LOL! No, I’m not rolling out to Trader Joe’s dressed like this. 🙂 Tomorrow I’m going out to dinner with El Hub for our sixth wedding anniversary, and I’m trying to figure out what to wear.
I’m thinking it would be a good time to finally take my birthday dress out for a spin, the French Connection Banded Cap Sleeve Minidress in Grey Steel I scored on deep discount at Nordstrom last month.
One of the reasons I like the dress is because it’s similar to this $780 (!) Herve Leger, which is way, way out of my budget.
The French Connection version regularly goes for about $180 — still a lot — but if you can snag it on sale like I did…
Wait — you can! It’s on sale right now at both nordstrom.com and frenchconnection.com.
Some of the reviews online mentioned that it runs small, so I decided to order a size up, and I’m glad I did. But since it’s a very body conscious style, I still squeeze myself into some Spanx before slipping it on.
The dress does have a little stretch to it, but not much. It tends to flatten certain areas out, so if you want to showcase the girls, for instance, this might not be the dress to do it in.
Just for kicks, I tried it on with a pair of silver Marc Fischer shoes from a couple years ago and a Kate Spade bag, but I’m not really feelin’ the shoes with the dress… Something about ’em makes me feel extra short!
I may stop by DSW this afternoon to look for a nude pair. Gotta love the old nude heels trick to make the legs look longer. 🙂
What’s your go-to outfit for big nights out? And what do you like about it?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
YOU LOOK AMAZING!! He’s a lucky guy! Happy Anniversary to you both! Wishing you mucho happiness and love!
I love how the dress looks on you! I do agree though, nude heels may go better, maybe because silver is a bit too matchy matchy 😉 Happy Anniversary to you and the Mr.!
Happy Anniversary! You look absolutely stunning! The pairing with the tote bag is nice but I think a daintier piece may look better for a special night out.
Hot damn! U look sexy Karen! El hub is a lucky man 😉
You look stunning! Happy anniversary!
Great outfit and enjoy the evening!
Happy anniv!You look fab! I’m diggin’ that dress.
OMG Karen! You look HOT in that dress! Happy Anniversary!
You look great! Happy Anniversary!
LOVE this dress!!! It looks amazing on you!
You look gorgeous Karen!
Congrats! You look… AMAZING. Seriously amazing. I love that dress and you have a serious rocking body!
You look amazing!
Happy Anniversary Karen! I love the dress but I love your shoes more.
What is the lipstick shade you are wearing. it looks so fresh!
You look lovely as ever!
pretty! i think you’d look great also w/o the spanx 😀 I JUST LOOOVE these banded dresses and when i’ll be rich(or just a bit) i’ll buy one too 😀 (even tho some already say it’s outta style, i don’t care!
You look beautiful Karen. Happy Anniversary to you and El Hub!
Karen, we got married at around the same time! It’s our 6th anni too, on Sunday. 🙂
And you look hot!
Happy wedding anniversary Karen and El Hub! Many more to come! You look AMAZING in this dress! Way too gorgeous! Hope you guys will have a GREAT time 😉
Love the whole look , and the silver goes so well with your skintone! Oh, and happy wedding anniversary! 🙂
You look HOT Karen! Happy anniversary to you and El Hub. 🙂
You totally rock that dress!!! Happy anniversary and I hope you have a fabulous night out!
Woooot wooo! Sexy Karen! Have a great anniversary. And have fun shoe shopping.
Happy anniversary to you both! You look so beautiful, Karen!
Gorgeous dress!! I am all about nude heels as well. They make everything look much more classier.
WOW! That dress on you is GORGG!!!! Happy Anniversary 🙂
Happy Anniversary!!!
Te ves lindÃsima. Tu vestido está de ataque. Have a very nice dinner with your esposito! Happy Anniversary.
Sizzlin’ hot, Karen! Happy anniversary! 😉
Smokin, Karen. Though I do agree, a nude pair of heels would complement it well. Maybe even black pumps for a darker look. But seriously, you look amazing in that dress!
You look great! Happy anniversary to you and el hub! I am sure Tabs is celebrating too!
You look lovely!
Have FUN Gorgeous!
