It isn’t often that I dedicate a whole post to a piece of clothing that I hate. And I hate this saffron shift dress for a lot of reasons. I will sum them up:
- Wearing a shoulder bag with it is not possible because it pulls the dress (evidence above).
- When you sit down it rides up to a point where it becomes indecent (evidence below).
- When you sit down or ride a bike there is a huge gap between the last two buttons.
- It looks awful from the side. Like a sack.
- The colour isn’t half as good on me as I thought it would be.
- With a belt it becomes a little too short for my liking and it bulges if you reach for something.
It was a windy, stormy day when Loes took these photos. I thought it would be a good idea to do the shoot at the Amsterdamse Poort (Gateway to Amsterdam). This gateway is the remains of the old fortress wall protecting Haarlem. Loes was sceptic and she was right, the wind blew through the gate as if it wanted to sweep it clean like Hercules did with the Augean Stable (I know my classics haha).
Below: The Amsterdamse Poort (Amsterdam Gate).
Below: Nice, medieval building. You can image how they defended the town from such a gate.
Below: When the winds blows, my hair is all over the place and me no likey. My forehead is far too high to go without a fringe. I am covering the gap between the last two buttons with my hand and at the same time pulling the dress down.
Below: Inside the gate we tried to find a spot where the wind wasn’t so fierce. This photo of the side of the dress, shows it looks like a potato sack. And with my ample bosom the dress pulls up at the front as well.
Below: Oh gosh, standing on the bridge made matters worse. The strap of the bag is still pulling.
Below: Don’t like these Marks & Spencer shoes underneath a dress either. They are quirky and fine underneath trousers but too low to make it to a dress in my book. Also the suede folds in creases on the inner side of the shoe; not really visible in this photo but take my word for it.
Below: We decided to go to the quay (on the right in the photo below).
Below: As I originally planned, I changed the high heeled shoes for sneakers and added the belt. Hmm … doesn’t look half bad.
Below: Until the wind starts blowing again. This is far too revealing for me. I am laughing but I am not happy.
Below: Loes dared to sit on this bench.
Below: Oh look.. an Egyptian goose.
Below: Sitting pretty for us.
Below: We tried a more sheltered place. By this time my hair had given up and was stringy. Nope.. the dress pulls, bulges and rides up with a belt and a bag.
Below: Another wind swept place.
Below: With a cat on the roof (blurry picture).
Below: And a cat in a house.
Below: This, apparently, is supposed to be a cow.
Below: You can tell by my face I HAVE HAD IT.
A nice drink in restaurant Zuidam (near the mill Adriaan, see this post) was the end of our unfortunate photo shoot. They had hot chocolate with whipped cream for me.
Below: Detail of the restaurant.
Below: From the side of the restaurant we had a good view on the water and the bridge. This is a lovely bridge which turns sideways to open for ships. Two photos to illustrate this. By this time the weather wasn’t really nice anymore.
I will give the dress (which was second-hand) to somebody else. Somebody who will hopefully enjoy it.
What happened in my life this week
Let’s talk about comments first. I introduced Disqus as a comment system because I wanted you to get my reply in your inbox. I am not so sure whether it was a good idea as I got a lot less comments. I now have asked my technical lady who operates in the background to open Disqus for guest comments with no need to register. If you decide to use this, please leave your (first) name so I know who I am talking to.
A correction on the falling with the bike incident of a couple of weeks ago. I wasn’t actually standing on two feet when I fell with the bike. One foot was on the pedal, I was wearing high heels and my bike was heavy on one side. When the bike started shifting I only had one leg to stand on and that wasn’t enough. The bruise on my hip was significant but is now almost gone.
The week report is going to be short as I have to take care of dog Watson and husband Ron. Watson is at that stage where he is sexually active (7 1/2 months) and jumped on another dog who bit a hole in his leg. He had to be operated as the wound was deep and he was castrated in the same operation. Poor Watson. He is now walking around with a great big plastic cone around his face to prevent him licking the wound.
Below: One very unhappy dog.
And his owner Ron is a very unhappy man as he is suffering from shingles. Very severe and it is in his eye too. It is getting worse and more painful, so we have a nasty period ahead of us.
In the meantime I was gallivanting in Turin with Daniela of The Pretty Cute last week, shopping, giggling, eating and drinking coffee (I drank one for three days). More about that next week. If I have time to write the blogpost.
Below: I did well. All these clothes are heavily reduced. Most of them of previous seasons but as they are quality items, they will last a lot longer than fast fashion.
Greetje
Linking up with Patti of Not Dead Yet Style in her Visible Monday. This time about coping with summer.
