The quest for the perfect dress.

That doesn't cost £295.  Yes folks, I'm talking about the Rixo silk off the shoulder dress which I have become mildly (my husband knows that I have a different version of *mildly* to everyone else) obsessed with. 

Now I have managed to track down aforementioned, exceptionally rare and sold out bar two places, dress.  But Mrs Sensible head is kicking in and I'm not sure I can spend that much on a dress that I will wear a handful of times - it's dry clean only and I KNOW I say I'd wash it but do I want to wash a £300 dress that tells me to dry clean it?  I am way too much of a chicken.  But I do soooooooo want it.

However - can I find something similar?  Of course it's not going to be the same but at least I should try.  (and then cave and buy it.... ssssssshhhhh). 

But some lovely person on Instagram said they got one similar from Boohoo.  Ok hands up who's never looked at Boohoo?  That'll be me.

Does it sound rather random to say it looks too cheap?  Not as in the stuff looks cheap but the prices do?  Which is bonkers as some of the stuff you get in Primark, is easily as good as that which you can get elsewhere on the High Street for three times the cost.   So it shouldn't "always" be about the money.

However Boohoo seems to make Primark look dear... (sounding like my mum..).  But never let it be said I look a gifthorse in the mouth and these dresses seem just that - a gifthorse (or too good to be true?). 

I fear my expectations may be slightly higher than they should be...

However I've ordered and they will be here tomorrow.   What have you ordered, I hear you cry?  

The fact that in my head this is going to be unswervingly similar to the Rixo Issy dress mean it's only going to end in tears.

Bea Woven Floral Off the Shoulder dress £20



Can I just remind you of the dress I'm trying to emulate??


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Seeing as I didn't know what size I was and so ordered the Medium and the Large and will have to send (at least) one back, I thought I should get it in the pink as well... 

Pink version again £20



Then I got completely carried away as I looked at too many and they all started to merge into one so I thought I had better order the black one as well.  Was slightly perturbed at reading that there is apparently a "thigh high split" on this one.  Which I can't see.  It doesn't entirely bode well though... Actually I think they're describing a different dress now that I read it in more detail.  This is what it says in the description:-

Move over minis, we’re all about entrance-making maxi dresses this season. The seasonless style looks effortless for every day in easy-to-wear jersey, toughened up with tread boots. Upgrade for nights out with a figure-skimming fit and thigh high split and take this slinky dress to the dance floor.

Either I'm going to not get this dress below or they've got their description wrong...

Ella Off the Shoulder Dress £20



So before I went mad and got completely carried away, I checked out and have them being delivered tomorrow.   I will, of course, be reporting back... (if you do go and have a look on Boohoo - be warned.  A LOT of it you will not want to be wearing... but I reckon there is the odd gem... maybe).

However by now I was convinced an off the shoulder dress was a Must Have for the Summer (even though I have yet to wear my Warehouse off the shoulder blouse...).  Someone said to me today that they'd heard there was a three month heatwave on the way and it was predicted to be hotter than the Summer of 76 (I was 3 - I do not recall this alleged phenomenon). 

You don't have to tell me twice - let the Summer dress shopping commence (although seeing as this news was probably from the Daily Express and they predict this without fail every year and in living memory it's never happened, I shall probably be sticking with my £20 Boohoo number.  I shouldn't be so attached to this before it arrives, should I?)

Although... HOW gorgeous is this one from ASOS?  Pink birds...I love it.  I would be Margot in this.  Please someone tell me they've tried it and it's rankola.

ASOS Printed Ruffle and tiered off shoulder Dress £65



Red Floral Print at River Island £35 although I'm not sure about the waist on this.. 




And one you could wear a bra with now.  WHOOP. 

Influence Printed Bardot Maxi Dress was £43 now £25



Plain but maxi still although in a nude which is a punchy colour in my book.  I love it but not entirely sure it would love me back... 

ASOS Ruffle and Tiered Off Shoulder maxi dress in nude £60



Plain now but moving into shorter territory - Just Female Sorta Off Shoulder Dress in Black £138



ASOS Tiered Cold Shoulder Dress £30  And two more you can wear bras with - these are my favourite type - I may have to get the navy and to hell with the knees.  Actually scrap that.  This model is 5ft6.  Dear lord, on me it would be more than a tad fanny flashing.  No.  Just no.




Or in the white... I think this would be voluminous enough not to be see through... 



And I actually want to be short enough to wear this.  If you're not tall please please buy this.

