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Fall Outfit Ideas: How to Style a Simple Sheath

Welcome back to 26 Days of Fall Outfits! Today is Day 13, and I actually have a DRESS for you today. I know, SHOCKER!!

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I picked up this Halogen Seamed V-Neck Sheath at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale last month, and I’ve been waiting for a chance to wear it. It’s my favorite color — Port. They’re actually calling this Burgundy, but whatever you want to call it, I love this color for fall.

Unfortunately, I think it is too small. Womp. Womp. Look at the back.

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I tried to order it in the next size up, but it’s already out of stock, so I just returned it. I was bummed because I love everything about this dress — the color, the seaming, the silhouette, but alas. It was not meant to be. I am posting it anyway because I got gussied up and took these pictures and I am tired of pants outfits. Ha!

Also, I think it’s important to see how much fit really matters, AND how important it is to look at your rear view. From the front, I thought it was okay. But when I look at these pictures, I hear Stacy London and Clinton Kelly saying: “You can do better.”

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The shoes were another miss. I fell in love with the ShoeMint Peep-Toe Mules when Jenna posted about them, so I ordered them from Kohl’s. They are gorgeous, but they are super high, and I’m still recovering from a foot injury, so they’re going back.

I went back upstairs and put on these Naturalizer booties, and they are much more comfortable, but I’m not sure I like the way they look with the dress.

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I think I might like them better with black tights. If I were going to wear this dress right now with bare legs, I think I’d wear my black suede pumps. I wish I’d thought to photograph this with them.

All that to say, this outfit was a bust, but I decided to go ahead and post it anyway because this is real life and you can’t win ’em all.

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Outfit Details: Halogen Seamed V-Neck Sheath | ShoeMint Peep-Toe Mules | option: Naturalizer Booties (similar) | black clutch (similar) | Pave Chevron Necklace | Artisan Stretch Bracelet 

For more fall outfit ideas, see the Fall Fashion section of my blog. You can also visit my shop for some of my top fall fashion finds.

And don’t forget to visit Cyndi to see the cute fall outfit she’s styling today!

Join The Conversation

36 Responses

  1. Love the dress and peep toe booties! Beautiful color and this would be a great date night out on the town outfit. Sorry the dress and shoes didn’t work out, but I think it looks great on you.

    1. Thanks, Dee. And yeah, it’s not awful. If I had an event and NEEDED something, I could have worn this, tugged it down all night, and it would be fine. But I have other dresses if an occasion arises, so this one went back. The old me would have kept it and hoped to lose 5 lbs, but my guess is I’d never have worn it, and it would’ve hung in my closet with the tags on until I eventually gave it to the thrift store, lol. I’m learning how not to settle. It’s kind of freeing. 🙂

      1. I agree with you Jo Lynne…the back must look nice as well. Your figure looks amazing the dress however! I wonder if you could have it altered to fit the back?

  2. oh ….sorry you weren’t comfortable in your dress as it is such a pretty color and style but good for you in knowing to take it back if you wouldn’t be comfortable in it. I’m hoping to find black booties to wear with tights and dresses for this fall/winter. Enjoyin this series with you and Cyndi !

  3. This is what I love….keeping it real! Not every outfit is a home run…. For any of us!
    That color is beautiful! And…I’m late to yesterday’s party but wanted to say how lovely you looked in the fringe and flares!!
    Really enjoying the collaboration with Cyndi!!
    Xoxo

  4. I have bought the wrong size online and by the time the item arrived, the correct size was gone – or no longer on sale! It’s frustrating.
    Love the color and style of that dress. Hopefully something similar will come along, or it will be restocked.

  5. That dress is a great color, but fit is important. I don’t know about you, but if I feel uncomfortable in an item of clothing then I feel distracted all day long. Who wants that?!

    I do really like those peep toe mules though!

  6. I think it’s nice you still posted the pictures!! The dress does look fab from the front…I don’t really see the issue from the back, but maybe in person? If you had kept it, I’d definitely vote for the mules with it. My stepmom has (tan) mules like that, and she just said…they are for looks, not walking (so she wears them to church, dinners and pictures for our posts!!!) jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
    ps…you have great legs…you should wear dresses tons!!!

  7. Your posting today was so encouraging! Sometimes I try things and it just doesn’t work. It is so nice to hear others do that also. Thank you for sharing….love the dress but yes just a little too small.

