometimes you need to see it on the girl to see it sing.
I get so many good style idea from stalking other people’s fashion, LOL! Much more than I get from magazines.
I like the navy- often more interesting and softer than boring black! And goes so well with your belt! Beautiful earrings!
I had my first ASOS experience- sent back all 3 dresses 🙁
Lots of bust size issues and one dress came to my ankles (and patterned so can’t shorten without losing nice prettiness). I love this on you,though it seems very long!!
Ah damn, that’s a same Shell. The dress lengths do seem to be all over the place, I have to admit.
It’s definitely one of the longer dresses in my wardrobe. I think I like it long though, it’s nice to have a bit of variety 🙂
I have this dress in the black – when it first arrived I was so surprised by the beautiful weight of the fabric! Will definitely be getting a lot of wear out of it over winter – and you make me want to buy the blue one!
I’ve been meaning to shorten it, like all ASOS midi length lengths its quite an unattractive length on me but otherwise, perfection 🙂
I know! I wouldn’t’ve bought it if I hadn’t seen the other woman wearing the black. The online pics don’t really do it justice, do they? I hope they bring it out in the black again though 🙂
beautiful earrings! they really compliment the dress perfectly!
max.
http://petticoatsandpantalones.blogspot.com/
Thanks Max! I like ’em 🙂
You look simply stunning in that blue. I do think the length is a little long. But overall, a lovely piece and it looks great!
I’ve been thinking about hemming it, but I think I’ll keep it long for variety’s sake 🙂 I have a LOT of knee length dresses!
Oh! Oh! Oh!
I’ve had that dress on my wish list for a while now but have been too chicken to go for it. Now that I’ve seen it on you, I’m convinced! I only hope I look as good in it as you do!
Thanks Michelle! It’s a lovely dress – I’m really glad I bought it, I think you will be too! Let me know how you go 🙂
Lovely dress. Been looking for it on the ASOS site. Do you have the style name/number or the exact page reference?
Hey Melinda, it’s this one here: http://www.asos.com/au/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2748587
Love the midi with the flats – very ballerina! I wish asos would have customer reviews. It would help with so many issues like hem length. You look effortlessly chic.
Thanks Siggy! I’m channelling my frustrated inner ballet dancer again, I think! I also wish Asos would do customer reviews!
You just made me buy this dress!
I also happened upon a merry purple bird print snood whilst perusing…. Life is good!
Seriously, that dress looks AWESOME!
Yay! I hope you love it! Let me know how you go 🙂
Oooo shazam! I have just had the same one delivered and I love it ..it was a great price too! It is a bit long on me but that is easy fixed. Looks lovely lilli … Will it be going to New York? 🙂
I think so! It’s such an easy dress to wear and pack and travel with!
Beautiful! What size did you go for? Was it a generous fit?
I bought my usual size 18, but there’s a bit of room to spare, and I could have easily got the 16
I don’t if it’s the models but I just can’t love the dresses of asos until I see them on a on someone else usually a blogger OOTD pic. The pictures on the website just doesn’t seem to do the outfit justice.
I’ve noticed that too! I wish they’d allow customer reviews & customer photos like Modcloth does
grrr so sad, it’s out of stock in all color. Don’t be sad for the other dress, i ordered it and return it, the fabric was awfull, polyester blend, just the kind of fabric really unwearable by hot weather.
That’s a shame 🙁 It looked so nice!
Stunning! X
Thanks Jo – I quite love it 🙂
Lovely! I wonder if the curve version skater length is too short? I agree with an earlier commenter that customer reviews would make asos so much better!
It does look quite short. I wish I knew what Asos’s obsession with crotch-skimming hemlines was. It’s often a good idea to check the length measurement (they sometimes list it) as I’ve found that the pictures don’t always give a good indiction of the true length of the dress
Hi Lilli,
Looking good as always. I’m assuming you’re wearing a UK16 (which is also my size)? Wondering firstly, if my assumption is correct, and secondly what you say about the fit – that is, could you have got away with a 14…..or even a 12?? It’s sold out in my size, but trying to see whether I might attempt the smaller one…. Thanks in advance
Hi Em – I’ve actuallu bought the size 18, which is my usual size at Asos, but because of the stretch in the fabric I definitely could have gone down a size.
It’s beautiful Lilli.
I’ve had only fails with Asos, unfortunately. The sizes are never right on me. But every time I see you wearing something lovely, I want to try again!
It’d definitely hit and miss. I’m lucky to have had more hits, than misses, but I’ve definitely sent stuff back, too. Thank Goodness for free shipping & free returns!
Hi Lilli, greetings from Edinburgh!
I’ve been reading your blog for ages but never got around to commenting before. I absolutely love your style and have just bought this dress as it looks so fab on you.
I’ve always been a bit suspicious of ASOS (probably because of the lack of customer reviews!) and never bought from them before. I’m glad that you say the fabric is a decent weight as I thought that since the dress was so cheap it would have to be poor quality. I think I’ll probably have to shorten it a bit though, as I prefer skirts to hit just below the knee.
One question – do you think that ASOS sizes come up small? According to their size guide their clothes seem to be cut a bit on the mean side.
And a shopping suggestion – I’ve just discovered a retro clothing website called Queen of Holloway: http://www.queenofholloway.com/ (I promise I’m not affiliated with them!) which you might like – really nice 50s style designs and prints.
In the regular size range at Asos I wear an 18 consistently, even though I’m officially an inch too big in the waist to fit that size. I think their size charts are a little miserly. If you’re between measurements definitely go down, and that goes triple for Curve!
I’ve had a bit of a hiatus from blogs I follow, so it was lovely to come back and read all your entries! Love all your new outfits! X
Welcome back!
I too bought it! You need commission 🙂
Em, I’m a 14 really but 12 fits OK (I think!?!) on me xx
Thanks Louisa – appreciate it. I couldn’t bear to miss it, size be damned, so my fingers are crossed 😉
Yes, thanks Louisa!
LOL! I’m glad you like it! I bought the 18, but definitely could have gone down a size.
Hi Lilli
You look totally fab! Can you please tell me more about the shoes, afraid I can’t find them on the website and I’m in love with them!
Cheers
Oh damn. They were there a week ago, and now they’ve disappeared! They’re the nude version of these: http://www.forevernew.com.au/Heather-Embellished-Ballet.aspx?p40845&cr=102543, and officially the colours “Champagne”
The stores still have stock though!
Thanks Lilli
No joy in the shop unfortunately. But thanks for the info x
Oh how cute! That dress looks divine. I love that heavier weight of jersey!
Me too! I surprised me… in a good way!
I bought this dress in black last year, but I LOVE the blue!
The dress is so cute. I just ordered it in green. Let’s see how it will fit my body 🙂
We should all take pictures wearing the dress and send it to you (and you to asos to ask for commission :-))
Now I am only waiting for the spring to arrive!
All the best
Anna
I was just asking my own readers about this dress and they sent me here! Havent had much luck with ASOS but just ordered this dress! Fingers crossed it is as beautiful as it looks on you!