<p>I just started doing swirly this year; I’m wearing a gored skirt right now. I don’t know what changed my mind, but it is fun!</p>
<p>Though I did buy 2 sheaths for summer weddings: more typical of me.</p>
<p>It would be fun too walk in something swirly for a change. I think my problem is narrow shoulders. If the dress swirls out on the bottom I look out of balance. I think you need nice proportions to wear a swirly dress - shoulders and hips sort of equal. </p>
<p>Just a theory.</p>
<p>Well, I am “column” and I like swirly or a line skirts cause they seem to give me some shape. </p>
<p>Anyway, I picked up a black and white print a-line skirt today at TJs. Real cute and swirly, lined, and hits right at the knee. I tried it with a snug black top and it looked great. Real cheap so I COULD NOT resist buying. Now, I have TWO black and white outfits…a little overkill I’d say.</p>
<p>toneranger - I think I am a “column,” too, although I’m only 5’7". I used to be built more like an oatmeal container but after Weight Watchers I am a bit more like the cardboard tube from a roll of paper towel. </p>
<p>Anyway I just did the thing where I was ordering one thing from Nordstrom’s and bought something I thought I’d probably return (and usually do - I live a mile from Nordstrom’s) because I wanted the free shipping - bought this navy dress just to check it out-
[Adrianna</a> Papell Tiered Satin Dress](<a href=“http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3076994/0~2376776~2374325~2384900?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=2384900&P=1]Adrianna”>http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3076994/0~2376776~2374325~2384900?mediumthumbnail=Y&origin=category&searchtype=&pbo=2384900&P=1)
I may not wear it til December (annual event), and it was too expensive, but I’m keeping it. It makes me look like I have a shape. amazing. Something about the horizontal lines and the neckline.</p>
<p>I don’t feel like I can wear swirly skirts though. Maybe if I were taller. Or maybe the narrow shoulders thing sewhappy mentioned…</p>
<p>Thanks ladies! Somehow the WhiteHouseBlackMarket dress looks “younger” than the other two. I don’t have a Bloomingdales, but I will look for something similar. Thanks!</p>
<p>midwest…very pretty dress. </p>
<p>Yes, I’m a shade under 6 feet which does create challenges…both in clothes AND in shoes. </p>
<p>Lately, I’ve been watching what looks good on Michelle. Her arms are more toned than mine, her legs thinner, and her hips bigger (she’s less of a column than me!). But overall, we share some of the same challenges and I love how she takes some risks. I think she looks fine in the swirly skirts. And I remember how nice she looked in that black and white dress (from the White House).</p>
<p>I love Michelle’s style, too.</p>
<p>There are some nice dresses for columns in the latest Travelsmith catalog -oooh! washable silk! pretty! - but I am going to try to lay off ordering dresses for a while. ;)</p>
<p>Love the tiered satin dress from Nordy’s, midwestmom - wonderful color for any season. And those sort of shrug sleeves and the neckline would work really well for me, I think. Wish I had an event to justify buying it right now.</p>
<p>The horizontal lines are very flattering, I’m finding. Have a “rouched” dress I bought for a wedding last summer at Macy’s that was a real departure for me but is now one of my favs.</p>
<p>Agree that Michelle has terrific style. I think she chooses outfits with great clean lined detail at the neck that really sets off her strong facial bone structure. Sort of quasi-preppy but in a hip way? Did not like the dress at the inauguration ceremony tho with the gold embroidery and coat. She’s got strong looks that don’t need that kind of fuss, imo. She needs to help her husband with his open-necked shirts - they’re too big on him. He’s lean, like my husband, and needs a more fitted shirt.</p>
<p>Aren’t I the opinionated one today?? Feeling smug because I picked up a sale dress for my daughter at Nordy’s that she put on this morning, loved and wore to school for awards day, declaring her mom is a fashion genius.</p>
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<p>As the ad says, “Priceless.”</p>
<p>^^Awww…</p>
<p>I scored big at another Macy’s!!! Got the last size 2 RL denim pencil skirt in the entire Seattle area and used the 25% off coupon (usually RL is one of the excluded brands)! I also ordered a couple of denim skirts from Yoox that shipped today. That was fast! Hmmm… People cannot get to and from Europe, but stuff can fly without restrictions?</p>
<p>BB - three denim skirts??? LOL.</p>
<p>BB - just a page or so ago you were vowing to be good and eat PB sandwiches! At the rate you are going, you are going to have to skip the PB.</p>
<p>I was in Macy’s this AM and saw the Jones New York sign. Every woman in that area was at least 70! I did not even look there.</p>
<p>Got 2 pair of Tommy Hilfiger shorts on sale, they are shorter than the ones I have worn for the last few years (but not “Daisy Dukes”-LOL), and they are actually quite flattering. Well, they will be once I get some color on my legs.</p>
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<p>I guess when I’m 70, I’ll still need clothes to wear, but I do wonder why they let brands like that “age.” I used to buy Jones New York for work clothes when I was in my mid-30s.</p>
<p>I wore Jones in my 30s too. And I have noticed that they are starting to look like cheap versions of the old Talbots clothes. Long dowdy skirts. Lots of polyester. What are they thinking??</p>
<p>Wow…I think this thread may have some of us shopping more than usual :). </p>
<p>Anyway, NOW I’m liking a sleeveless black and white dress on the Travelsmith site. I need to get off this black and white jag. Have not ordered it! It looks a bit long actually but I could always hem it.</p>
<p>In an effort to stop buying clothes, I cleaned out my closet today. Oh my. The many expensive mistakes unearthed - must shop more intelligently from now on.</p>
<p>One interesting find, though – a black silky sleeveless button-up narrow dress that hits just below the knee from our favorite place – Chico’s! This dress feels so slinky and good on but never looked good on me. On impulse, I tried it on and then cinched in the waist with a narrow belt and absolutely LOVED it. So okay it has only taken me ten years to figure out how to wear this dress.</p>
<p>Bunsenburner, girl, you are on a bender . . . enjoy, sometimes it’s just what ya’ gotta do. And thanks for doing your part for the economic stimulus!</p>
<p>If Seattle appears as city highlighted on Yahoo pinpointing places where the economy seems to be on the rebound we will all know why - BB has been shopping</p>
<p>^^^^^^^
lol</p>
<p>LOL, ladies! It was quite depressing to look at my empty closet, so I did get too carried away with my shopping adventures. Yoox is hit or miss, but if you wait too long to order, stuff sells out, so I decided to buy and ship back whatever does not fit. Unlike RueLaLa or Gilt, they refund money back to your credit card (and no sales tax for WA - that’s 10% off right there!) The skirt from Macy’s was only $40 or so - it is a keeper.</p>
<p>Goodness, you are so right about Jones! In fact, the entire Macy’s looked really depressing: lots of kitschy, sequined, shapeless clothes for either trendy teens or ladies in their seventies, and absolutely nothing for the folks in our age group. I do not want jeggings or mumus - I want something classy!</p>
<p>sewhappy, my 18 year old D told me the other day that once I lose a few pounds, I’ll “discover the joy of belts.” </p>
<p>How did it happen that our roles got reversed and instead of me explaining to her what goes with what, and how to put together an outfit, and how to wear makeup, she’s explaining it all to me?</p>
<p>(And how did I gain this 40 pounds since I graduated from high school? It’s bad enough without looking at D, little-miss-size-two with the teeny waist and flat stomach every day…)</p>