Never knew that that supposedly is a cow! And I understand what you say about this dress…and i agree. Too bad, but you still made a good post about it!
Hahaha. I see you are reading a whole bunch of posts in one go.
Yes this dress was wrong.
wow,you look gorgeous in this mustard dress!!
That is very kind of you to say but I beg to differ. The dress has gone to a new home.
Greetje
I think with some tailoring the mustard dress would be more ‘loveable’ and have some shape to it. I’m not a fan of shapeless clothing and your views of the dress when wearing it with a belt is one of the reasons. I think the colour looks great on your though.
Too late haha… the dress is with a new owner. I thought at first the colour was great for me, then I thought it wasn’t and now I hear left and right it IS a good colour. I am losing my good judgement.
Greetje
Well, you look darn cute in this mustard dress!!! I definitely get the drawbacks and so…on to a different one!!!:-)
POOR RON!!! Shingles is very painful from what I’ve read! Watson really does have the blues!! You’re an angel Greetje!
Hah… no I don’t look darn cute in this dress. It is already out the door. And I am not an angel. Far from it. But I would be a devil if I didn’t help the people I love, right?
Greetje
Greetje, I laugh at your trouble with the dress, not AT you but with you. Out, out it goes!! Hahaha! We have no time for such things, especially when you have so many lovely, lovely things. Shingles, they are TERRIBLE!!! I hope Ron recovers quickly. Sincerely. No joke. Now I have to go back and read about the bike misadventure! I’m glad your bruise is almost gone though!
The dress is out.
Ron recovered very quickly, withing a week. And the dog is without his cone now as well. Everything back to normal. Yay.
Greetje
I prefer not to spread my e-mail around the internet so don’t comment if I need to leave it. Perhaps some blogs have had a bad experience with spam. Regarding the shingles, we have both had a vaccine for this, I would prefer to avoid this disease. I think you are one of the few women ‘of a certain age’ who wears high heels. For many, our feet now forbid it.
Glad I opened the opportunity to guest post Ida. Thanks for commenting.
An English friend of mine told me about the vaccine for shingles. I asked my doctor but in the Netherlands they say: “It doesn’t matter whether you have had it before (which is what the vaccine does) you can get it again. So we don’t do this”. As for myself, I have had it shingles for a tiny bit. My doctor said I was a very lucky woman.
High heels, yes I can wear them but only on even surfaces like the office. Outside on the street I can last two streets on high heels.
Greetje
Ah well…you can’t win ’em all! At least you are very firm that you don’t care for the dress.
That goose is stunning! I’ve never seen one like that before.
I really do not see the cow in that sculpture. LOL
Poor Ron and Watson. Hugs to them for fast recoveries.
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
I cannot see a cow in that scupture either. OK it has black spots but really…!
At least the dress made a funny and educational blogpost. It is now on its way to another lady (with explanation of the flaws).
Ron and Watson are indeed to be pitied. (And so am I …)
This was such fun to read, Greetje. Sometimes we talk ourselves into buying things don’t we? I try very hard not to do this (I hate waste) but it still happens from time to time. I’m glad you have got rid of this dress. Why have the hard job of trying to make it work? Life’s too short! And you have so many lovely things that suit you better.
I appreciate the post as this dress was not right on a few levels that would apply to me, too. I’m not tall, but like you I am slim with a good bust. Shirtwaisters can work very well with a slim belt but the cut and fabric are so important. I don’t bother with them these days, and hardly ever wear a shirt for the same reason; if the fabric has no stretch they either they pull on the buttons round the bust or are baggy round the waist.
Nowadays I much prefer a shortish swingy shape in summer dresses so I buy that style on repeat and love wearing them : )
You have become a wise woman. Most of the times I am more sensible but with this saffron shirt dress I must have been deaf, dumb and blind. Indeed I have too many nice things to bother with it. It is on its way to a new home (with explanation of the flaws of course). You taught me a new word : shirtwaisters. Had to look it up haha.
Greetje
Oh my, what a week! At least you had some lovely time in Italy before facing it. So sorry about Ron and about Watson. Healing thoughts to both of them. I love that you wrote a blog on what’s not working. I have always disliked shirtdresses. To be fair I don’t like dresses generally, but shirtdresses especially – stiff, no shape, gapping, etc. I’m glad you got rid of it. I love the heels on those shoes and I think they look great with the dress. I am like you about my blowing hair not looking good, so I empathize. It’s kind of fun to see the potential difficulties in a photo shoot although I’m sure it wasn’t fun living it. Bisous de la Californie, @sheilamerle
Yes, It is a bit heavy with the tasks at home. Feeling very sorry for both my guys. I do have shirt dresses which haven’t got any of the flaws you mention but this saffron dress is a bad one.
