Acne Studios dress / need advice + poll

[Atlas29]

Hello everyone,


I have found what I believe is the most beautiful dress I've ever seen in my entire life (meet Daffina chiffon ruffle dress by Acne Studios). I've been lusting over it for several moths now, but it was sold out everywhere in my size and the color I wanted (grey/icy blue), since it was originally part of their SS'22 collection - so I had no hope of it ever coming back. However, by some magic, it did. I saw this week that Acne has it back in stock, so I ordered it immediately. I just got it today, and I love everything about it: the cut (that neckline and those ruffles - just oh.my.god), the fit (I am relatively thin, but just not very athletic, so I have some saddle bags on hips, and so I was secretly hoping it just wouldn't fit me, since it's such a light material and that will be that - but it just looks amazing on body), the material, the color. The problem is that it's kinda sheer and has 2 quite noticeable cutouts, so I'm afraid it's just not fitted for (my) life as there's no possible occasion to wear it to for an average person like myself, who doesn't have a very active social life (tragic would probably be the best word to describe mine).

So I'm really torn: on one hand, I am absolutely in love with this dress, I don't think I've ever felt as beautiful and sexy and feminine in any other piece of clothing I've ever owned. On the other hand, I really don't know if I have enough (or any) occasions in my life to wear it to. It seems too dressy for simple drinks at a bar with some girlfriends, too revealing for any work-related dinner or office party... And other than that, there's not much else going on in my life. But then again, I just looove this dress so much that I've been bargaining with myself all day, that maybe my views on what's appropriate and what's not are too restricting? I mean, I'm a grown woman in my early thirties, is it really that inappropriate for me to wear a semi-sheer dress in public? Or that it's actually not that revealing as it seems? Or that maybe if I get an underskirt or an invisible slip dress to wear underneath it, it will be acceptable to wear, say for an office party? Or maybe if I get a blazer in a complementing color, it will be appropriate to wear to some occasions?

I know I can't be the only one on this forum who's ever faced a similar dilemma. Can anyone please share your thoughts about this dress? What do you think - do you like it? Would you say it's too revealing? For which occasions would you wear a dress like this? Do you have experience with wearing slips/skirts under sheer clothing? And finally, would you keep it if you were me or return it?



Just to give you a better idea how transparent the dress is - here are some more photos from different retailers.

Problems:

• Sheerness:
  • you can make out the leg silhouette (see photo 1),
  • I can also kinda see my belly button in this dress;
  • you can also clearly see underwear (see photo 2 - although the dress is in different color, but it's the same model);
• Cutouts:
  • there's one asymmetrical cutout on the back (see photo 2 again) - but this one is not that bad I guess,
  • there's a slit on the leg (see photos 3-4) - although since I'm not very tall, it doesn't start that high up on me, also there's a lining which sometimes closes the slit.

 

[A bottle of Red]

The dress seems quite delicate and a bit fragile so I wonder how it would hold up to being worn.
I think the cutouts aren't so bad; can you try it with a full slip and see how it looks and feels on you.
Personally I hate the sheer trend but that's just my preference.
I do understand the feeling of loving a piece of clothing that makes you feel fabulous, and the dilemma of when will I wear it.
It's not an easy decision to make.

 

[lill_canele]

Agree with @AbottleofRed on the delicate fabric of the dress. That would probably be my only reason to return it because I’m not a careful person and would probably rip it on the first day.
Other than that, I think it’s fine with a full slip with or without an oversized blazer. Cutouts are not that revealing IMO.
I think this is totally great for drinks out with girlfriends or a special date.

I sometimes wear slips under dresses. They can get a little static-y and can cling to the fabric of the dress. It may make it look a little folded or wrinkled.

 

[Atlas29]

Thank you @A bottle of Red and @lill_canele for your replies!

