# Is This Dress 'Timeless'? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 12, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241 "2011-06-12T20:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/1 "2011-06-12T20:16:21Z")
Not sure if Mrs. Kennedy’s wearing a Chanel or a De La Renta in [this picture](http://cache2.asset-cache.net/xc/3421909.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=45B0EB3381F7834D97A45A2F2A3DFC9650622D5301413A92C6E7E4E2CE924510), but would you say the skirt itself is a timeless, classic formal design unlikely to go out of fashion? Or is it dated regardless? I’m trying to decide how to have my wedding dress redone so I can wear it for years to come and there’s more than enough material for anyone to work with. Please ignore the confection QEII is wearing. Just look away. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/2 "2011-06-12T20:56:36Z")
It’s pretty timeless, but that skirt is not going to be flattering on a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/3 "2011-06-12T21:10:08Z")
Forgive my fashion ignorance but I thought the “LBD” was the last word in timeless. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/4 "2011-06-12T21:11:42Z")
I can’t decide if it’s the dress or the full length gloves that scream early 60s, but no. It’s not timeless, it’s dated. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/5 "2011-06-12T21:17:02Z")
Link doesn’t work for me… ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/6 "2011-06-12T21:33:52Z")
I also think dated. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/7 "2011-06-12T21:33:58Z")
Refresh the link, rhub. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/8 "2011-06-12T21:38:37Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > It’s pretty timeless, but that skirt is not going to be flattering on a lot of people. Luckily, I have long legs and a behind like Marilyn Monroe (when she was live) and straight skirts do alright on me. A wider cocktail skirt on me at 41 (and not getting younger) would look less mature, I think. I need a formal dress like this about 4 times a year, maybe more. > [@Zeldar](#): > > Forgive my fashion ignorance but I thought the “LBD” was the last word in timeless. It may well be but I don’t think they can dye my dress entirely and uniformly black, even if they could make my [full-length wedding dress](http://s119.photobucket.com/albums/o155/portia327/Wedding/?action=view¤t=IMG_1801.jpg) little. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/9 "2011-06-12T22:48:04Z")
I can’t see the link in the OP either, but I must say, you looked gorgeous and so happy in your wedding photos. (I love wedding photos.) ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/10 "2011-06-12T23:12:50Z")
It looks old-fashioned to me. Something about the waistline. Also those sleeves look really hard to pull off - I feel like you’d need pretty skinny shoulders. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/11 "2011-06-12T23:14:07Z")
> [@vix](#): > > I can’t see the link in the OP either, but I must say, you looked gorgeous and so happy in your wedding photos. (I love wedding photos.) Does this link work? [http://lisawallerrogers.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/queen-9.gif?w=323&h=353](http://lisawallerrogers.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/queen-9.gif?w=323&h=353) I’m only thinking about the skirt, sorry I didn’t fix that above. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/12 "2011-06-12T23:17:18Z")
Something very dated about it. I can’t pinpoint what, though. That dress isn’t flattering. I LOVE Jackie, but it doesn’t flatter her all that much. I actually think fashion wise Queen Elizabeth looks better. Not only does dress flatter her odd shape, it looks like it would flatter most anyone who wasn’t too flat chested. Also, that dress looks more formal. Jackie’s dress looks like it was trendy at the time. The silhouette is just all shades of wrong. ---
**Author:** ![YaraMateo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/58f4c7/32.png) [@YaraMateo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YaraMateo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/13 "2011-06-12T23:18:22Z")
> [@Nawth\_Chucka](#): > > Does this link work? [http://lisawallerrogers.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/queen-9.gif?w=323&h=353](http://lisawallerrogers.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/queen-9.gif?w=323&h=353) > > I’m only thinking about the skirt, sorry I didn’t fix that above. The skirt I think is more unflattering and dated than the top. If you most, maybe slim it down. ---
**Author:** ![vix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a88e4f/32.png) [@vix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vix)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/14 "2011-06-12T23:22:08Z")
Yep, I can see that one, thanks. I like the top of that dress, which is of no help to you. The skirt doesn’t work for me. I don’t know that I’d call it dated, but I don’t like that it’s long, straight AND full. Plus, from that photo, it looks like maybe it’s silk shantung, which I love, but which makes that particular skirt look oddly poofy, instead of sleek. ---
**Author:** ![pudytat72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@pudytat72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pudytat72)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/15 "2011-06-12T23:22:32Z")
I think if you could put Jackie’s top on your skirt (maybe taking some of the flare out of your skirt), it might work. I think the neckline of her dress and the lack of lace make it look slightly less like a “wedding dress”. You would definitely need to get rid of the lace, the bow, and the short sleeves on your dress to make it less make it less like a wedding dress. To me, the gathering of the top part of Jackie’s skirt is what makes it a dated look. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/16 "2011-06-12T23:46:11Z")
Thanks for all your input, folks! I appreciate it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/17 "2011-06-13T00:11:35Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > The skirt I think is more unflattering and dated than the top. If you most, maybe slim it down. Right, the boat neck is lovely, but the gathering on the skirt is funky. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/18 "2011-06-13T00:16:31Z")
JFK looked a tad like a thunderbird. My sister’s wedding dress in '09 was sorta similar to that but it was created on a pattern from the '60s she bought. ---
**Author:** ![HappyDays](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f08c70/32.png) [@HappyDays](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HappyDays)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/19 "2011-06-13T07:08:18Z")
I think the dress worn by Lilith in this clip from “Frasier” is timeless. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSBJBqbMosI) It is very similar to the dress you are asking about, but is shorter, more form-fitting and isn’t gathered at the waist. I still see women wearing dresses of this basic design. IMO, that is a pretty good indication of timelessness. I say do it; you will look fantastic! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241/20 "2011-06-13T07:15:14Z")
> [@YaraMateo](#): > > I actually think fashion wise Queen Elizabeth looks better. I’m convinced you and I aren’t looking at the same photo. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-dress-timeless/585241.md?page=2)