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tiggycat · Nov 6th, 2009, 01:34 PM

And they don't exist!

I've gained some weight and none of my dresses fit (I wear pants and tops to work, it's a casual office).

So I actually took a vacation day (because I know from experience it will take all day!) to buy a plain, nice dress to wear to an event at a nice restaurant I'm going to tonight (not a dress-up kind of party), that I could wear to work and church later.

I spent the morning combing three department stores and a big mall and all that is available are party dresses. Literally nothing - not in any size or colour, no dresses or skirt suits whatsoever except cocktail dresses and formal wear.

I asked the SAs in a couple of the department stores "do you have any dresses that aren't party dresses?" and they looked at me like I had two heads.

One of them even asked what I meant and I said "a nice dress to wear to work or church" and she still had no idea.

Doesn't anyone ever wear a dress other than to a formal gala anymore?

Too bad "exercises in frustration" don't help you lose weight - I'd be a size zero (but I still wouldn't be able to find a dress!)

On my way out to another mall ...

mielikki55 · Nov 6th, 2009, 01:45 PM

maybe jcrew or br?

lil_peanut · Nov 6th, 2009, 01:46 PM

I've had better success at independent boutiques. Have you tried any of those?

luvtami · Nov 6th, 2009, 01:52 PM

2nd mielikki55's suggestions.

Also Ann Taylor.

Also, if you're looking for "plain" dresses in a department store, don't go to the dress section (which is just going to be cocktail/party dresses), go to the other sections like INC at Macys or Savvy at Nordstrom and search within those collections for the simpler styles.

bagdoll · Nov 6th, 2009, 02:40 PM

Ann Taylor Loft might have something.. or check their website. anntaylorloft.com

tiggycat · Nov 6th, 2009, 03:41 PM

Sorry I didn't mention I'm in Canada - I wish we had all those great stores here!

All we have is Sears (which doesn't have nearly as nice a selection as Sears in the States) and the Bay (which is currently trying so hard to become "high end" that you can't find anything there other than designer brands) and Holt Renfrew (nice, similar to Nordstrom's I think, but too high end/expensive for a basic dress to wear to work in a casual office).

I travel in the States often and love JC Penney, Sears (as I mentioned, totally different from ours), Nordstrom's, Macy's, etc.

I gave up on my quest for today - sad that the stores are all crying for business and here I am, a nice middle-aged lady with a good job and several platinum cards and absolutely desperate for clothes! I don't mean just this one dress, I have trouble finding anything I want to buy, ever.

We have a dress code (relatively lax, but some rules such as no jeans, leggings, short skirts, sleeveless tops, cleavage) at work and my only other criteria is that the outfit not make me laugh out loud when I look in the mirror, and you'd be surprised how hard it is to find anything that even meets that description!

Swanky Mama Of Three · Nov 6th, 2009, 03:47 PM

Anthropologie!

Let me move this to our apparel forum for you . . .

juneping · Nov 6th, 2009, 04:45 PM

try barneys....
ann taylor is a good choice as well....

ahertz · Nov 6th, 2009, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by tiggycat

I gave up on my quest for today - sad that the stores are all crying for business and here I am, a nice middle-aged lady with a good job and several platinum cards and absolutely desperate for clothes! I don't mean just this one dress, I have trouble finding anything I want to buy, ever.

Not sure what platinum cards have to do with it, but here's my advice: I'd go to Holts and find a few high-end but usable pieces. If you really are desperate and you can't find what you want elsewhere why not invest in a few quality staples?

uhkiwi · Nov 6th, 2009, 06:24 PM

if you are looking for something less expensive, old navy has some shift dresses-not sure about their shipping policy to Canada

eckertle · Nov 6th, 2009, 06:30 PM

You might have to spend more than you want to find a plain dress. I was looking for the same thing and eventually found the perfect dress by Theory... but it was almost $300 (3x my budget). I splurged anyway, and I have used that dress more times than I can count. I've probably worn it every other week for two years and it still looks great. I can see myself wearing it in 10+ years. It works for dinner parties, work functions, luncheons, showers, etc. I would recommend splurging if you need to!

yvr_honey · Nov 7th, 2009, 01:02 AM

banana republic for sure, and try the bay again. i was just there today and purchased 3"everyday" dresses, 2 from INC, 1 DKNYC. good luck!

msvvn · Nov 7th, 2009, 02:14 AM

Did you check Jacob? They usually have simple dresses in solid colours.

passerby · Nov 7th, 2009, 06:28 AM

Vinyl · Nov 7th, 2009, 12:03 PM

Old Navy.

I'm not kidding! I don't know how plain you want, but I was looking for just some simple, one-color dresses & they had a few I really, really like. Just take a look at their website.