  8. The dress is pretty but I’m with you, if it’s not comfortable, it doesn’t get worn and there goes money down the drain. I’ve learned these lessons the hard way several times. Now I’m no longer a slave to that cycle. IF I order something and am in doubt about size, I will order my size as well a size smaller and a size larger. It means I’ll have to make a return but rarely do I order unless it’s an item I REALLY want and am willing to go through the hassle. And I only order from stores that offer free shipping or have coupon codes for free shipping and will accept either free returns or the item can be returned to their local store. BTW, your past three outfits have been adorable on you!

  9. Sorry the dress didn’t work because that is definitely a great color on you! But the reality is, we can’t get a winner all the time, right???? 🙂

  10. I know what you mean about rear-view. There was a pair of boyfriend jeans in my stitch fix box a couple of months ago that I thought were perfect until I got the old hand mirror out to see how they looked in the back. OMG–the pockets made my rear end look twice as big as it is, at least I hope it’s not that big!!! Back they went. I was so bummed.

  11. Dress isn’t necessarily too small, it doesn’t fit in the back because it is too long from shoulder to waist. Look at the back neck. It gaps — extra room there. But then the wrinkles further down are simply too much fabric. On looser styles they will still just “drop” and it’s not noticeable but with fitted styles it shows. From the front it looks great, and would be a really versatile dress. If you have a knowledgable seamstress, it’s entirely fixable (but maybe not worth it if you’re not a dress-wearer). I’d be right there with you on the 1st shoes — they look great but my DH & neurologist would say send them back.

    1. Yeah, I am short waisted so that is a common problem for me. But in this case, it was too tight. I felt like a sausage. 🙂 And it’s gone. Sent it back yesterday. 🙂 But I appreciate the input. I really need a good seamstress b/c dresses always do that to me in the neck in the back.

  12. Jo-Lynne, I’m sad that this didn’t work out for you bc you look so beautiful in that color. The style of the dress looked really great on you too. I’m like you though, if I’m not happy with it, it would just hang in my closet. Do they have a back order so you can get the size you prefer? I really want some peep toe booties like yours too – way cute! I love seeing all the cute things you and Cyndi put together. Thanks for sharing, Melesa

  13. OMG I LOVE that dress. Its perfect in so many ways. I wish it would have worked for you, but good for you, for posting anyway to show that not every outfit is a win. I would like to see it with pumps. I like the mules but, to me, they just look to heavy or clunky for this dress. BUT I”m 50 and change is hard!

  14. Sorry it didn’t work out. It is a pretty outfit. I totally understand what you mean about “you can do better” i have kept too many things that I never wore because of fit or some trend that wasn’t right for me ..like wearing an infinity scarf when you have large “girls” and it just gives you too müch volume up top. Not settling is something I have been trying to work on when it comes to clothes.

  15. Love the color for you! I know what you mean about the outfit not being a winner. That looks good on you, but I have been taking pictures of my outfits since I started a blog, and looking back on some of them I wonder what I was thinking. The bad thing is, I still wore them to work. Oh well, I guess my friends are use to my fashion bloopers.

  16. I’ve decided it’s not worth buying clothes I don’t LOVE. I haven’t gotten to the point of getting rid of everything that’s just ok yet, but I’m getting there. I’d rather know it all makes me look great!

  17. I would definitely chosen pumps for this particular dress. That’s a shame that the dress did not fit true to size. Great colour. I did recently buy a SUPER HOT black dress in a size or so too small, but it’s my ‘goal’ dress because I just couldn’t leave it at the store 😉 But normally, yes, it would go back…..because I never actually seem to lose any weight! LOL

  18. Thanks for being real. Also to have the courage to put yourself out there. Beautiful color, great style but the fit… You’ve already said it. I love your blog! You have a great sense of style. I too am an alumni of Stacy and Clinton!

  19. Funny comment about Stacey & Clinton. I think it’s the cut of the dress, not the size, because it looks sensational from the front. If it was size it would show everywhere especially on the sides.

  20. I realize I’m late to the part on this one, but just wanted to say that I really like this dress. Too bad the fit was not good. I love this color (port, merlot, marsala, burgundy, whatever) paired with taupe. Oh, my. think of this dress with taupe suede shoes/booties. Yumm-o!

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