ASOS Denim Embroidered Dress in black £50



Finishing with plain at Warehouse who are having a completely storming season. 



In the meantime, I've been feeling some skirt love.  Legs have been fake tanned.  And yes - to the knee and to the ankle.  Of course. 

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Black and white jumper - H&M
Khaki ankle grazer pleated skirt - Topshop
Onyx leather jacket - hush
Red superstar sneakers - Golden Goose
Black Haworth bag - Village England

And today - all hail the floral dress.


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Floral midi dress - H&M
Chocolate leather jacket - All Saints
Saxon peep toe shoe boots - Kurt Geiger
Whisky Medium Marcie Satchel - Chloe

So tomorrow I am off on a super exciting work jaunt and will report back.  Something rather off piste for me - fingers crossed it all goes ok...  And of course, I have my Boohoo package to look forward to... someone tell me they've had something successful from there please??

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46 comentarios:

  1. Love the nude asos ruffled. I think it is a colour that could make the wearer look gorgeous or like death lightly toasted. Worth trying though just for the possibility. I love hearing you talk about partial fake tan. It is still 29 degrees in the day time where I am in Australia. And we are nearly in winter. They say it will get cold soon but for now we deal with hot days and freezing cold air conditioning that means, you guessed it, jumpers.

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    1. I'm not going to lie - there is a not a lot of oozing sympathy from here...!!!

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  2. Hi Kat! Oo think you might like this - I bought it today for a wedding do this Saturday and wear it sinched in with black leather wrap belt. Beautiful colours & pattern....take a look? Zara printed off the shoulder dress ref 2873/752... X

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    1. I will have a look at that thank you - although anything I need a belt with is normally a no no for me.. WEEPS.

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    2. It does look beautiful without a belt too... Xx

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    3. OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

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    4. Ooo have you looked at it?..... It's fabulous 😍 xx

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  3. Boohoo - I've had a peek before but just not sure. Some of the material looks cheap and dare I say it? A lot of the stuff looks very young - I'm thinking my daughter, in just a few years time - eeek! However, those dresses look fab, especially the first one. I love the colours in it. It could be just one of those 'freak finds'. Hope so. That'd be a fist pump moment (when no one is looking of course).

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    1. Oh god it all looks absolutely terrible really. BUT you never ever ever know and like you say - every now and again.. is worth the £1 postage I paid and will no doubt all be back in the post tomorrow! We MUST try these things though....

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    2. Bohoo is very hit and miss, but I have bought two fabulous dresses from there in the past. One which I wore to a wedding, and got lots of compliments on! . Definately worth a try!
      Tx

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  4. Buy the bloody Rixo dress, or you will regret it for ever. Trust me, and this is from a woman who has had many a cheap dress catch fire having out the loo window to have that sneaky , damm I've drunk to much wine, , cigarette!! If you are still thinking about the dress after all this time, then that's your answer, oh and H&S demands you buy it!

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    1. Oh that's HILARIOUS. I'll think about it...

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    2. I agree I really think you should buy the Rixo dress and I think you will end up wearing it at least two or three times every Summer over the next decade! it is a classic that will not date! you won't regret it!

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    3. You are not the voice of reason my husband would hope you to be....!!

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  5. Nothing to add on Boohoo but did just want to say that I love your selection of leather jackets. To buy one is on my list but I don't know where to start, do you have any tips? Thanks x

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    1. I will absolutely do a blog on them soon. Mine I've been collecting mostly for years!

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  6. Haha, that was just too funny!! Hope your Boohoo dresses work out (but fear that after the gorgeous Rixo silk number, they may be a bit too far down the line to work for you...) I also hemmed and hawed over a Whistles silk off-shoulder dress and at £195, wasn't sure it was worth as a possible one-season trend. But after seeing my size sell out on Asos, I grabbed it on a return and now waiting for it to arrive.
    http://m.asos.com/mt/www.asos.com/Whistles/Whistles-Flavia-Bardot-Silk-Belted-Midi-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6494844

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    1. I love that dress but wrong length and belted for me - it looks epic on other people though - great great shout and super useful xx

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  7. Hey! I bought the Boohoo dresses and unfortunately the material didn't hold up in the wash....handwash and I dried flat....it shrunk a lot. Maybe keep the large as the medium on me was perfect and then not do much. ..hopefully they improved the stitching as it was no well done! Good luck!

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    1. Oh bum. I feared as much... Will wait and see!

