the frumpy dress

i found this dress at nordstrom rack (it's the nordstrom outlet store that has everything that they couldn't sell in the regular department stores, stuff from last season, last year, returned merchandise, etc... so sorry if you don't live near one of these stores). i first spotted it a few months ago and tried it on. frump-ville. then i saw it again when i went back to the store several months later. not remembering that i had already tried it on. still frumpy. really, i'm straight up and down enough as it is, i don't need a dress to emphasize that even more. but i really liked the yoke and the material is a nice heavy knit, not cheapy feeling. i was back at the store the other day and it was still calling my name, with a 50% off tag. which, i might add, is 50% off the already discounted price. so, $25 later the dress was mine.

so, using my seamstress skills i took in the sides a little to add a little shape to the dress. another thing that works for me is to add a ribbon belt at my waist (none of this droopy, around the hips stuff ladies, put it right around your waist, at your belly button, where you're skinniest). i also found these brown tights at target on clearance for less than $2. i came up with two different looks, one for spring/fall, and one for summer. what do you think?