Holy crap!!!! U look awesome!!!! Gee!!
HOT MAMA IN THE HOUSE!!!!
No on the shoes and the purse; I think nudey pink high heels and a clutch would look really hot with this dress! Fabulous pictures you look perfect!
Dress is lookin good! You are right about the shoes, a better choice would be something cut closer to the toes like a classic pump – I’m sure you have some black pumps & a matching clutch. Throw in a loud scarf and that’s what I’d wear with this dress.
Round these parts going out means dinner and a movie, so I always bring a scarf or “third piece” (jacket, cardi…). What makes a going out outfit for me is wearing full makeup (a rarity) and a cute evening bag 🙂
Karen, that dress is amazing and you look gorgeous in it! Happy anniversary to you and El Hubs 🙂
You look outstanding. Are you about a size 2? A lot of people don’t do grey well and you rocked it.
You look amazing! Happy Anniversary to you and El Hubs. I have a couple of go-to outfits myself. I have a little black dress that is cowl necked in the front and open in the back, a strapless yellow dress (my fave color), and a watercolor grey/white flower rope halter dress. I really love that dress on you!
Happy Anniversary. You look gorgeous in that dress. . . have fun with El Hub and enjoy your dinner date.
[insert whistle here] Wow, Hubs is a lucky man. I love that dress on you. I think you can wear sparkly silver shoes with it, but those look almost like booties with all the wide straps up the front of the foot and do make your legs look short. I think shoes that are a bit more delicate looking would be nice and maybe a bag with some color or even vise versa. Whatever you wear, have an amazing night.
Dang, Karen, that is one sexy dress! It really fits you to a “T.” I just love a bandage dress. Unfortunately, I do not have the body to wear one. I’ll just live vicariously thru you, LOL. El hubs is a lucky dude! 😉
Love that dress, it’s absolutely flawless on you!
Happy Anniversary, Lady K and El-Hub! You look gorgeous! Hope you both are having a swell evening! Rock it, chica! xoxo.
oh wow, you look gorgeous! love the dress, it looks amazing on you. and yes, i agree about the nude heels. i think those silver shoes match a little too much right? nude would look awesome! happy anniversary! enjoy!
You look fabulous Karen! I think nude shoes would work better with the dress too! Happy Anniversary!
Very pretty dress Karen, hope your Anniversary was beautiful !
Wow you look gorgeous. Happy anniversary!
You look gorgeous here Karen!!! Have a lovely anniversary celebration!! Congrats!
Hope both had a great Aniv! I always wanted a HL Dress but it’s way too expensive.. And this is a great alternative! But one day I will have my “original” piece he!
Smokin’ hot, Karen! Congrats on the anniversary – best wishes for many many more!
You look amazing! Hope the date was wonderful!
I thought it was a Herve Ledger dress at first. Dang!
happy anniversary Karen … 😀 😀 my dad’s b’day was on 8th july 😀 😀 …
you are looking super duper Sexy 😀 …. lovedddd the overall look
your hubby is so luckyyyy and you better make him realize once more by making him read all the comments
wish you good luck dear
XOXO 😀
Oh you look gorgeous!!! Love the dress and the makeup :). I think I might going to steal the color combo soon ;).
Happy anniversary, Karen! Hope you have an eternity of happiness together with el hub!!!
YOU LOOK GORGEOUS!! El hub is eating his heart out!!
First of all, LOVE the Ombre highlights. And that dress is HOT and looks hot on you 🙂
You looks hands down absolutely fantabulous!! 😉 I hope you had a wonderful anniversary celebration and here’s to many, many more years of wedded bliss for you and your hubs!
Happy Anniversary!! You look amazing 🙂 How was dinner??
Happy anniversary! You look beautiful, and this is such a glam outfit.
Somehow a pink one jumped into my shopping cart.
Aww have a great anniversary celebration. You look beautiful. El Hub is a lucky guy! =D
Karen!!! Drop Dead! — Drop Dead GORGEOUS, that is!!! Love that dress and for sure you did it some justice!
Hope you enjoy your anniversary, you look great in that dress! You’ll have to let us know what shoes you settled on :).