Fully agree on the sheerness trend. Normally, I would never wear anything sheer, that's the main reason why I'm so "scared" of this dress, as I'm not entirely sure it's appropriate in most situations (or at all). But having tried on this dress about 100 times since I got it, I have to admit that the sheerness is in this case is done really tastefully (if sheer fabric can be tasteful), as you can only see the body silhouette. The lining is cut differently than the dress, so that there are some parts where there's no lining or that you see where the lining starts - and in combination with the cut of the dress and the ruffle, it sort of makes total sense, just overall such a beautiful and though-out design.

The fabric is indeed very delicate as you both mentioned, but to be honest that doesn't really bother me. It's thin, yes, but I don't think it will rip that easily (although, of course, I will need to be more careful with it than usual). Besides, I know Acne Studios very well, and they always have the best quality, so I'm not really worried about that.

 

[QuelleFromage]

You clearly love the dress and want to have a reason to wear it. So keep it. Take it on a test run for drinks with a good friend to see if you are uncomfortable with the sheerness (remember sheerness looks different at night, usually less obvious). If the sheer is too much after your test run, invest in a thin underlayer.

It's not a crazy dress or anything - for me living in Paris and NYC this would be very normal to see at dinner in a nice restaurant. I wouldn't wear it to a work party unless you work in a creative field, but I am SUPER SUPER conservative about anything sexy at work.

Most of all, I think when we fall in love with something like this, it reveals something about our dreams of how we'd like our life to be. What is that dream for you? It doesn't have to be every day, but maybe you can make that occasion happen

 

[Atlas29]

You clearly love the dress and want to have a reason to wear it. So keep it. Take it on a test run for drinks with a good friend to see if you are uncomfortable with the sheerness (remember sheerness looks different at night, usually less obvious). If the sheer is too much after your test run, invest in a thin underlayer.

It's not a crazy dress or anything - for me living in Paris and NYC this would be very normal to see at dinner in a nice restaurant. I wouldn't wear it to a work party unless you work in a creative field, but I am SUPER SUPER conservative about anything sexy at work.

Most of all, I think when we fall in love with something like this, it reveals something about our dreams of how we'd like our life to be. What is that dream for you? It doesn't have to be every day, but maybe you can make that occasion happen

Oh, you are absolutely right - I am in love with it and just trying to justify keeping it, although I know there is no rational reason for me to do so - but I guess I just really don't like the rational option. And you're also 100% right about the fact liking this dress so much (enough to write a whole post about it) tells something about other things I would like to have in my life. Actually, your example about living in Paris or NYC and wearing a dress like this to a dinner is just spot on - if I'm honest, that's always been a dream of mine to live in a huge city like NYC, or London, or Paris. I currently live in a much smaller city - although it's still a big modern city, but not a megapolis at all. Or maybe I watched too much Sex in the City back in the day - this dress really gives me Carrey Bradshaw vibes, and guess I always wanted to be a bit more sexy and feminine like her.

 

[QuelleFromage]

Oh, you are absolutely right - I am in love with it and just trying to justify keeping it, although I know there is no rational reason for me to do so - but I guess I just really don't like the rational option. And you're also 100% right about the fact liking this dress so much (enough to write a whole post about it) tells something about other things I would like to have in my life. Actually, your example about living in Paris or NYC and wearing a dress like this to a dinner is just spot on - if I'm honest, that's always been a dream of mine to live in a huge city like NYC, or London, or Paris. I currently live in a much smaller city - although it's still a big modern city, but not a megapolis at all. Or maybe I watched too much Sex in the City back in the day - this dress really gives me Carrey Bradshaw vibes, and guess I always wanted to be a bit more sexy and feminine like her.

This is too funny because I WAS going to cite the Carrie "naked dress".

