<p>NM, The dress is really great looking, classic and elegant, and looks like a great value, too. It happens, but it is very rare that I can buy a dress that does not need significant alterations. In your case, order what will fit on top, even if its two or three sizes larger than anything you wear and then take to a good tailor to see what is possible. Don’t be afraid to disregard your normal size, completely. Not sure if the sleeves might be an issue in this case. If it’s not practical just return it.</p>
<p>I second what roshke said. A good tailor can do miracles and save you a lot of time.</p>
<p>NMinn, your dress will look good with your D’s orange shoes. 
I like the navy-orange combo.</p>
<p>Speaking of colors… I was looking at some summer clothes collections, and was taken aback by the vivid, deep colors: greens, purples, bright blues… Not what I expected to see. But, according to the color gurus, this is what the colors of the spring 2011 will look like (and there is orange in there, too): [Fashion</a> + Home - Top Fashion Color Trends | Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2011](<a href=“http://www.pantone.com/pages/Pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20751&ca=4]Fashion”>http://www.pantone.com/pages/Pantone/Pantone.aspx?pg=20751&ca=4)</p>
<p>[Fashion Color Report Spring 2011 - brochure](<a href=“http://www.pantone.com/downloads/articles/pdfs/FCR_SPRING_2011.pdf”>http://www.pantone.com/downloads/articles/pdfs/FCR_SPRING_2011.pdf</a>)</p>
<p>I have a clear calendar on Tuesday and I am going to head down to the nearest Nordstrom Rack. It is about a 45 minute drive. I rarely go and if I do I usually have one of my D’s with me. With my D’s when we go it is all about them. This trip will be all about ME!</p>
<p>MN -I have a tadashi dress that my D refers to as my “soap opera mommy” dress. She means it as a compliment and I agree, it fits very well with a hint of sexiness. </p>
<p>Mom60 - May I go with you?? I must drive to our nearest Nordstroms one of these days. It will be at least a 45 minute drive but I need to get my act together.</p>
<p>Happy shopping, everyone! My local Nordie had a pile of Coach purses (very classy looking leather, not the awful logo fabric!) that just got marked down. I had to resist really hard because one of the bags just begged me to adopt it. I already have 3 purses… That’s two more than I had when I started posting on this thread.</p>
<p>Speaking of dressing young, it must be fun to be Helena Bonham Carter. [Golden</a> Globes Fashion: Best and Worst Dressed 2011 - Moviefone](<a href=“http://www.moviefone.com/golden-globes/photos/best-worst-dressed?icid=maing|main5|dl2|sec1_lnk5|36827]Golden”>http://www.moviefone.com/golden-globes/photos/best-worst-dressed?icid=maing|main5|dl2|sec1_lnk5|36827) Love the shoes!</p>
<p>Love, love, love the spring color predictions!</p>
<p>And what are the spring color predictions? I am confused-is this thread on COLLEGE CONFIDENTIAL ?</p>
<p>This is a thread in the cafe where parental units chat about things that are not college related. You should see the colonoscopy thread… :p</p>
<p>or the tag that is showing at the bottom of this page
?</p>
<p>Lol. EK, that tag had been there for ages (see the middle of this thread) - apparently, some kiddo was too bored. When someone complained about the tag. I asked the mods to remove it- several times - my requests were ignored. I do not care - if someone searches for that, ahem, specific topic and comes here, they will learn that one can dress age-appropriately, be classy and stylish, and live happily ever after :)</p>
<p>Minnesota Mom- Today on RueLaLa they have a Marc Jacobs orange pump. It is one of those 2 day sale things. Of course the orange pump is one of the most expensive items listed.</p>
<p>Thanks mom60! I will send her the link.
D2 has 2 backup shoes if she doesn’t find what she is looking for. Here they are:</p>
<p>[Nina</a> Culver Tangerine Satin - Zappos.com Free Shipping BOTH Ways](<a href=“Nina culver tangerine satin nina + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com”>No results for Nina culver tangerine satin | Zappos.com)</p>
<p>[Nina</a> Culver Tangerine Satin - Zappos.com Free Shipping BOTH Ways](<a href=“Nina culver tangerine satin nina + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com”>No results for Nina culver tangerine satin | Zappos.com)</p>
<p>She really didn’t want the dyed satin but may have to go that route.</p>
<p>But NM, those are very cute…not the sterotypical dyed satin closed toe pumps.</p>
<p>Oh wow, yes I see the tag. Well, Valentine`s Day is approaching, so it must be about time for the shelf bra discussion. Her Room, anybody?</p>
<p>This was the other shoe. Don’t know how I posted that link twice! Yikes!
[Nina</a> Electra Tangerine Satin - Zappos.com Free Shipping BOTH Ways](<a href=“Nina electra tangerine satin nina + FREE SHIPPING | Zappos.com”>No results for Nina electra tangerine satin | Zappos.com)</p>
<p>Yes, missypie, they are cute but she wants STUNNING, something with a little sparkle and sass.</p>
<p>I also saw orange shoes at H & M.
Reporting on my shopping trip- I did try on 30 pieces of clothing. I was determined to try to step outside my comfort zone. I ran into the problem of things being huge or too small.
