What do you mean, no shells?!

PinkFridge

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 3:31 pm

amother wrote:

Me too. I bring my shels to a dressmaker who takes in the two side seems for me making the neck opening smaller. No safty pins. No elastics. Smooth nice comfortible opening for head that sits corectly on me.

Don't they still stretch eventually?
I find OK basics button shelves are marvelous. They've lasted for years and I have two I wear just about every Shabbos. But they're only in a few colors.

TranquilityAndPeace

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 3:33 pm

amother wrote:

I just can't get behind this dress fad...I have a small frame but have had 5 kids in the last 9 years. My stomach is baggy! Any of these dresses would make me look pregnant and would also cling to my problem areas (thighs and tush)!

I actually lost 20 lbs recently for these dresses over the past few months. I liked the dresses, and realized that if I felt thin, I could wear an oversized t-shirt that costs $20 (that's what these dresses are) and still feel nicely dressed. However, if I feel lumpy and baggy, then these simply-styled dresses just take on my body's shape, and then I need more expensive and well-fitted clothing to feel nicely dressed.

https://www.themimiboutique.com/ also has some of these dresses. Many are from the brand Reborn J, and they say that J is the savior under the washing instructions, so I cut that part off! I have this one in a few colors https://www.themimiboutique.co.....00673 and it's so comfortable and soft, and washes really well! Sometimes these cheap things are all pilly after a few washes.

pause

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 3:51 pm

TranquilityAndPeace wrote:

Is the hemline straight on the the floral dress you linked?

TranquilityAndPeace

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 3:58 pm

pause wrote:

Is the hemline straight on the the floral dress you linked?

No, the sides are slightly shorter than the centers. I bought mine from Jane before I saw that Mimi sold them, but I think it's the same thing. You can email Mimi, she's very sweet.

amother

Scarlet

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 4:15 pm

I stopped wearing shells when I was 22 or so (so almost 9 years ago). I hated shells with passion. I managed to find appropriate clothing in mainstream stores and online. I live OOT, so I would assume its easier in NYC.

Same goes for my daughter, teaching her to dress herself and spot appropriate clothing.

amother

Sapphire

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 4:18 pm

mha3484 wrote:

I keep seeing all these cute dresses and wishing they were nursing friendly. Its such a bummer.

Yeah dresses and nursing don't mix. I was able to find some button front and zip front dresses last year while I was nursing.

amother

Sapphire

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 4:21 pm

TranquilityAndPeace wrote:

I've gotten lots of tznius dresses lately on Jane.com. Their stuff is only available for a few days and new stuff is added daily. Like this: https://jane.com/deal/307553/s.....sults They have this style dress in many solid colors very often for about $20. Metziahs.com often posts when Jane has tznius clothing.

I bought this thanks!

nicole81

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 6:09 pm

I have a collar that I wear under dresses that are too open. It was about $12 on amazon, looks professional for work, and is more stlyish than a shell IMO. Much better than wearing an extra layer, too.

But generally I buy clothing on clearance from frum stores, and I don't have a problem with fit or quality. I rarely spend more than $30 on a dress or top/bottom combo (save for maternity), and I believe I dress both professionally and stylishly.

ra_mom

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 6:25 pm

Just don't wear shells under short sleeve items or other meant-to-be-bare items and you'll be fine. You can still wear them as tops under a jacket or vest, or alone, the same way crew necks were worn for eternity before "shells".

amother

Seagreen

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 6:30 pm

ra_mom wrote:

But what should I do with all those sleeveless tops I bought in the past few years?

Hashem_Yaazor

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 6:52 pm

Am I the only one who finds long sleeve tees even if you can find with a good neckline to be a problem of being too thin and showing things underneath that shouldn't be shown? I can't imagine ever being able to not wear a shell. Before shells showing were in, I wore button down shirts with some type of "undershirt" for the gaps/extra layer of thickness.

ra_mom

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 7:16 pm

amother wrote:

But what should I do with all those sleeveless tops I bought in the past few years?

Wear a jacket or cardigan over them. Or a blouse under them. Or if it's one color and looks like an extension of the top, you can still wear the shell underneath.
Really, this is why I don't spend a lot on trendy clothing. I might spend on classic pieces but have fun with more trendy pieces that I wear for a few years, wear out, and move on.

amother

Hotpink

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 7:34 pm

https://www.themimiboutique.com/ also has some of these dresses. Many are from the brand Reborn J, and they say that J is the savior under the washing instructions, so I cut that part off! I have this one in a few colors https://www.themimiboutique.co.....00673 and it's so comfortable and soft, and washes really well! Sometimes these cheap things are all pilly after a few washes.[/quote]

I bought a bunch of these dresses- they are super comfortable, 100% tznius, and wash amazingly!

amother

Seagreen

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 8:04 pm

ra_mom wrote:

Thanks.

I do wear cardigans over them in the winter, but too hot in the summer.

I certainly did not buy those types of tops to be trendy - I can't be trendy even if I try, which I don't Smile

- I didn't realize it was a trend thing. I thought that once people figured out that you can make a sleeveless top tznanua by adding a shell, thereby having many more clothing options, they would keep wearing that.

Truth is that, as I posted earlier, I will keep wearing the things I have because I can't afford a new wardrobe (and I don't care all that much about fashion). Of course, I do sometimes have to buy new clothing, and, when I do, I try to buy things that are at least somewhat in keeping with what people are wearing. So, would you mind giving some suggestions/examples of what types of tops would be considered "classic" and always in style?

amother

Sapphire

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 8:26 pm

amother wrote:

Thanks.

I do wear cardigans over them in the winter, but too hot in the summer.

I certainly did not buy those types of tops to be trendy - I can't be trendy even if I try, which I don't Smile

A light thin 3/4 sleeve summer cardigan over a sleeveless top is way cooler than a shell underneath in the summer.

L K

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 8:40 pm

Hashem_Yaazor wrote:

You're not the only one.
As a matter of fact, I remember that even woven button down shirts worn without a shell provide inadequate coverage for undergarments, be it transparency or shape kind of bulging.

And sometimes a shell with a light-weight top isn't enough either because shape of straps etc pushes up the fabric.

Gosh, I remember those times when I wore button downs year round, with a jersey crewneck shirt, which had a pin and triple layer of folded material at the back of my neck, which was bulky and uncomfortable, and created a visible bumpy hump below the collar.

All because it was a generic crewneck shirt, not a shell with a more decent neckline (which I still have to "ez-lasticize")

If you didn't want to pin the shirt so it doesn't bunch up you had to button the shirt up to your throats and choke or look like you fell off the moon in the 19th century.

Coffee Addict

Wed, Feb 15 2017, 9:55 pm

cnc wrote:

I didn't read past the first page- but I don't think shells will ever go out of style in the frum world. They're basically a necessity , not a trend.

This was exactly my instant reaction.