Monday, January 14, 2013

What do I wear to greet my SAILOR?


ESB,

I won't make this a novella. My sailor is returning home from deployment. I can't wait to stand on the pier and watch him return...except it is New England, late February, on a pier.

What am I going to wear to this? A large luscious sweater sounds excellent but I can't seem to find anything good.

Help the Floridian be fashionable in the winter!

*****

I'm pretty sure "a large luscious sweater" is one of those things that women think are luscious and men think, like, "What is that? I can't see her boobs."

How bout a sweater DRESS?


(Steven Alan, $139 down from $229)

Knee-highs also highly recommended.


Image at top: Ashley Smith by Nico for Harper’s Bazaar Spain July/August 2011 via Fashion Gone Rogue

34 comments:

  1. Get a cute, warm coat. Trust me, you will not be able to hang out on a New England pier in February sans coat. Then where whatever the hell you want underneath. We have heat inside.

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  2. omg did you actually suggest a SWEATER DRESS as something sexy? more like sack of potatoes. wear a sexy dress, thick tights, ankle boots, and a fitted coat on top.

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  3. I can't get that link to work. Is it only me?

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  4. ESB is right, but sweater dress is not going to be sexy to a deprived sailor. I struggled with the same thing when my husband finished boot camp (thankfully, I was looking at 90 degree Illinois summer, so bundling up wasn't an issue).

    Wear something that will make your man swoon and then throw a coat over it. Then at least you can surprise him later when you get indoors. Ultimately, he'll be so happy to see you it won't matter what you have on.

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  5. I'm thinking long sleeve wrap dress. A true wrap- aka an "unwrap me dress." Pick one that makes your boobs look awesome.

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    1. i agree. give the poor guy some T&A.

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    2. i never thought of a wrap dress as an "unwrap me dress." mind blown!

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  6. If you're going the sweater dress route, just make sure you wear some great lingerie under it. Also, buy yourself a cute winter hat. It doesn't have to be expensive, just something that looks good on you. That way you'll still look adorable when you're all bundled up.

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  7. that dress is brutal; do not subject your sailor to it. invest in a beauteous wool trench if you want shapely outerwear; wear a wrap dress underneath. patterned stockings (fishnets' upscale older sister), if you'd like to be warm and leggy.

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  8. It is the year of the sweater dress! I own three and I pretty much just rotate through them and wear nothing else. Hey, it's Northern WI and it's freezing here and sweater dresses allow you to maintain some semblance of style while also keeping your gazizee warm! I am a fan.

    But, sorry to say, the one ESB posted is meh. You didn't say your body-type or size, but this dress is really flattering and warm. It unzips for a cool motorcycle-jacket look (and gives a little peek of cleavage) or keep it zipped for a warm cowl-neck. I usually wear it with warm leggings and tall boots and layer underneath with long underwear on top and bottom. It's so comfy, but hugs the curves so you look sexy.

    Another option is this one. I own it as well. It cinches at the waist and makes you look tiny.

    And last but not least, you can still find these on eBay and it's by far the warmest and most flattering sweater dress I've ever owned. Love wearing it backwards for a low-back look. The dark red color is so pretty, and you can wear it short or long just by scrunching it up or pulling it down.

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    1. The last one is shown being worn very casually, but it can be dressed up easily. The knit fabric is really high quality and pretty.

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  9. Thanks and welcome home to your sailor!

    I agree with the other commenters. Wear a great dress (his favorite or something new), stockings (not tights), boots or pumps, and a bright wool coat (with hat, gloves & scarf as you see fit) so you can be easily seen from afar. Here's what I'm envisioning.

    *All this is assuming you will pick him up at the pier and go straight home. Which, duh.

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  10. OK men might not love winter wear because they can't see boobs, but how has no one mentioned the number one winter item that men LOVE?

    SEXY BOOTS.

    Get yo bad self a hot dress, some tights, a warm-ass yet cute wool mid-length coat, a cute hat, and hot n sexy high-heel boots!

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    Replies
    1. My fiance just said: All she's gotta do is add hot shoes and it turns a frumpy sweater into "I wanna bang!" Classy guy! But he proves my point so nicely....

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  11. Yes to boots,
    Yes to sexy outfit under warm coat,
    Nope to sweater dresses.

    And my husband loves a big baggy jumper on me *provided* I am not wearing anything under said jumper (no bra, is what I'm saying).

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  12. ESB, you're losing your touch!

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  13. Jesus, that outfit will make you look like a 12-year-old. I assume that your husband isn't attracted to children, right?