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    2. I may wear and wash and then send back with the others if it shrinks!!! Great tip thank you xx

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  8. Boohoo is cheap and a lot like Primark ie hit and miss in the quality department. But it's ideal for a high fashion look (or if you need a cheap slut fancy dress outfit) that you know you won't wear often or for long. That saying I have a long summer skirt from there bought 3 years ago for about £8 and it's still going strong.

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    1. "cheap slut fancy dress outfit"... crying laughing. Not something you see in their marketing... But I have to say I bet if you looked hard enough you could COMPLETE gems!

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  9. The flashy short dresses from Asos, could be worn with skinny jeans - yes I know not for holy communion, but otherwise.
    Not really into floral dresses, bit too Laura Ashley for me, and I know I don't get the use out of dresses they deserve, so I'm super selective (well I try to be), and most of mine are not patterned at all, and (hopefully) classic in the cut, so they'll stand the test of time.
    Having said that, I do like a modern floral print!

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    1. Well I think I've touched too many floral dresses now as, like you've just said, I can't see now beyond old lady floral. GAH. I think I've tipped over from - oooh cooooool, into... oooooh total Nana. I need to take a day away and drown in some black and then go back to them!

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  10. If you doooooo decide to get the rixo dress the dressing room.com has 10% off you first order if you sign up for their newsletter xxxx

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    1. I think I may just have touched too many floral dresses.... Does that make sense?? They've all started merging into one and I've suddenly switched from COOL to WTAF?!!! (but that Rixo dress is soooooooooo gorgeous.... )

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  11. you do make me smile when you bemoan not being able to wear a belt! I can certainly do that but how I would love to wear one of these off the shoulder numbers - so pretty but I'm afraid with my melons Id end up looking like a head on a shelf even if I could solve the bolder holder issue!

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    1. Oh gosh yes everyone has their cross to bear! I can happily go without a bra for most things - bar anything see through or vaguely sheer... that's less Charlotte Rampling and more fast forward to horror movie!

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  12. Unrelated to the dresses, do you find that Topshop pleated skirt clings terribly? What can one do to stop it from happening? (why is there no lining??). I have been very pleased to discover you blog recently :)

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    1. Oh thank you! And no - I don't actually... not at all....hmmm I've heard something about hair spray but not sure if that would work.... Sorry to be so unhelpful!

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    2. I do find it REALLY tight on the waist though.. mine's a 12 and I can't actually do it up properly!!

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  13. I love the look of the Boohoo dresses but I will wait for your report before ordering them.

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  14. On a completely unrelated note, can you please tell me what size your Wyse breton jumper is? I ordered the 3 but it's a little long but wondering whether the 2 will be too small (I am normally a size 12 on top).

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    1. My top is size 2... I would that's a 12... Hope that helps!

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  15. Not tried boohoo but I did get something from misguided - similar thing - and it was fine, and £12 full price for a skirt £8 for the top!

    Have you ever looked on silkfred.com? It's independent labels and quite a lot of very unusual dresses to browse. I recommend.

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    1. Aha - yes I would say Missguided is the same thing! Lots of dresses you look at and thnk hmmmm but I bet there are a some utter gems if you look long enough! (I bet they have some great harem pants!)

      Now I haven't looked at Silkfred.. it keeps coming up on my FB feed - you know how they do in the adverts and I thought the photography looked a tad dodge but that's a ridiculous thought really so I should definitely have a look. Thanks for the tip xx

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  16. Hi Kat, how did the Boo Hoo delivery go? Can we see a pic? I'm curious as I like the look of the blue floral maxi. Ta x

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  17. Well I must say I was so inspired by your post that I went and ordered the pink Boohoo dress and just tried it on. I'm really chuffed. I'm heading off for a week in the sun and it will be perfect. My 7 year old's verdict- she's off school today- was Mummy that's beautiful!!! I stumbled across your blog via Instagram and I've been really inspired. Thank you. It's really perked me up and got my thinking about my wardrobe. X

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  18. This is just perfect to wear. All dresses are just stunning.I have already tried this type of dress nad must say you will look fab and so easy to handle.

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  19. soooooo pretty,this is just perfect to wear.Hope you like this maxi dress

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  20. Amazing dresses for women!! I really like these designs and love to purchase it. Also, I would like to share more collection for women dresses online.

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  21. If black off shoulder dress keeps women a sense of mystery.Then red ball dress shows the neat and pure of a girl.

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  22. red floral print looks so lovely and an effortless easy wear perfect for summers


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