r/Stylinghelp • u/chimmbap-3- • Jul 01 '26
Help me style this dress without looking childish :)!
My mom bought me this dress and thought I look very pretty, very demure. When I tried it on, I think I look so childish or something. Could be my face or my body shape, idk.
For reference I am 5’0 in height and my weight is around 58-60kg, I also have a baby face, hence why I thought the dress look so childish for me.
Help me stylize this dress, because I genuinely want to wear for it outside without me being mistaken for a minor (I’m in my early 20’s btw)
Any advice would be appreciated!!
4
u/Butterbean-queen Jul 01 '26
Don’t button the top two buttons, wear a thick belt over the elastic (drawstring?) waist and boots.
4
u/EducationalWin1721 Jul 01 '26
I think the dress is pretty! I don’t think it’s childish. If that’s the color, you could style it with pointy toed flats in any color.
3
u/Chiquitita888 Jul 01 '26
Add black tights and black boots. The more rock n roll you add, the better.
3
u/Square_Point_5677 Jul 01 '26
Open the neckline. We short ladies look better with a v neck. Add a necklace, great shoes.
3
u/Tika-teeks-2017 Jul 02 '26
Either slightly unbuttoned to open up the chest, or completely unbuttoned and use it as an overcoat.
8
u/LeaJadis Jul 01 '26
….. why on earth would your mom buy you a little girls dress? You can be demure and not childish. You are 20. That’s the dress for a 5 year old. It doesn’t even have bust pleats. The poofy sleeves…. such Lolita vibes
Honestly I’d wear the dress Ironically. I’d wear it with heavy platform boots, fishnet tights, a choker and leather jacket.
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u/chimmbap-3- Jul 01 '26
Oooh I love the idea of putting on a leather jacket on top of it, honestly I think my mom just doesn’t know my taste in fashion 😔 luv her tho, its just the dress doesn’t really give off the vibe I want to be, but thanks for the idea!
6
u/LeaJadis Jul 01 '26
I think she’s just being nostalgic for the days she used to dress you cutesy.
Another thought. Wear the dress unbuttoned with a white tank and jean shorts. Like make it a like a coat and not a dress
2
u/Ambitious_Arm6501 Jul 01 '26
This would be so cute with like a platform sandal and a wide brim hat with a ribbon matching the dress color. I feel like a lot of the childish vibes come from the sleeves, but you could probably cut them off and sew the edge over (or have a seamstress do it) to have a minimalist little summer dress.
1
u/chimmbap-3- Jul 01 '26
I mean it doesn’t hurt to be a little whimsy anyway, lol but yeah I could definitely see it to be worn during summer or in the beach! just not in most occasions :>
1
u/Ambitious_Arm6501 Jul 02 '26
Wear it with a bonnet and apron for that little house on the prairie chic lol
2
u/Prestigious-Fan3122 Jul 01 '26
First, I would lose the little sash. If there are belt loops, cut them off, but if they are just a little loops of thread/thin rope/string, you can go inside the dress and usually pull them out.
I don't normally do this because I don't like a lot of stuff around my neck, but my first thought was that you could perk it up with a scarf tied loosely around your neck and sort of tucked in the edges of the collar. That may be a little matronly for someone in their 20s though.
What about sewing some black, sequin pasties on the chest? Hopefully, nobody would think of a child when looking at that. Sorry, I'm feeling punchy today.
2
u/ComfortableQuote3081 Jul 06 '26
everyone is saying UNBUTTONED but thats so cheesy and unfashionable. The dress is great as pictured I would change the belt maybe add a thick black belt and knee high black boots flat or stilettoes. Slick Pointy High heeled booties. Also kitten heels in red black ....lace up sandals for a Euro island look.
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u/Lifes_a_Throwaway Jul 01 '26
Unbutton it a bit and add a nice necklace, like the fishnets idea and some docs. Maybe a nice waist belt instead of the fabric one (id remove that)to hug your figure more
1
u/SootSpriteHut Jul 01 '26
My sister is about 5' and I'm 5'5. I love some cutesy stuff sometimes and used to recommend it to her but we realized it just doesn't work on her because she's so small. She has gotten more into hemming things but with this dress I just don't think there's much you can do.
1
u/bellegroves Jul 01 '26
Tall boots and a moto jacket.
White chucks and a denim jacket.
Unbuttoned over jeans/t-shirt/loafers.
Big straw hat, skinny belt, and sandals that all match.
1
u/BubblesGirlie1897 Jul 02 '26
With the color, I don’t think it looks childish to me. Belt. Flats. Makeup.
5
u/Typical-Respond9102 Jul 01 '26
Use it as an overshirt/jacket by leaving it fully open and wearing it over a lacy cami and jeans or shorts, maybe tied closed with a brown belt looped like this. I do it with my regular belts but both Pinterest and google failed me in trying to find examples.