Here's a full view of the dress, which is by Carven. I'll be honest, though, I don't like the styling here. Not glam enough!
Would you wear it?
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
The Daily Dress: 40s-Style Midriff Dress
Here's a full view of the dress, which is by Carven. I'll be honest, though, I don't like the styling here. Not glam enough!
Would you wear it?
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Not me I'm afraid... although I do like the drapey skirt.
ReplyDeleteOoooh I think it's quite daring and dramatic! Would be fun to make it in a nude/skin tone, and the cutout would be even more subtle. Sexy!
ReplyDeleteThe styling makes it look like a schmatta. Sheesh. Put the girl's hair you in a glamorous hairdo, give her some bling and some dress shoes.
ReplyDeleteNa not for me.... There are much better 40's-style dresses out there!!
ReplyDeleteI would definitely wear it without the cutout.
ReplyDeleteI love the bodice - I'd wear it with the cut out. But that skirt offends me. I don't like the draping it has. I think the dress looks terrible on the model, I think it's just overall too big on her and the styling is yucky.
ReplyDeleteLooks great in the pic but awful on the model. She looks like she's going to some kind of toga party wrapped in her bedsheets, it looks unflattering and I can't see how to transform it. Perhaps therein lies the challenge for you, Gertie?!
ReplyDeleteI can see myself wearing the cutout bodice, but with a much more "flow-y" skirt. I do agree that the bodice cutout is subtle enough even for me, but I agree with Liz and Molly, don't like the skirt.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there's still a cutout on the picture without the model, and that's the back showing through?
ReplyDeleteI like real 40s, and this is pretty close, especially with the natural waist. I'm not a fan of the excessive draping of the skirt, though. It needs to be either more simply gathered and draped, or dramatically like a sarong. As-is it's more like a curtain.
eeew! The skirt is terrible. I like the bodice without the cut out.
ReplyDeleteI would wear it - gallbladder scar and all! It is different and that is what I like!
ReplyDeleteWho would think a designer could make a midriff-baring dress look dowdy? The styling of the model is very off, and I agree with everyone that the skirt looks like a bad high school version of Julius Caesar. Nice try, but Gertie, you could do much better!
ReplyDeleteI like this dress a lot(probably flattering to a heap of body types with a little skirt alteration). :)
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ReplyDeleteI like the dress, but it looks too big on the model. For peekaboo midiff though, you can't beat Marilyn in Niagra:
ReplyDeletehttp://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lmp5SsvpIMo/SrFkanVIBgI/AAAAAAAAALk/yrWIYraxux0/s1600-h/Annex+-+Monroe,+Marilyn+%28Niagara%29_08.jpg
I love it personally x
ReplyDeleteI love it (if it had a different skirt). Have you found any patterns that might replicate the look?
ReplyDeleteI'd wear it without the cut out as I'm not comfortable wearing stuff that shows midriff. Sometimes even the v-back style (which I love) wigs me out because I feel like I'm exposing myself when the wind hits my back. Crazy, I know.
ReplyDeleteI like the draping of the bodice, but not so much the skirt. I don't know if it's just too big on the model or what because I like the idea of the skirt, but for some reason it's super unflattering on that model.
I know there are some 50s style skirts that use a similar draping method, and Ceil Chapman used it in several of her dresses, but she made you look like a Grecian Muse while that one just looks frumpy.
I say, go for it, though. I'd love to see what you accomplish with it if you decide to take it on.
I just watched 'Bathing Beauty' with Esther Williams again after many years and a lot of the costumes have that same look and cut out. Watch that movie again, lots of inspiration!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036628/
Even if I were the midriff exposing type, I wouldn't wear it with that skirt. To me, it looks like it got caught in her waistband.
ReplyDeleteThe bodice, though, is cute.
I agree with those who dislike the draping of the skirt, but I think the cutout is cute. It instantly reminded me of the dress which Gwen Stefani recently wore at Cannes:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fashionfame.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/gwen-stefani-cannes-hairstyle.jpeg
I love the bodice and the color is beautiful for a summer sun dress, but I think I would prefer an ALine or flair skirt less bulk in my hip and tummy area for my shape.
ReplyDeleteOh, I wish. It's very cute, but even at the beach I'm not too keen on showing off that area!
ReplyDeleteI do love a good midriff bearing style, and adore the bodice on this! But I must agree with all the other commenters--the skirt draping is really off in some way. Maybe it's the styling, but I can't help but think it looks a bit confused: as if it doesn't know whether it's full and fluid or a wiggle skirt! lol.
ReplyDeleteI saw a drapey skirt in a photo similar to the skirt on this dress and loved it but when I tried it on it did the exact same thing and kind of just sagged at the front. :(
ReplyDeleteOkay so my comment just went kapoof!
ReplyDeleteHmmm, not sure about the draping with my hips (and the styling is a bit lack lustre) but I would definitely give it a go. It strikes a nice balance of overall coverage with just a hint of the peekaboos. I have wanted to try the cut out style for a while but often the cut-out is at the back and I cannot go sans bra. Nice find Gertie!!
I'd wear it because it's high midriff, and I've got a foxy ribcage! I really like it, it has the feel of playclothes. But that braid is horrendous- think of how cute a high pony would be, or a Betty Grable headband with a mass of curls...
ReplyDeleteI think it needs to be styled different. But I love the cut out, and the skirt. I like different draped silhouettes. And I can rock the hell out of a midriff! This dress is actually spot on, and mixes vintage with contemporary. To people that just find this dress baffling, check out http://www.fashionising.com/
ReplyDeleteFashion can be challenging sometimes. It's art. Some will love and embrace, and others will scratch their heads. This does not make one right or wrong. I think the daily dress is fabulous, and if you only showed dresses that fall into the "pretty dress" category things would get stale around here fast. I love a bit of creative fashion.
I would def. make it! Is there a pattern for this - or similar?
ReplyDeleteI'd earmarked some fabric for a dress with a middriff cut-out. I was going to put a circle skirt on it, but this is giving me ideas!
ReplyDeleteIn response to some people's comments about it not looking good on the model, I don't think that many clothes look good styled on models at the moment. The prevaling fashion seems to call for maximum slouch (all angles) and there's almost a grunge vibe to the way clothes are styled.
Hmm, how about a full circle skirt instead of this bublle draped skirt? That could really turn into a sweet sun dress.
ReplyDeleteNot sure I like it with the cutout. It might just be that it's too baggy and shapeless on the model, but it looks like someone trying to make a dress out of bedlinen to me...
ReplyDeletePresented off the model however, it is much nicer.
I adore this dress - it makes me want to go lounge on a pacific beach somewhere. So although the model is styled very well, I can see this being worn casually.
ReplyDeleteI don't know that I could pull it off, but oh, I'd want to!
I love the cutout and the neckline. The little sleeves are adorable also. I really hate the skirt, however. I would make it with a knee length circle skirt instead, I think.
ReplyDeleteForgot to add...Kinda partial to this cutout style...it's sometimes friendly to us larger fashionistas... :)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.monifc.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/l/g/lg_monaco_fuchsia.jpg
I loved this when I saw it in Vogue, although I'm not so sure about it on the model. I'm not usually one for random cutouts on clothing, but there is just something about that bodice. On the model the cutout seems a bit large, maybe something more subtle would be better. There is just something about it that I love.
ReplyDeleteYES! I fell in love with that dress in Vogue as well and have since been frantically searching for a vintage pattern similar to it.
ReplyDelete