I did get a pair of Hudson black cords. They are outside my comfort zone but they fit nicely and are super soft. They will need a belt and hemming. I also have to figure out what shoes I would wear with them. They were 60% off of $99. My D will be jealous. She loves Hudson jeans. Also totally outside my usual color selection I bought a long sleeve t shirt the color of the kayak in the sponsors box on the left of the CC screen. It has black graphics and looks good with the black pants. Since I usually wear black, gray or white it is wild for me. I also bought a black splendid sweatshirt jacket. Super soft and the price was good.
No longchamp bags. I need a new wallet but the selection was poor.
I also hit Old Navy where I was quite boring. I bought 3 of the same sweater. 100% cotton pullover in boring white, gray and olive green. Also bought a typical white long sleeve t shirt.
So while I really tried to Dress Younger or at least something different I give myself a C grade.</p>
<p>NMinn, since your D wants something with more oohh-la-la… CL or JC will fit the bill of “stunning”, but I guarantee that they most likely will not fit the budget! Maybe when this goes on sale in late spring:</p>
<p>[Caitlin</a> | Jimmy Choo](<a href=“http://www.jimmychoo.com/sandals/caitlin/invt/103caitlinnub/]Caitlin”>http://www.jimmychoo.com/sandals/caitlin/invt/103caitlinnub/)</p>
<p>We can only dream…</p>
<p>[Rihanna’s</a> Orange Louboutin pumps](<a href=“http://kourouma.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2008/03/13/rihannas-orange-louboutin-pumps/]Rihanna’s”>Rihanna’s Orange Louboutin pumps | KOUROUMA Fashion Rundown)</p>
<p>Not exactly bright orange, but coral which is verrry pretty:</p>
<p>[Ivanka</a> Trump ‘Citrinia’ Sandal (Nordstrom Exclusive) | Nordstrom.com](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ivanka-trump-citrinia-sandal-nordstrom-exclusive/3138202?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=1530]Ivanka”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/ivanka-trump-citrinia-sandal-nordstrom-exclusive/3138202?origin=keywordsearch&resultback=1530)</p>
<p>And here are some other ideas:</p>
<p>[RENE</a>’ CAOVILLA Women - Footwear - Platform sandals RENE’ CAOVILLA on YOOX United States](<a href="http://www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/RENE’+CAOVILLA/dept/women/tskay/3FD17CD7/rr/1/cod10/44269658AF/sts/sr_women80]RENE">http://www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/RENE’+CAOVILLA/dept/women/tskay/3FD17CD7/rr/1/cod10/44269658AF/sts/sr_women80)</p>
<p>[MARIO</a> BOLOGNA Women - Footwear - Pumps with open toe MARIO BOLOGNA on YOOX United States](<a href=“http://www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/MARIO+BOLOGNA/dept/women/tskay/3FD17CD7/rr/1/cod10/44256722UJ/sts/sr_women80]MARIO”>http://www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/MARIO+BOLOGNA/dept/women/tskay/3FD17CD7/rr/1/cod10/44256722UJ/sts/sr_women80)</p>
<p>And…here is the grand finale!!! Ta-dah! (Just do not look at the prices :)):</p>
<p>[Gucci</a> - ‘malika’ high heel platform sandal. 265881G9V907561](<a href=“http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/265881G9V907561#]Gucci”>http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/265881G9V907561#)</p>
<p>[Gucci</a> - ‘new hollywood’ high heel open-toe platform pump with horsebit detail. 257885E9W007540](<a href=“http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/257885E9W007540#]Gucci”>http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/257885E9W007540#)</p>
<p>[Gucci</a> - ‘kelis’ high heel platform sandal with ankle strap. 265849EE0207560](<a href=“http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/265849EE0207560#]Gucci”>http://www.gucci.com/us/styles/265849EE0207560#)</p>
<p>:) This^^ really stunning stuff will usually be on sale in late May/early June.</p>
<p>Frankly, the Ninas and Ivanka’s Citrinia look better and better to me. :)</p>
<p>OMG, NMinn, here is one classy, classic and stunning orange shoe (with a stunning price, indeed):</p>
<p>[Manolo</a> Blahnik Suw at Barneys New York](<a href=“http://www.barneys.com/Suw/500993329,default,pd.html]Manolo”>http://www.barneys.com/Suw/500993329,default,pd.html)</p>
<p>And one more option:</p>
<p>[Discount</a> Dolce & Gabbana Blunt patent-leather pumps|THE OUTNET](<a href=“http://www.theoutnet.com/product/206023?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-Custom-_-Link-_-Builder&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-lM3slA6Z7IedPZUbyw_DjA]Discount”>http://www.theoutnet.com/product/206023?cm_mmc=LinkshareUS-_-Custom-_-Link-_-Builder&siteID=J84DHJLQkR4-lM3slA6Z7IedPZUbyw_DjA)</p>
<p>As you can see, I’m bored. My DH is some 35,000 feet up in the air above Europe, and I have some free time on my hands. I’m sick of looking at bathroom mirrors online and cleaning the house… :)</p>
<p>Thanks BB! I actually LOVED the Mario Bologna pair for ME!!!</p>