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Many thanks to all who participated in the February 1 theme of Rings! 37 of you joined in the fun with posts of your own. WOW. That’s by far our biggest theme participation so far. I can’t wait for March 1!
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| What is up with the front of my hair in this photo?? |
I’ve blogged about this dress before in one of my Day to Evening posts, where I styled it three different ways. I bought this one on sale at Dillard’s, and it was such a great value especially when you consider how versatile it is. And comfortable! I know a lot of men don’t appreciate empire-waist dresses because they don’t accentuate the female figure, but lucky for me my man loves just about everything! 
He compliments this dress quite often.
The shrug is also a repeat. It’s not very warm, but not only are winters in my area amazingly mild, but my office is also sweltering hot so I break out the summer clothes all winter long (and often sit at my desk with no shoes on, because it’s that hot, but don’t tell anyone! lol).
The necklace is all new to you. It was made by me from black onyx beads. While I love the beads, I guess I’m not too crazy about the necklace because I have only worn it once before. Some of the beads just refuse to lie flat. I might just disassemble this piece and try something else with the beads.
How do you feel about empire-waist dresses?
*Sneak sneak sneak.* …Somehow [also at work], I'm the first one to post…? But anyway.Noooooooooooo~ don't take apart your lovely necklace, it's so stunning~! Well, even if you feel you must, reassemble it soon. Your hair is doing that supernatural thing of doing-whatever-it-wants. Mine likes to show off this power every chance it gets, ahaha.I'm not fond of wearing empire-waist dresses because I don't like the feel. This could just be because of the few I wore when I was younger being made cheaply, or not to full cuts, but I'm disinclined to dresses anyway, so no loss.
I get the same comments from guys about empire dresses not looking flattering. I myself am not a fan, but this one does seem to accentuate your figure more so than the standard empire waste. Where do you wear this?? To the office? It seems very work appropriate to me.
I LOVE empire waist and babydoll dresses! I am DRAWN to them – I have quite a collection. My hubby is one that loves a form fitting dress, but he thinks the babydoll dresses look CUTE – so as long as I mix it up he's happy too!
I love long dresses with empire waist, but short dresses like the one you're wearing here, I just can't stand on myself. I have a slim waist and wide hips, so the fabric gets stuck, it becomes wrinkly and it makes me look twice the size…a long dress weighs enough to keep itself even and flat…Hm…okay, I'm not sure if I said it correctly, but I hope, I made some sense…:)
on you it looks good but i would not wear them myself, same problem as lynoire.i would like to have your job please XD in my nightshifts i start freezing really fast and if i have a free minute you can usually find me next to a full-opened-heater, stil freezing.
I love empire waist dresses. I find them adorable and they tend to be really comfy.Btw, you look gorgeous in that dress
Sir Isaak, yay for being today's first commenter! Now get back to work.
Well, perhaps I will find a way to reassemble the necklace so that it looks similar but without those flat oval beads that keep going all crooked. Glad you like the design!Unlacing, yes, I wear this to the office from time to time. Sometimes I wear it on the weekends, without the cami or the shrug. But only if it's just a casual day where I want something simple (I know; I have a strange idea of casual!). 
GothBarbie, your husband sounds like mine: wants to see the figure, but variety is good too! I've seen you in several babydoll dresses on your blog. They work great for you!Lynoire, that totally makes sense. In a way, I prefer shorter empire waist dresses just because at least then they show some leg, but long ones can be so elegant. I have a long empire-waist evening gown I'll be showing soon!kakuidori, you can have my job: I'm kinda over it right now. 
Katelynn, they are quite comfy, aren't they? I think they are fun to wear. And thank you!! 
I have a couple of dresses like this- one's I can wear with flip flops to the grocery store or dressed up with a shrug and heels and wear out. Dresses are great that way, especially when your running late because you can just throw it on and instantly look "together". I love the shrug with this. Great look on you.
You look so pretty! I love how you styled it from day to night. I can't wear empire waistlines…they make me look pregnant ):
I love empire waist dresses and tops. I'm apple shaped with a very large chest, so not all a-line stuff works on me, but when it does, vavoom.I think the reason a lot of men don't like them is because the area under the bust is frequently too flowy hiding the figure, but the men I know that like them, like them because they really enhance the boobage.I think most of us dress more for ourselves then the boys.
Empire waists, unflattering? I wonder why people think that. I guess it comes down to body type. I find empire dresses to be very flattering on me because I have such narrow hips, making my waist look undefined in comparison. Empire dresses cinch in at the top, then flare out over my hips, giving me a more feminine silhouette.Anyway, I think this one looks lovely on you. It doesn't swallow up your narrow waist.
I adore empire dresses on me and so does my hubby. They are more comfortable since I'm very curvy and I've got a bit of a belly and it covers it nicely but mostly because i have "huge tracks of land" aka enormous bosoms and empire really accentuates the bust nicely. Hubby always drools when I'm wearing them.Now for a girl who wants to show the hips more then the bosoms yeah different cut would be better.
Lady Bethezda, you make a great point! Dresses are my go-to when I'm standng in the closet bleary-eyed at 6 AM anddon't have the mental power tocoordinate things! Or when I just want simple elegance. They can be so versatile, and can be dressed up or down just by changing the shoes and jewelry!KatE, thanks! I've had someempire tops that had the same effect. I think it depends partly on the exact cut. It can be a tough style to wear, indeed!Lynn, you make a good point.