Glad you liked my post. Everything to entertain you dear. Entertainment ranks higher than pretty dresses as far as I am concerned.
Greetje
My breath caught when you said Ron has shingles on his face/eye. My Dad had them in the same place and I well understand how very serious that is. Although his treatment began late, he did not lose his sight. (I agree with your med system’s ‘doubt’ as to the effectiveness of the shingles vaccine btw) Vitamin C internally and Ravintsara EO topically can help…although obvs not to put essential oil near the eye. Oh, do take good care Ron!
This dress. Ermmm…reminds me of my Kalle Shirtdress which is fickle for lack of a better word. I totally agree with all you’ve said…and….find these issues with some of my Kalle dresses…especially with the bag on the shoulder ( or even my backpack on). The way the sleeves are integrated into the dress makes it all sloppy when I carry a bag via shoulders. One blessing of sewing is that I’m able to hem my dresses so that, despite the bosom, the hemline is even…well, unless I’m hemming with a horizontal stripe. Then I usually want that stripe to be even all way round….
Okay take care Ron. Watson. And you too Greetje. The routine of eye drops and ointments and meds is stressful for you as well, I’m sure!
Don’t forget the dog walking. The frustrated dog walking. Not nice with my knee.
I am taking good care of both.
The dress is already gone. No need for it. I have enough other nicer things.
Greetje
I think the dress is far too average for you. The colour isn’t bright enough, there is too much stiff fabric, and the dress doesn’t have enough sass for your style. Too conservative. Good riddance, I say. I adore the shoes though, and I quite like your windblown hair, even though you don’t! xx
A very good assessment. It is gone. The shoes are nice but I love them more underneath trousers. The windblown hair… these were the best photos. I will mail you one which will change your mind.😂
Greetje
Such a shame that the shirt dress didn’t work for you. I rarely wear skirts or dresses for work because it’s so windy – I had one incident taking photos on a bridge outside the office and the wind blew my dress up just as people were walking by! I play it safe in trousers now, unless it’s Winter and I can wear tights and boots! Poor Watson and poor Ron! I hope they are both feeling better soon.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
Thanks for sharing that funny story haha. This same Marilyn Monroe incident happened to me too. I was walking on the zebra crossing with cars waiting at the traffic lights when my skirt blew up, around my ears! Summertime as well. I just pulled it down and continued walking, saying to myself: “Don’t look at the side as the drivers are killing themselves laughing”. I was 23 so it was probably a nice sight haha.
Never stopped me from wearing skirts and dresses.
Greetje
Funny (strange) how you hate this dress (and I agree it doesn’t look perfect) yet your red Max Mara dress (similar style) does look perfect in all the photos you have uploaded. Why, I ask? Is it that the fabric is different so it falls differently? Or is it that you don’t like the colour?
My red Sportmax dress is much loser and is a far smoother fabric. I thought the saffron dress was a nice colour but in hindsight I think it isn’t bright enough.
Greetje
Oh dear! I have to agree with you – not your best today. However love the locations of the shots. Have a great day. Regards – Jill stylishatsixty
http://www.stylishatsixty.wordpress.com
As long as you had fun reading it. That is my main goal.
Greetje
Dresses (or even tops) that refuse to hang properly are too annoying to waste time on. Not when you have so many other lovely clothes in your closet. But you have provided a good lesson for others: when buying something it is a good idea to try to do things like sit, put a bag on your shoulder, assess how something looks from the sides or back and see if it moves nicely on you when you walk. My mother’s old maxim then comes into play–“When in doubt, don’t.”
I am so sorry Ron is suffering from shingles. Having had them twice, I greatly sympathize. Having them In the eyes is awful to contemplate. Wishing him a good recovery. Hoping they quickly put him on some kind of anti-viral medication that can help stave off post-herpetic neuralgia. Just don’t know if the same kinds of treatment are used in NL. Hoping Watson is feeling better soon, too.
My mother said the same: “When in doubt, don’t.” mothers are wise. I have given the dress to somebody else and told her about my difficulties with it. It is really only useful as a duster and I don’t need/want that.
Ron is on medication but really this virus just has to come out and walk its course. There is no cure for it. Watson is fine but frustrated because of lack of exercise. He has to be on the leash till Saturday.
Oh well. No heights without lows heh?
Greetje
Oh what a shame about the shirt dress, Greetje, but I understand. However, I think a pair of leggings and a bumbag would solve all those problems, provided you wear a belt and the sneakers lol! I actually think it looks great but I know how horrible it can be to wear something that isn’t comfortable on!
