Fabulous or hideous?

[VenusClapTrap]

I can’t decide if this is amazing or if I’m having a brain fart. I’m drawn to things that are a bit different; sometimes I get it right, sometimes very wrong, and look back at photos or catch myself in a mirror and recoil, wondering WTF I was thinking.

https://www.zara.com/uk/en/limited-edition-combined-printed-dress-p09141877.html?v1=484707644&v2=2420896

I’m no longer young nor thin. I fear I’d look like a giant gherkin with a bin liner tied round middle. Sigh. I should just scroll past this one, shouldn’t I?

OP has added a pic.

She doesnt look fat or like a disco gherkin. So bored of fashion being only for the tall and thin. And I am tall!

I already fore-went a mince pie at lunchtime for exactly that reason! Interesting point about colouring. I do think this dress cries out for dark hair and a wan, gothic complexion! Which is not me. I have some gold heels so I’ll try those with it. Thank you.

It looks fabulous on you- definitely keep it!
You could go for really dark gothic makeup to add drama.

I love it, but it's made for someone 6ft and size 8

I’ve ‘watched’ this thread just for the follow up-I love it & you look great in it - it’s such an unusual dress too.

I agree that gold shoes would look good also a dark lipstick if you can carry it off.

It's not so much about how tall and thin you are, but whether it suits your whole 'look.' If you're someone who frequently wears dramatic/striking-looking clothes and can carry it off, it's perfect. But if your looks are more delicate or classic, it'll probably look as if it's wearing you rather than the other way round.

Someone like Davina McCall or Cher (both dramatic dressers) would suit this, whereas I would completely disappear in it. Hard to tell from the photo as you've quite reasonably not shown your face.

It looks really good! If only you could detach the black bin liner middle bit.

I would say unless you are tall with a boyish figure it’s probably not going to work on you, but if you love it then try it. What’s the worst that can happen!

Are you planning to read the full thread, @FairyBatman? 😂

I really like it on you Op! Keep it.
It actually looks better on you than on the model, tbh.

I really like it on you op!

From the way you described yourself I expected to see a beach ball wearing the dress. It looks gorgeous on you, keep it and wear it, and have a fun night.

Ok I never commented on it because I thought it looked hideous ( brought up to say - If you can't say anything nice , say nothing at all )
But it looks lovely on you , better than the model ! You should keep it , and in your words - you are not " chunky " at all .
Love it .

Nope - don't really like this. I've seen worse, but as someone who's studied a bit of costume history and loves historical inspired clothing, this is a nay from me.

It looks like they've tried to go for the 1920s flapper look, but haven't got it quite right in my opinion. It looks a bit garish and quite cheap, like the type of clothing I'd see in mod box TK Maxx brand or on certain market stalls.

I love sequins, but somehow it seems to much paired with the shoulder tufts and that fabric. If it were a sheer black fabric, or a sheer dark green plain fabric, it would be ok.

I can't endorse their quality (as I was not really impressed with their lace when I bought from them), but if you want to take a look at who does get it right, design-wise, I'd recommend you look at this brand -

https://www.therareandthebeautiful.com/

If you like dresses that are 1920s, don't just park yourself on this badly designed Zara dress! Have a look at these for serious glam -

https://uk.babeyond.com/collections/1920s-dresses/products/opulent-floral-beaded-fringe-flapper-dress

https://uk.babeyond.com/collections/1920s-dresses/products/art-deco-golden-starburst-fringe-evening-gown

Absolutely stunning, and you don't have to do all that hair & accessories. These are beautiful stand-alone dresses.

Bloodyhell no!! send it back! It looks bad! I knew that sequin stripe was going to look bad and I was right!

I think it looks brilliant on you OP. Keep it!

I think it looks good, certainly a statement dress, and you look slim in it.
Wear it with control pants, heels, statement earings, hair in an up do... and you will look fab.

Not hair up! The OP needs a Louise Brooks bob for the event.

The flapper look is very drastic, it'd take ages to grow again.
I was thinking hair up, wispy bits falling down, nothing heavy on the shoulders because of the feathers....it would look too busy.

Sorry - it’s a ‘no’ from me. The sequin band is awful - it cheapens a beautiful dress and shortens your lower body so you look out of proportion. You have a fabulous figure (not chunky at all!) but this dress is doing you no favours…

Still hideous I’m afraid. It’s the waistband. It’s just a nasty dress imo.

Babeyond doesn't look to be a very reliable site...loads of complaints about tatty garments and dodgy refunds.

I'm fat and I could wear this! I'm reasonably tall and, crucially, oblong shaped. I might need to wear elastic knickers to stop my tummy sticking out, depending on if/what I'd eaten, but the dress would look like it's supposed to - just wider 😂

Life’s too short not to wear beautiful clothes.

Very much agree with this sentiment! With this on a short woman, the hip wrap thingy would sit somewhere on the thighs or even knee-level. You do see photos of flappers with waistbands at leg level and it looks OK. Maybe that's why the Charleston featured kicks from the knee: upper leg movements restricted by low waistbands?!

Sorry OP I am not keen.

But can we please have more threads where folks with disposable cash buy mad dresses and try them on so that we can all live vicariously ??!

That works on you, @VenusClapTrap 👏. It's a perfect example of why you have to try on with Zara, you can't rely on website pics because they can be very misleading!