Keep this dress or send it back?

[ketzeleh]

I nabbed this dress in the TOAST sale. From the photos I was expecting a coffee cream colour. It's a slightly deeper brown in real life, and when I unwrapped it DH blurted out in horror that I'd look like I was modelling the Bristol stool chart. My own first thought was along the same lines. Then I tried it on, just in case by some magic it looks better on me than on the hanger. It did. The fit is just what I want (fitted bodice, swingy skirt) and the fabric is a lovely weight and good quality. DH also thinks it looks nice on, and as you might have guessed from the stool chart comment, he isn't one to sugarcoat things if he doesn't like them. His verdict was to keep it.

I'm torn. I also don't think the colour looks too bad on, but £95 is a lot of money even in the sale. Do I keep it or send it back in the hope I can find a similar dress in a different colour? Recommendations for other places to try are welcome! It's such a comfy flattering fit that I'm reluctant to let go of it unless I can find a better option first.

Poetry have some similar-shaped dresses, not in the sale but much nicer colours www.poetryfashion.co.uk/product-RD73-POEDS/colour-a-peacock/dresses-skirts/shortsleeve-vneck-linen-dress.htm

send it back

I like your description of it and I like this sort of style / vibe so if it looks good on you, keep it!

(your DH ‘s comment made me laugh but I would not think poo if I saw someone wearing a brown dress)

I think this thread has now motivated me to bite the bullet and dye a cotton dress from the Collectif sale that DD bought and abandoned when her tastes changed: it's a great fit on me, but dark yellow which I hate. If I get a Dyepod today I can have a new dress by the time the thermometer goes above 23.

I would send it back - the colour looks grim on the photo so if its even more shitty in real life I couldn't move past that however much I liked the style

I have been hankering after this for quite a while - and wouldn’t give a fig what anyone else thought:

https://rendez-vous-store.com/shop/summer-sale-2024/summer-sale-2024-women/summer-sale-dress/ricorrrobe-pbd-dress-fine-cotton-twill-khaki/

(Thank God it’s no longer available in my size.)

Go for it.

Maybe I'm a funny shape, but when I find a perfect fit I'm loath to let it go again.

I hadn't thought about dyeing it. I'm intrigued. I'd love this dress in forest green or a russet/deep red, but I've never been a crafty person and I'm worried I'd end up making it even more suggestive of poo if I got it wrong. 👀 For the posters who dye their clothes, how complicated is it to do? Do you put the dye in the washing machine with the clothes or just dunk them in a bucket?

When I have to decide hmmmm should I keep or return, and end up keeping, I usually don't end up wearing the thing.

Couldn’t be easier. Buy a Dyson pod. Put wet dress in machine and pod on top (with wrapping and seal removed). Put on cotton cycle, then re-wash with detergent afterwards.

Buy a "Dylon pod" and it's very very easy. No buckets. You do it all in the washing machine.

The salt is already in the pod with the dye. You open it, put on top of the garment. Then it's just a couple of machine cycles.

I actually kind of miss buckets and weighing salt and stirring....:but this is easier.

If you wanted to, you could run dress through a short wash with some bleach first to take the colour out a little. I’ve just done this with my dress of many colours, as was going from a dark blue. If you’re going for a darker colour there’s probably no need though.

While you're at it, go through your underwear and T shirt drawer for anything that's a bit grey or faded, and shove that in as well (not too much, otherwise the colour won't take fully on the dress, but a couple of small things).

Dye it!

I recently tried the Dylon pod in olive green, original colour was bright Kelly green, it came out gorgeous!

I'd choose their rosewood, terracotta, or even navy or black.

I do this too 🤣

PS. The pods are so easy. 1 pod for up to 600g of dry material (so 2 if dress is heavier). Read instructions well, there's several long cycles in machine to do.

Going against the grain here.
The style would look dreadful on me but the colour is one that looks great on me.
I like it. Keep.

Ugliest dress I have seen for AGES @ketzeleh Ugly colour, and a hideous dress. I wouldn't have this for free, let alone pay nearly £200 (the original price.) It's minging. Reminds me of a chamois leather. Also looks very 'Handmaids!'

NO!!! 😖

Uh oh this is one of my best colours! It brings out the tones in my hair. If it is on you then keep it. If not, it does back.

Forest green dye job would make this dress OP. Do it and then show us the result? 💚

Oh dear god. The ghost of poo past.

Everytime you wear it you’ll think about the Bristol stool chart

You know that scene in The Sound Of Music where the children declare her dress the ugliest they have ever seen and Maria says the poor didn't want this one? The Toast dress is uglier. No one could possibly look good in that. Wear a sack cloth and you'd look better. Sorry, OP.

I like it! Might look great with burnt orange accessories. So nice to see something without tiers and puff sleeves.

Could also try Dick's , Edinburgh or Envoy of Belfast, both of whom have sales at the moment.

Envoy of Belfast

Dick's Edinburgh