Your poor dog! All he wanted was a bit of a good time and look what happened?!! Awwwww 🙁
Have a fabulous week, Greetje!
Hugs
Suzy xx
The dress is gone. I will not put any effort into it.
The dog.. hmm yes, I do feel like a devil to make such a decision for a living creature which has nothing to say in the matter. I am sure he would not have chosen this. Poor sod.
Greetje
The dress is a great color, but the shape needs help. You could shorten it a bit and wear it over pants or leggings as a long shirt or coat. Maybe dark denim in blue and a colorful tee shirt underneath. You are so good at mixing bright colors, it could be great. The bag from Turin looks great. Probably not the effort to reassure the saffron disaster. I do love the color.
Shingles is the worst, my husband got it twice. Yhe second time near his eye which was quite dangerous they said, started him on serious medication which helped a lot. The new shot for shingles needs two doses. One can get shingles more than once, get the shots, soon as he is better. Dog will be fine, he may calm down a bit.
The medical world in the Netherlands don’t do shots for shingles as they do in the UK. They say you can get it anyway whether you have had it before or not. So no use.
I know that near the eye is dangerous and painful. I put ointment in his eyes 5 times a day. My mother has had it and a friend as well. Both near their eye.
The saffron dress is gone. As s you guessed correctly… I have better stuff.
Greetje
sorry that the dress feels so uncomfortable, I hate particularly when dresses have a massive gap between buttons which make them ‘too revealing’. Actually, you styled it brilliantly and love it particularly with a belt and sneakers. Sometimes this kind of dresses can work nicely as summer coats, over pants and a top!
I think that some green shades could enhance this color but it’s not so easy to match a saffron/orange color. Dark green or denim, perhaps?
I love the way you share your genuine opinions, love your witty remarks and love that you took the effort and looked for such a fabulous background!. Actually, love this post!
Hope Ron and Watson get well soon, poor boys!
besos
Thanks for your comment. It proves to me I don’t always have to show pretty things. We all learn most from out mistakes, right.
And you have given me great compliments. The ones I love to hear like genuine and witty.
Greetje
WAD it up and MAIL TO ME!
I shall wear with PANTS!
Willnot carry a shoulder bag!
XX
I am sorry darling. I already gave it away. Indeed with the advice to wear it as a duster.
Greetje
Ha, I love your face in that last picture – I feel like that when I hate something I’m wearing too! It’s too bad – that dress is good in concept but I totally get that it needs to be GONE.
Thank you so much for changing up your comments! I can post! I can post! (Sheila of Ephemera).
Ohhhh you are the first one to use my new guest comment possibility. Couldn’t be by a nicer person. Thank you very much. And I gave the dress away with full disclosure.
Greetje
Pity about the dress but I can see it’s not the best for you. However I do like the color. Hope Ron and Watson will recover soon!
Thanks Sylvia. Not too sure about the colour anymore either. Not bright enough. I did the Marie method and cleared out a lot of my clothes. Some space for the new ones.
Don’t be so hard on your hair as I think it’s actually quite lovely in the picture where it is wind-blown. 🙂 It makes you look quite young!
I only showed the “still reasonable” ones. Couldn’t bring myself to show the really terrible ones. Sometimes I do show them, sometimes vanity wins the battle.
Thank you for your kind words.
Greetje
You are so patient! I love the look of a shirt dress, though I don’t wear dresses myself, but I have no patience with clothes that have to be tugged or rearranged frequently! I give you kudos for trying so hard to make this dress work. Hopefully its next owner will have an easier time with it!
I am patient???!?? Really I am not. Patience is something I do not possess. At all. Loes, my photographer was the one with patience. I was the one in need of blog photos. And when I noticed that it was indeed an item of tugging and rearranging and a whole lot more I decided to tell this honestly to you all. It doesn’t always have to be hurray stories right?
Greetje
I commend you for doing a post on a piece you detest. At least you don’t have an armload of clothes that fit that description! I have finally decided to bite the bullet and consign all the things that are the wrong cut/color. You would think by my age I would know what works on me and what doesn’t, but I guess I am just obstinate, or crazily optimistic. Sympathies to both of your fellas, although I think Watson is going to be feeling perkier sooner than poor Ron. Shingles laid my poor dad out for quite a while, and he is a tough old codger(he is 95, so yes, he qualifies as old). Love your blog, even if it is a piece on why you don’t like something.
I know!! I agree. At this age we should know what works and what not. I am cross with myself for still buying the wrong things. Yesterday I cleared out my wardrobe of anything “that doesn’t make me sparkle” as Marie says.
