Need travel dress recommends - going to IL's

[robinsmommy]

We are going to visit DH's family in Europe in August, and I need a good dress. Not too skimpy or low cut or fitted (I'll be hoisting a 3 yr old, and the cleavage on tops always goes south when I do that).

I just want a nice short sleeve knee-length dress, not polyester, flattering, but not too revealing, and suitable for short people.

There are nice ones from horny toad, but they are cut too low in the neckline for my short self. The ones from travel smith look perhaps a little too old, and athleta looks a little too revealing (Unless they would be ok if I sized up from what they do for the models.....)

???

any good ones out there?

[Kindra178]

Athleta Evia dress is the best. Soooo comfy. I wear it once a week. I thought to myself that it would be a perfect plane travel dress. I have it in two colors but I prefer the patterned one. It looks cute with leggings, tights or bare legged. I wear it with sandals or flats. I am average height, but don't find it too low cut. I have the large, but I am overweight. Definitely bring a sweater and soft hoody for the flight; airplanes are so cold.

http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=46838&vid=1&pid=734649&scid=734649002

[robinsmommy]

I'll have to see how it fits, but I think I found a good one:

http://www.landsend.com/pp/SleevelessCottonModalVneckDress~208779_59.html?bcc =y&action=order_more&sku_0=::CHE&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000130&origin=index

[SnuggleBuggles]

I was going to recommend the Athleta Santorini dress:
http://athleta.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=46838&vid=1&pid=735117&scid=735117002

But I really (really!!) like the one you picked.

BEth

[robinsmommy]

Gah! Got the dress from LE, and their vanity sizing has gotten ridiculous. I'm 5'1", about 115 lbs, and the petite small is way too big. They are all out of the black in XS petite, and that sky blue color they have left is not good for me. I guess I should be grateful that I can at least save some money and return it to the Sears here....

In desperation, I looked at Boden ($$$$) and even they are running out of the small sizes in summer dresses in colors that I like. I guess I'll go hit the thrift stores and consignment shops.....

[SnuggleBuggles]

What about Ann Taylor Loft? They have petites. These are a few possibilities but they have a ton of great looking dresses- all much lower than Boden.

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=25873&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3359&categoryId=211&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_211&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Coastal%20Fog&defaultSizeType=Regular

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=25877&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3359&categoryId=211&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_211&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Pink&defaultSizeType=Regular

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=25779&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3359&categoryId=211&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_211&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Beet%20Red&defaultSizeType=Regular

Beth

[neeleymartin]

What about Ann Taylor Loft? They have petites. These are a few possibilities but they have a ton of great looking dresses- all much lower than Boden.

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=25873&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3359&categoryId=211&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_211&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Coastal%20Fog&defaultSizeType=Regular

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=25877&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3359&categoryId=211&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_211&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Pink&defaultSizeType=Regular

http://www.anntaylorloft.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=25779&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3359&categoryId=211&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_211&loc=TN&gridSize=sm&showAll=true&defaultColor=Beet%20Red&defaultSizeType=Regular

Beth

beth,

thanks for posting the links. i usually avoid anntaylor for some reason. those dresses are.....(me speechless)....AMAZING!!! i plan to make a shopping trip to a local shop this weekend. thank you, thank you , thank you.

[SnuggleBuggles]

beth,

thanks for posting the links. i usually avoid anntaylor for some reason. those dresses are.....(me speechless)....AMAZING!!! i plan to make a shopping trip to a local shop this weekend. thank you, thank you , thank you.

No problem- just be sure to go to Ann Taylor Loft vs Ann Taylor if you want these. :)

Beth

[jent]

Here's another one: http://www.zappos.com/patagonia-womens-kamala-dress-seaport

[hillview]

Was about to suggest a patagonia dress like what Jen suggested. I had a Patagonia dress (no longer sold) that I wore while traveling for ages.
/hillary

[robinsmommy]

Well, I may give up on the search for a dress - though my mom got a couple and mailed them off to me....we'll see.

I am fussy. The skin on my back has a lot of scarring from bad skin, so the LE dress gave the right amount of coverage - I love the Patagonia dresses, but so many of them expose a lot on the back. I also tend to sunburn. I guess ideally, I'd find a short sleeved dress, but those aren't easy to come by either. Strappy is definitely in this year...

But, I am looking at a skirt that Patagonia makes -

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/patagonia-womens-lithia-skirt?p=58650-0-362&pcc=1128

It has the same print I liked on the dress, and will hide dirt well. Blue one is nice, too. It may sit too low for mommy tummy, we'll see......

LE also has a nice modal skirt that looks promising, too, but hard to find sizes. I'm hoping that I can tweak the length enough if I get a regular, since it has a fold-down waist.

http://www.landsend.com/pp/CottonModalFoldoverKneelengthSkirt~193385_59.html? bcc=y&action=order_more&sku_0=::TVY&CM_MERCH=IDX_00002__0000000130&origin=index

The search continues! Thanks ladies!

[bubbaray]

Why don't you wait and buy something when you are over there? If you are near a major city, there are some kinda funky German designers....

[niccig]

But, I am looking at a skirt that Patagonia makes -

http://www.patagonia.com/web/us/product/patagonia-womens-lithia-skirt?p=58650-0-362&pcc=1128

It has the same print I liked on the dress, and will hide dirt well. Blue one is nice, too. It may sit too low for mommy tummy, we'll see......


If you get this skirt, let us know how it fits. I'm thinking of getting it for some travel we'll be doing next year over the summer.

[robinsmommy]

I might take a peek at clothes while I'm there (I'm kinda hoping that Anita makes regular bras - my nursing bras lasted 3 years, I'd love that quality for an everyday bra), but shopping with my 3 year old is icky. And as long as I've taken with the search here, I dread the thought of a planned purchase over there. No to mention the fact that DH has had almost nothing good to say about the stuff I've brought home so far.....I appreciate honesty, but he seems almost as picky as me!

So we'll see - supposedly the one girl cousin has lots of hand-me-downs for older DD. That might be interesting.....

[SnuggleBuggles]

So we'll see - supposedly the one girl cousin has lots of hand-me-downs for older DD. That might be interesting.....

You graciously say thank you, take them all and then donate what you don't like at a later time. :)

Beth

[robinsmommy]

Ok, I think I will just stick with the thrift-store finds for dresses - I tried on the Patagonia dress at a local store, and well, I'm so short in the torso that the v-neck was lower than my cleavage....talk about overexposure! It's a pity, because I really liked the fabric. I may just try to get the skirt in the brown print, though.....sadly, almost all the thrift store stuff I found will need to be altered a bit to make it work really well - I guess I have to get the sewing machine fixed now...

[SnuggleBuggles]

I picked up this $20 dress up at Target. I am 5'2" and bought it in a small. Fits well.
http://www.target.com/Prints-Patterns-Womens-Dresses-Clothing/b/ref=sc_iw_r_2_0_256138011?node=299234011

Beth