Spring Wedding Outfit + Quest for Nude Pumps

Got this email from a reader: "Can you show outfits a petite guest could wear to a wedding? My closet is full of business attire. I'd like to dress up, but tastefully and appropriate for a wedding."

I think weddings are the perfect excuse to go out and buy a dress. Life's too short to not wear pretty frocks. H&M is probably the first place I'd look, but BCBG or even Forever 21 offer viable options for a Spring/Summer wedding.

If I absolutely must pull something from my closet of dull business attire, I would choose a colorful sheath dress. A la the Asos pencil dress. This is how I could wear it conservatively for work:

Dress: Asos Tailored Pencil Dress in Petite 0/UK 4, hemmed (buy here)

Pumps: Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps sz 5 (buy here)

Blazer: Theory sz 00  Akoya pearls: eBay

And for a not-too-formal wedding, I'd make the following changes:

1. Lose the blazer, or swap it for a cute cropped jacket or a shrug or elegant wrap
2. Instead of conservative pearls, don a statement necklace
3. Swap plain pumps for chic heels with a platform
4. Add a small evening bag or clutch
5. Get nails did and gloss your lips

Necklace: Forever 21 Beaded Bib Necklace (buy here, also comes in teal)

Bangles: H&M   Wallet: LV   Nails: Essie Jelly Apple

I don't like the quality of F21 necklaces, but I was drawn to this chunky piece. After I got home I coated the metal in cheap clear nail polish (reader tip - thank you!), and now store all my costume necklaces in individual plastic bags, as that's supposed to prevent oxidation.

Pumps: Nine West "Rocha" in Taupe, sz 5.5
Swing Jacket: Banana Republic sz 0 (old, altered)

I got this dress back from the tailor, and the alteration cost almost made me weep. Tailor said $10 for the hem, but $25 total if I wanted to keep the back slit (it had to be reconstructed like so). So byebye $50 to get both dresses shortened. See reviews of this dress by fellow petites in the Alterations Needed Forum. Elle did a post on regular vs petite sizing and Ping did a post on the petite.

Next up, a pair of true nude (not brown, not porcini) pumps is a wardrobe must-have, so why is the perfect pair so darn hard to find? I thought about going straight to the popular Corso Como's that Elle has...

Corso Como Delicious Pump in Nude

...but I wanted a slight platform to further elongate the leg. Below are three options that I entertained:

1. Enzo Angliolini "Kylin" in Nude, sz 6 (5.5 was sold out)

Thoughts: the platform was chunky (look at that thick sole in the back view) and wide. Pointy toe not as classic as almond.

Verdict: Return

2. BCBG "Tinas" in Tapioca Santos, sz 5.5

Thoughts: the color was an effervescent pearly white in person...very bridal and definitely not nude. Toe a little too round for my liking. These DID fit very snugly though...so the 5.5 either runs small or is true to size.

Verdict: Return

3. Nine West "Rocha" in Taupe, sz 5.5

Thoughts: 5.5 fit well, but pinched my toes (never happens!). Not a fan of the wooden sole and heel (I think it makes the shoe looks cheaper). Also, Target's Mossimo Versie in Taupe is a very close dupe for this shoe at less than half the price.

Verdict: Best for me out of the three...but pinched toes hurt. Return.

Here's a look at all three compared to the popular Ann Taylor Perfect Pumps. See how the Ann Taylor ones just have a cleaner and sleeker silhouette? That's why I shall remain a loyal PP wearer.

I will say that my quest for the perfect nude pump has finally ended, in a huge splurge. They're not perfect because they don't have a platform, but I've been considering them for a while and they were love on my feet.

Review: Asos Petite Tailored Pencil Sheath Dress

**Update: Check your email today for a 20% off code! If you're not an email subscriber, sign up and possibly ask Customer Service if you can have a code (they've been great to me). The red dress is back in stock in Petite 0!**

I'll cut to the chase. I love this dress. It's not a high quality garment and the length on me requires hemming, but the silhouette makes me feel so ladylike. As soon as I zipped up the snug torso, I knew it was a keeper. I envision it with bold necklaces and cropped little jackets.

Dress: ASOS Tailored Pencil Dress in sz US Petite 0, Red (?)
Buy here in petite (also in black and cobalt) or here in regular (on sale).

When I saw that this dress was titled "in the style of Lady Gaga," I was apprehensive that there would be some whacky feature to it like an exaggerated poofy skirt. After careful inspection...I don't see anything Gaga-ish. I would see this more on someone polished like fellow petite Eva Longoria.

Sizing: Asos UK sz Petite 4 = US Petite 0 = H&M sz 2. The Petite 0 I ordered definitely fits smaller than sz 00P / XXSP from the typical petite favorite brands like Ann Taylor, LOFT, and BR.