Watson is already perky but limited as the wounds need to heal. Ron isn’t feeling good at all.
Glad you like my blog. I thought a post about something that doesn’t work, can be just as entertaining. And it doesn’t have to be a hurray story all the time, right?
Greetje
Oh, poor Ron. I had shingles years ago and it was terrible. and to have it near your eye! I hope he gets better soon. has he had the shingles virus shot? that does help. I have not had shingles again! You should just get rid of that dress! does not flatter your body! I make a lot of purchasing “mistakes” and I get rid of them right away or otherwise I feel so bad about the money wasted! I do like the shoes! any height works with dresses! and they should be kinder to your knee! You went to Turin? in Italy? to shop? or is there a Turin in your country? Love your blog. Plus, I love Loes’ shoes in your blog. What brand are they?
In the Netherlands we don’t have shingles virus shots. Our medical world says: even if you have had it before, it doesn’t protect you from getting it again. It is different in England, I know. I asked my doctor.
The dress is now in other hands with full explanation on my part.
Because I have flat feet and a low instep, my feet look huge in flat shoes. The higher the heel, the better my feet (and legs) look. My knee isn’t bothered about height of the shoes. Very strange but true. Of course you never walk as easy on high heels as you do on sneakers. But that has always been the case.
I went to Turin in Italy to see Daniela who lives there. It is a gorgeous town. And yes we shopped until we dropped. Especially in the Max Mara Group outlet: low prices, great quality. I am always like a child in a sweets store. And I have to make my move in that limited time frame. Daniela can check them out every week. So I bring a suitcase which is half full.
The brand of Loes’ shoes is Wolky. This is the link to their online shop:
https://www.wolkyshop.com/
Greetje
On no! 2 male patients!!!! How awful – and shingles are dreadful so my absolute sympathies, I dont know about the doggy operation but I assume that is not so much fun either 🙁 Anyway, I have to admit that dress should be lovely but even you cant quite redeem it – sometimes a piece of clothing has to stay an idea and not a reality as the reality doesnt live up to what you hoped (I have a biggish bust and my mother used to say I looked like my late grandma – a galleon in full sail, not good in certain things sadly). How exciting that you met up with Daniela – her style is gorgeous and I love her currently very quiet blog, I’m so glad to hear she is out and about if not blogging
My husband is just grateful for my attendance. The dog is a handful as he doesn’t get enough exersize. He isn’t allowed to run and be off the leash because his wounds have to heal. Fortunately the wounds don’t bother him at all, he is alive and kicking. The saffron dress is now with somebody else to whom I explained the difficulties of this thing. I think you can only wear it as a long jacket.
Had to laugh over your mother’s expression “a galleon in full sail” haha. But it is an annoying thing when you want to wear dresses. A wrap dresses is your friend. A shift dress your enemy.
I know Daniela sinds 2014 (I think) and visited her quite a few times. She only came to stay with me one time. But… she has the Max Mara Group outlet as an advantage.
I tried to get her back to blogging. She hasn’t decided yet. Just a matter of priorities: work, care for parents and balancing real life versus virtual life. We all struggle with this I guess.
Greetje
So sorry to hear about Ron’s shingles — so painful. Wishing him (and Watson) a speedy recovery. On the other hand, I chuckled all the way through the description of your blog shoot. I do like the dress with the running shoes, though. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Oh good, you chuckled !! The main purpose of my blog: to let you laugh or smile. That is much better than just showing another pretty dress.
Greetje
Oh no poor Ron! Shingles is the worst. I hope he is feeling better soon. I often wonder if I should get the shingles shot, perhaps I shall ask when I have my flu shot next week.
As for young Watson, that isn’t good at all. I remember before we had Blue neutered he humped everything! I mean everything. It was such a pain and embarrassing too, so I got him the el choppo. I felt bad about it but he doesn’t hump any more and needs must LOL…
An English friend told me about the singles shot for people over 65. I asked my doctor in the Netherlands, but the medical world here doesn’t believe in shots as you can still get it although you have had it before.
As for Watson…. I think you are right. And it is a pain for him to walk around with this cone. If we would have waited another 1 1/2 month, he would have had to walk with that thing twice in a short period. But you do feel like a demon when you decide such things for another being.
I can see why the dress isn’t working for you. Nice color, though! Poor Watson, the “cone of shame” is the worst. Better to get him fixed now, though.
I thought it was a nice colour too, but I am not so sure anymore whether it is for me.
Watson is fixed all right but he is only 7 1/2 months, which is rather early.
Greetje