Can you wear the dress out in your city? I mean, to my eyes this is a pretty normal dress (I mean GORGEOUS, but not anything shocking), sexy but not like the "naked dress" LOL.
Or, can you take a trip to one of your dream cities just to have that experience? IMO it's OK to have a dress just for special occasions. I'm personally really shy about showing skin (this is just confidence issues) but own a few pieces that come out once or twice a year and nearly cause DH a coronary . Assuming you can afford it, it's totally ok. Fashion is not rational, it's passion-al

 

[Atlas29]

This is too funny because I WAS going to cite the Carrie "naked dress".

Can you wear the dress out in your city? I mean, to my eyes this is a pretty normal dress (I mean GORGEOUS, but not anything shocking), sexy but not like the "naked dress" LOL.
Or, can you take a trip to one of your dream cities just to have that experience? IMO it's OK to have a dress just for special occasions. I'm personally really shy about showing skin (this is just confidence issues) but own a few pieces that come out once or twice a year and nearly cause DH a coronary . Assuming you can afford it, it's totally ok. Fashion is not rational, it's passion-al

We’re thinking alike - it would ab-so-f***ing-lutely be my "naked dress"

The idea that this dress is too much is really all in my head - it’s definitely not an evening gown or anything. It’s basically just a classic slip dress… with a slight twist.

My hometown is still a major city, not that small at all, just not a megapolis, so I suppose if I really want to wear this dress - I would easily get away with it, and what’s stopping me is mainly my own confidence issues. I would perhaps be slightly more dressed up than most of my friends if we go out... But, on the other hand, I could always dress it way down by wearing it with some oversized ripped denim jacket and a pair of flat barely-there sandals.

And yes, I love your idea about taking this dress on a trip. I was thinking about this myself actually, that if I keep it - the next time I’m going to Paris or London, it will definitely be packed in my suitcase. Or for a vacation at sea - I could imagine wearing this even to a (nice) restaurant at the seaside (and with beachy tossled waves - looking like a total mermaid). Or - come to think of it, a trip to New York has been on my list for way too long…. So making this dress my vacation dress would be the closest to a rational reason to keep it.

Oh no, I guess I'm slowly talking myself into it...

 

[QuelleFromage]

We’re thinking alike - it would ab-so-f***ing-lutely be my "naked dress"

The idea that this dress is too much is really all in my head - it’s definitely not an evening gown or anything. It’s basically just a classic slip dress… with a slight twist.

My hometown is still a major city, not that small at all, just not a megapolis, so I suppose if I really want to wear this dress - I would easily get away with it, and what’s stopping me is mainly my own confidence issues. I would perhaps be slightly more dressed up than most of my friends if we go out... But, on the other hand, I could always dress it way down by wearing it with some oversized ripped denim jacket and a pair of flat barely-there sandals.

And yes, I love your idea about taking this dress on a trip. I was thinking about this myself actually, that if I keep it - the next time I’m going to Paris or London, it will definitely be packed in my suitcase. Or for a vacation at sea - I could imagine wearing this even to a (nice) restaurant at the seaside (and with beachy tossled waves - looking like a total mermaid). Or - come to think of it, a trip to New York has been on my list for way too long…. So making this dress my vacation dress would be the closest to a rational reason to keep it.

Oh no, I guess I'm slowly talking myself into it...

Just admit it! You want to keep it As long as it's not a crazy splurge for you, just do it

(Also if you have an Acne boutique nearby, they are usually very good with offering up solutions, for instance if you wanted to reduce sheerness somewhere. Although I'm thinking you should just rock this dress as it is!!)

 

[A bottle of Red]

Agree with @AbottleofRed on the delicate fabric of the dress. That would probably be my only reason to return it because I’m not a careful person and would probably rip it on the first day.
Other than that, I think it’s fine with a full slip with or without an oversized blazer. Cutouts are not that revealing IMO.
I think this is totally great for drinks out with girlfriends or a special date.

I sometimes wear slips under dresses. They can get a little static-y and can cling to the fabric of the dress. It may make it look a little folded or wrinkled.

I used to use static guard to help with clinginess