Fit: This dress is cut narrow in the torso/waist, and has pleated full tulip hips. When zipped up, the US sz 1 on me has no room to spare at the chest and waist, but still a few inches of space at the hips. The bottom opening for the legs is narrow. Even with the slit, it's a snug fit past my hips when putting it on. Length on me hits right at the knee. I want to shorten it about 2 inches, but then the back slit would look funky and truncated. Woe is me.

Measurements: US sz Petite 0 measures 14.75" from armpit to armpit, 12" across the waist, 17.5" across the hips at the widest point, 13-14" across the bottom leg opening, 14" from top of shoulder to waistline, 33" total length down the back center.

 Front and back, inside out (click to enlarge):

Quality: The material feels like a thin, smooth suiting material with a tiny bit of stretch. It is 100% polyester (machine washable), unlined, and the zipper feels kind of cheap. I wore it for a few hours and it didn't wrinkle. Price seems steep for the quality, but to me it's a fair price for a pretty sheath dress that requires minimal alterations.

Shopping Experience: Free shipping and free returns = happy me. Shipping is now tracked, which is great because I know that used to be the main complaint with ASOS orders. My order this time came from Atlanta, GA (versus the UK, like last time) and took about 5 business days to get here.

Colors: Currently, this dress is only offered in Black, Blue, Cafe Creme, and Red for petite sizing. The Cafe Creme is a light blush pink and kind of looks nude on me because I'm so darn pale right now. The strange thing is, I also ordered Red (it looks like a vibrant cherry red on the website) but I was sent an entirely different color. The one I received is a burnt sienna-coral-ish color, and looks just like "Firebrick" from their regular sizing. I'm confused because I don't even see that color as an option for petite sizing! So if you order Red ... you may receive Red, or you may not.

Dress: ASOS Tailored Pencil Dress in sz US Petite 0, Cafe Creme
 Buy here in petite, here in regular (on sale), or here in linen. 

Verdict: Keeping both. A rarity for me at this price. I know many of you probably find the Cafe Creme to be terribly unflattering against my skin tone, but I'm going to save it for when I'm tan.

I highly recommend this dress, but it can definitely be hit or miss depending on your body shape. I want to emphasize the narrowly-cut torso and tulip-style hips. If your chest is any larger than mine (I'm wearing a 32A with this dress) then I'd recommend sizing up.

Readers - what do you think of this dress? Did any of you pick it up?

ASOS Petites Review: Bow Combo Dress

The UK retailer ASOS has been (and still is!) offering free shipping to US customers, so I finally got curious and ordered this bow combo dress. Since I've heard inconsistent info about their sizing, I ordered both a petite 4 (says US 0 on the tag) and a petite 6 (says US 2).

Here is the UK Petite 4:

Dress: ASOS " "bow dress UK sz Petite 4 (buy it here)

Shoes: Aldo

The material was very stretchy so I got it on just fine (pull-over style, no zipper), but it was noticeably tight on me. I am not sure where one can wear this dress...for me it is too hooch for the workplace, yet not hooch enough for going out. Next up, the size 6...

I would say the Petite 6 still fit very small, like what I would expect from an H&M sz 2 or 4:

Fit: Stretchy and petite-friendly, but I'm interested in how their more structured items fit. From the photo, I mistakenly thought this would be structured and work-appropriate. On the sz 4, waist measures 12" across, bust measures 13" across, and total length is 29."

Material: Top is 100% viscose, bow is 100% cotton, and skirt is 96% cotton/4% elastane. This is maybe a smidge better quality than what one would find at H&M or F21.

Value: I personally found this to be expensive for what it was. A similar dress at a retailer like H&M would probably be $35, $40 max.

Verdict: Return (a little too costly at full price). I have to admit though that ASOS has some designs that are unique, plus the shopping experience was very easy. Free returns are also convenient, so I am definitely open to shopping here again for items that are on sale.

*Note - They have a return center right in the US, so even if they were not offering free return shipping it shouldn't be too costly to send something back.

Love the bow-tie detail!

UK sz petite 4 (left) and UK sz petite 6 (right)

Ah, the dreaded "S" shape in the front (from the tummy to the thighs). This happens to me when something is too clingy and/or doesn't hug right. Sizing up made it look better in the front but still unflatering in the back. The bow also looks awkward and floppy from the side view.

UK sz petite 4 (left) and UK sz petite 6 (right)

Jen at Frmheadtotoe ordered this wine dotty dress in petite 4 and she says it fits her well. It's on clearance now for $16.85 and the petite 6 is still available. This tea-party flirty ruched sundress is also on clearance for $20.22 and left in petite 4 and 6.

Readers - did anyone else order from ASOS with the free ship/returns promo?