    Get yourself a pair of fleece thigh-high to layer over gartered stockings, and grab a lined dress of any length - whatever you feel sexiest in. Throw in a luxe hat, bright lippy, and leave your underwear at home. Bam. Done. Happy fucking.

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    Replies
    1. A lack of underwear + a dress in a New England winter = insanely frozen lady bits.

      There is no way that is conducive to this welcome-home party.

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    2. Meh, I live in Toronto, I know from cold. As long as she's wearing a warm coat and not actually having sex right on the pier, I think she'll be okay.

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  14. I wore the much-recommended sexy dress, heels, gartered stockings and coat combo and It worked like a charm when my husband returned from basic training years ago. . .no to the sweater dress, though as Tonia points out, some good ones exist.

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  16. I think the suggestions for shapely but heavy wool coat -- with either the coat itself or a hat as a colorful accent -- are spot on. But it DOES matter what you wear underneath, even though indoor heat is plentiful. The thing is, New England February weather can range from highs in the teens to the 40s (or 60s, as the recent "heat wave" has proven). Also, you'll be standing on a pier, which means wind and standing still, both not good for keeping warm, so you have to err on the side of warmer. Blue lips are not sexy.

    If 40s: mid-weight wrap dress and stockings (i.e. thigh high) will probably be warm enough, but I'd wear or bring a wool cardigan or blazer just in case. Heels or booties would be cute and probably warm enough, but boots up to knee-high are also fine if they go with your dress. Hat/gloves/scarf optional but again, I'd err on the side of bringing them.

    If 30s: same as above but DEFINITELY wear or bring a wool cardi/blazer, and I'd go for mid-weight tights (i.e. waist-high) and knee- or at least calf-height boots. Def bring those accessories.

    If 20s: I really don't know about dresses anymore at these temps. You could try to find a thicker sweater dress paired with thick tights. This may be a fashion faux pas but I will wear a dark long-sleeve layer under sweater dresses if the dress's sleeves are not full length and it's cold out. You'll probably want to layer on a blazer/cardi depending on how thick the sweater dress is. Definitely accessories and tall boots, ideally with a layer of light-weight wool stocks over the tights. Yeah I know, but you can thank me later.

    If teens: I honestly would ditch the dress route unless you're really confident you can take it. I would personally go with my best fitting pair of skinny jeans and tall boots, or fitted boot cut wool slacks with booties and long johns. And a sexy blouse and thick cardigan or two on top. Thick accessories and wool socks. Ideally long down coat instead of wool. At this point, fashion can bite me.

    These examples might not fit your style / body type, and I'm a little more cold-intolerant than average, but just throwing it out there as a sample thought process behind different temps. Have fun shopping!

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  17. How about you wear something he's complemented you on, a nice warm jacket, and some sexy underwear. He's not gonna take you right there on the pier, so stay warm and keep the show a private one?

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    1. YEUS! Especially if it's in the teens to the 20s with any sort of wind whipping off the water. Also, deprived sailor, he's gonna think you're hot in pretty much anything that you where... obviously still put some effort into things.

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    2. Yes! He's coming home-- give him something familiar that you know he really likes.

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  18. I'm with mandalizabeth - wear something he knows and likes. I did this when meeting my boyfriend (now husband) at the airport after four months apart, and he said it was awesome because it helped him spot me from further away. I've heard him give this advice to friends who were doing the picking-up-partner-from-travel things, based on our experience.
    BUT I just realised you said you're from Florida so maybe you don't already have a warm enough coat so perhaps this advice is useless... sorry! Maybe you have a cute hat that he knows or something? Kickass boots are also required, obviously. I'd go coat/dress/tights/boots preferably, but skinny jeans/boots would be fine too.
    Have fun! I have to say that of all the hyped up moments in life, picking up your lover at the airport/whatever after months apart definitely lived up to the hype for me... that shit was seriously Kodak.

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  19. a bright coat like this, on sale at jcrew - http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Navigation/Sale/AllProducts/PRDOVR~18652/99102835199/ENE~1+2+3+22+4294967294+20~~~20+17+4294966916~15~~~~~~~/18652.jsp - you can wear the hoot while youre waiting, let him know your in bright blue, and then drop the hood when you can see him.. it may be very cold!

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  20. Thank you all SO MUCH! I really love and appreciate all of this advice! Unfortunately, the arrival date got pushed back soooo we are (currently)looking at late march-ish. Is it overly Floridian of me to think it might be warm enough to wear a kick ass spring getup? This blog post went up on the day I got the bad news, so thanks for helping to soften the blow.

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    1. March in New England can be exactly like February, so I'd (sadly) leave thoughts of spring back at the hotel.. You can always scale back hoods/scarves/tights if it is very warm - but you would probably still need that warm sweater dress

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