Nov 6th, 2009, 01:34 PM	#1
tiggycat OP Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 131	All I want is a plain dress ... And they don't exist! I've gained some weight and none of my dresses fit (I wear pants and tops to work, it's a casual office). So I actually took a vacation day (because I know from experience it will take all day!) to buy a plain, nice dress to wear to an event at a nice restaurant I'm going to tonight (not a dress-up kind of party), that I could wear to work and church later. I spent the morning combing three department stores and a big mall and all that is available are party dresses. Literally nothing - not in any size or colour, no dresses or skirt suits whatsoever except cocktail dresses and formal wear. I asked the SAs in a couple of the department stores "do you have any dresses that aren't party dresses?" and they looked at me like I had two heads. One of them even asked what I meant and I said "a nice dress to wear to work or church" and she still had no idea. Doesn't anyone ever wear a dress other than to a formal gala anymore? Too bad "exercises in frustration" don't help you lose weight - I'd be a size zero (but I still wouldn't be able to find a dress!) On my way out to another mall ...
tiggycat OP Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 131

Nov 6th, 2009, 01:45 PM	#2
mielikki55 Member Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 286	maybe jcrew or br?
mielikki55 Member Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 286	__________________ *...did I just click on the "purchase" button again?*

Nov 6th, 2009, 01:46 PM	#3
lil_peanut Red Mini FTW Joined: Jun 2007 Location: NorCal Posts: 775	I've had better success at independent boutiques. Have you tried any of those?
	__________________ My handsome Turbo!!!

Nov 6th, 2009, 01:52 PM	#4
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 657	2nd mielikki55's suggestions. Also Ann Taylor. Also, if you're looking for "plain" dresses in a department store, don't go to the dress section (which is just going to be cocktail/party dresses), go to the other sections like INC at Macys or Savvy at Nordstrom and search within those collections for the simpler styles.
luvtami Member Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 657

Nov 6th, 2009, 02:40 PM	#5
bagdoll Member Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 324	Ann Taylor Loft might have something.. or check their website. anntaylorloft.com
bagdoll Member Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 324	__________________ Wishing for Jimmy Choo Riki (black crushed patent leather) GOT IT!

Nov 6th, 2009, 03:41 PM	#6
tiggycat OP Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 131	Sorry I didn't mention I'm in Canada - I wish we had all those great stores here! All we have is Sears (which doesn't have nearly as nice a selection as Sears in the States) and the Bay (which is currently trying so hard to become "high end" that you can't find anything there other than designer brands) and Holt Renfrew (nice, similar to Nordstrom's I think, but too high end/expensive for a basic dress to wear to work in a casual office). I travel in the States often and love JC Penney, Sears (as I mentioned, totally different from ours), Nordstrom's, Macy's, etc. I gave up on my quest for today - sad that the stores are all crying for business and here I am, a nice middle-aged lady with a good job and several platinum cards and absolutely desperate for clothes! I don't mean just this one dress, I have trouble finding anything I want to buy, ever. We have a dress code (relatively lax, but some rules such as no jeans, leggings, short skirts, sleeveless tops, cleavage) at work and my only other criteria is that the outfit not make me laugh out loud when I look in the mirror, and you'd be surprised how hard it is to find anything that even meets that description!
tiggycat OP Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 131

Nov 6th, 2009, 03:47 PM	#7
Swanky Mama Of Three Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas Area Posts: 42,700	Anthropologie! Let me move this to our apparel forum for you . . .
	__________________ Tweet http://twitter.com/PBSwanky

Nov 6th, 2009, 04:45 PM	#8
juneping couch potato-ing Joined: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 4,311	try barneys.... ann taylor is a good choice as well....
	__________________ wish list: purse ban until the cc is paid off $10200 paid off...$3300 to go .....oh..i can't wait...

Nov 6th, 2009, 06:24 PM	#10
uhkiwi Member Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,251	if you are looking for something less expensive, old navy has some shift dresses-not sure about their shipping policy to Canada
uhkiwi Member Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,251	__________________ WIN CHANEL NAIL COLOUR AND L'OREAL HIP SMOKY EYE LOOK FOR THE HOLIDAY! tart-y for the party fashun blog!

Nov 6th, 2009, 06:30 PM	#11
eckertle tPF addict Joined: Jun 2007 Location: the South Posts: 1,346	You might have to spend more than you want to find a plain dress. I was looking for the same thing and eventually found the perfect dress by Theory... but it was almost $300 (3x my budget). I splurged anyway, and I have used that dress more times than I can count. I've probably worn it every other week for two years and it still looks great. I can see myself wearing it in 10+ years. It works for dinner parties, work functions, luncheons, showers, etc. I would recommend splurging if you need to!

Nov 7th, 2009, 01:02 AM	#12
yvr_honey My baby... Joined: Oct 2007 Location: The West Coast Posts: 158	banana republic for sure, and try the bay again. i was just there today and purchased 3"everyday" dresses, 2 from INC, 1 DKNYC. good luck!

Nov 7th, 2009, 02:14 AM	#13
msvvn Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 50	Did you check Jacob? They usually have simple dresses in solid colours.
msvvn Member Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 50

Nov 7th, 2009, 06:28 AM	#14
passerby Member Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,529	Hi, I am not sure whether this seller (in Canada) has what you are looking for, but here goes anyway :) econica Made to order dresses http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=33261954 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=28363295 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=33863788 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=33490900 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=33263172 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=33155705 http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=32200150 From a customer's feedback, eonica is willing to add sleeves to this lovely dress: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php...ng_id=32160754
passerby Member Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 5,529	Last edited by passerby; Nov 7th, 2009 at 06:47 AM.

Nov 7th, 2009, 12:03 PM	#15
Vinyl Miu Miu lovin'! Joined: Dec 2007 Location: Honolulu/Boston Posts: 3,210	Old Navy. I'm not kidding! I don't know how plain you want, but I was looking for just some simple, one-color dresses & they had a few I really, really like. Just take a look at their website.
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