They are flattering for the bust! I tend to dress 50% for me and 50% for Mr. Kitty. But that's because I know he appreciates it, and I love the feeling of appealing to him visually. It's good for my ego, plus it adds another level of satisfaction to our relationship (looks are sure not the most important part of a relationship, but are another nice layer to an already deeply rewarding partnership). And he happens to usually like on me what I like on me, which makes it easier. ;-DSiesie, I think body type has something to do with it, and also the fact that some men just want to seeas much of the package as possible. 
Not that we should indulge them in that, necessarily, unless we happen to be inclined to do so. Angel, lol! Bonus points for the Monty Python reference. 
It's awesome when the man loves the same things on you that you already like to wear. And you are so right – empire waists are excellent for showcasing the bust! Iguess that's why so many of them are low cut.
I love the cut of this dress and it's very flattering on you. I think it is a body type issue like some have written earlier. I have a lot of empire waist tunic dresses, they hide my belly a bit (the one I want to get rid of). The lace shrug looked almost like a part of the dress before I looked a bit closer, it's a perfect combination.Thanks for your compliment on the chair cover.:)You asked about advices for your light coloured upholstery: Well since it's not a loose cover you cant take off to wash. You might reupholster it. I had a beautiful american sofa once, it was new but looked a bit antique, it had removable brocade covers and I also sew one white and one red cover for it. By that time I had small children and the consecuenses of that
. Stains that wont go away with ordinary washes is washed with clorine. I don't know if it's allowed to use it were you live, but I only use it when there is a need for it. I have washed coloured clothes as well with good results (but never black) but in that case been careful about the amount used. It removes smells as well. The lowest temperature at home was -32 :S. But whe have an excellent heating system in our house and it is partly built with timber.
I love empire-waisted dresses but I'm not as lucky as you with the man. He hates them. So I wear mine when I go out with my girlfriends!
I'm always iffy with empire waists on me because they tend to accentuate my breasts. Somedays that's okay with me, other times it isn't.
*Looks down* You mean like I'm wearing right now? I love empire dresses. I like how they fit and they look wonderful on everyone (whether THEY think so is another matter). By far my favorite silhouette for work and non-club/concert events.
I like empire-waist dresses IF they're well-cut and flowy, like the one you have here. And I love to wear them under corsets. But unless they're jersey or a similarly flowing fabric, I won't wear them on their own-I have a wide ribcage and wide hips, so if they're not in a relatively clingy fabric or close cut, they make me look like I have the approximate proportions of a brick! They look better on women with narrower hips, I think. This one is gorgeous, and I covet your shrug.
You look lovely as always and this outfit is fabulous. It's one of those outfits that is very elegant and while not being overtly Gothic in any sense still has this lovely dark feel to it. It is also safe for viewing by easily scared normal people.Empire line dresses are fine on people with the right body shape. I've got a large bust but not a defined waist ( a bit boyish rather than round), so I tend to look for clothes that don't accentuate my bust too much and which give me the appearance of a more defined waistline (or corsets – they give me actual curves, lol).
Aw, it's too bad the necklace isn't sitting right. It's quite beautiful. Perhaps you need to just change the thread that you used for beading? I absolutely love the bodice of this dress! 1. I'm a sucker for empire waists, 2. that one is particularly beautiful because of the layered effect. Very nice! I love, love, love versatile dresses, especially those that can go from day to evening with a few quick changes of accessories.
I have a similar dress, and it is so, so, so useful! I love this kind of dress. I think the empire-waist dresses are so femenine
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linnea-maria, thank you so much for the tips!! Removable covers sound like the perfect solution, once we get around to reupholstering. If they can stand up to small kids, they can stand up to us!
-32!?! Wow. Hang in there and stay warm!!Hexotica, perfect solution! Girls Night is the perfect opportunity to truly dress for yourself.Charlotte, they sure do! And whether that is a good thing definitely all depends on the mood of the wearer, and the setting! Sometimes I feel more bold; other times not at all! I can never wear this to work without the cami, that's for sure! 
Minakitty, lol! What good timing. I tend to agree that they are flattering on everyone. I think when you are looking down at it the looseness around waist can deceive the wearer, but the silhouette looks lovely to onlookers!Jamie, flowy sure is a key quality of such dresses. They wouldn't work at all in a stiff fabric, or if they were are all snug. lol to your simile, but I somehow doubt it to be true! 
Shrug is from random mall store, quite a few years ago.HouseCat, well said! It has a dark elegance that is acceptable to me, without screaming "LOOK, I'M A GOTH" to co-workers. 
Although sometimes I do want to scream that, I realize ultimately they will not understand and it'll just lead to a lot of obnoxious questions, stereotyping, gossip and people coming from far and wide to check out my shoes (I speak from experience. lol). Corsets are another item that look great on just about everyone (as long as they fit correctly!).Le Professeur, us busy ladies need quick-change-friendly clothing, for sure! 
I tend to gravitate toward clothing with very distinct detailing, and then stand in my closet wishing I had more generic stuff because it really is more versatile!!Madame Macabre, that's awesome! Yes, I totally agree. 