Could we see this on a real person? Showing it on a size two just perpetuates the anorexia ideal. Shame on you NYT!
98
Looks like she's wearing a sack or a bed sheet. Not very attractive.
104
Most of us would be perfectly comfortable in bag dresses. Except this one has no pockets, bleh.
57
Nobody seems to remember that Zara loves to put out not only cheap, synthetic schmatas, but also clothing with unabashedly racist imagery embroidered onto them: http://www.femestella.com/zara-racist-clothing-pepe-frog/
Also, US Zara employees of color report unfair treatment:
http://www.mtv.com/news/2194501/zara-discrimination-survey/
I won't give this company a dime of my money, much less should media influencers and celebrities.
69
It's just sort of a sack-like thing, isn't it? Not especially flattering. But, hides all the lumps and bumps, I guess, for the women that favor a "bottomless brunch", "food markets" and "food shopping at Marks & Spencer". That must be why it's popular.
40
Not really too sensational! Does one have to be a stick figure to wear it?
15
the UK's polka dot dress is the US's silky leopard skirt. both are ubiquitous in their "home countries." both have instagram accounts. neither is in my closet.
22
Viscose is a natural fiber. It is a type of rayon and is made from cellulose. It is biodegradable. Cute dress.
34
Yes, quite a nightgown!
Looks summery tho ~
Might be OK with a more interesting neckline and choice of COLORED trim on sleeve and hem.
One good thing is you could dress it up (but not "down....) if you add a splashy necklace, bracelet and belt.
I think I like the shoes the most- curious that they are a few sizes too big for the model. Or are they just "roomy" like the dress?
In the late 50's there was the "sack dress." Gather the hem and little and shorten it a bit and it's de ja vu all over again.
$70 in the US? No thanks. I could just sew up an old curtain I've got somewhere...
46
XS to XL is not every size.
20
Does it have pockets? I don't buy anything without pockets.
43
It's $70 in the US. And no petite version :(
15
Do her sister-wives all wear the same thing? Or are some of them in black nightgowns with white polka dots?
224
@Susan B. A. "Spot on"!
30
Not every dot is a polka dot. This pattern looks more like confetti dots to me.
26
It looks cool and comfortable. I like it.
34
The dress makes a fine tablecloth.
68
Fast fashion. A lot of environmental damage and worker abuse likely went in to the making of this trend. In six months these dresses will be spotted not on Instagram but in landfills. I'd like to see an organic cotton dress made by union labor go viral next. Of course, that dress would cost three times what this one does, but it would also last for 10 years, not 10 washings.
80
@queryious p.s. Zara has better labor policies than most fast fashion brands, but I think my point still stands.
4
@queryious It's viscose rayon -- compostable plant fiber. Organic cotton takes a lot of water.
24
The real issue here is not the fit or look of the dress, but that shoppers are so enamored with fast fashion which is mostly synthetic fabrics. People buy those cheap garments which pill and look unattractive quite fast and then throw them away.
I just had a 30-year old silk dressed hemmed and love it. I doubt anyone will buy this dress in a thrift shop and fix it to wear it.
36
I love it, so there!!
23
I look at that and all I think of is "hospital gown"
40
It's a caftan.
BTW, viscose is not ecologically friendly.
32
@Pia
Thank you for pointing this out about the material.
Fast fashion is a scourge on the environment but it isnt going anywhere. Fortunately, slowly we are gaining a few options of more earth-friendly clothing brands (La Causa is my favorite).
12
@Pia Rayon can be made from hemp or recycled natural fiber clothing.
9
Overpriced ,for the economy model look.Could use a wider neck with collar and more sleeve,buttons to the waist,pleated skirt ,but then you would have a dress.The pulp would have to be from here or Canada and pulp wood is not necessarily forested. State highway clearing provides millions of tons of pulpwood grade products.
8
Another example of homogeny in modern post-industrialized society. We’re moving closer to unflattering uniforms meant to conceal beauty and accentuate flaws. Oh yeah and the shoes. Wow those shoes. It’s just so ugly. I’m so thankful at times like this not to be British. Chav fashion is so awful.
12
Men’s fashion has never been about accentuating or displaying the body, why does women’s fashion have to be?
36
Men’s fashion has specifically been about accentuating the male form. From the cut of the modern suit to the ancient sarong and toga. Women’s fashion often exaggerated the natural form in favor of the fashion of the day (baroque wear). Look at men’s swimwear and it’s history and we see the same parallels of objectification. As a skinny, hairy, muscle less man I can testify to the horrible standards all body’s are held to in this age of bulk and implants. Additionally, in fashion the point is to accentuate that which helps the wearer to feel comfortable and confident in their body. To take that away from someone is yet another way of making my point. We are roving away from individual expression through fashion and into an era of repression in the name of equality. Parity is everything, lack of self expression is censorship and oppression.
12
@Herbert Johnson Perhaps considère that a dress such as shown IS some women’s idea of confidence and self expression. Why to you ascribe only one particular way of dressing as producing confidence and expressing oneself? That seems a rather limited view to me.
19
I can understand the popularity of the dress. It appears to be loose fitting, provides good coverage, allows for easy walking, is not restrictive to the wearer. Wearers can move freely, and sit without concern. The dress provides a level of modesty.
The Zara online catalog listing for this dress states the model is 5’ 9” tall. The dress is ankle length on the model. Either the wearers shown on the Instagram page are all 5’ 9” or taller, or they must have had alterations done to the dress, a possible additional cost. Viscose can be a difficult fabric to maintain. It can wrinkle terribly after washing, colors can fade, and the fabric can shrink easily.
If the dress provides wearers with a sense of freedom of movement and satisfaction, good. Anyone who dislikes the dress can choose something else.
21
It’s the kind of dress I would buy only to have my daughter tell me how unflattering and shapeless it is. And she’d be right!
32
It looks baggy. I like the print but not the cut, if anyone cares.
8
@Ann Berrios Keep in mind the woman shown is 80 years old. She certainly could have worn it one size smaller, in which case it would have been loose, but not baggy.
Obviously, fast fashion has its issues. What is interesting here, to me, is that woman are moving away from a trashy look. I'm all for it - I've seen way too much of way too many women the last few years. It's not a question of wearing a burka, just not showing so much flab.
8
The dress suits any body type and the fact is women are getting much larger these days. They are taller, wider, bustier, feet bigger and this dress covers all those "imperfections." The dress would look great with red accessories.
13
@Betsy Herring
Most likely would not look good on short people - would have to do some hemming if they know how...
5
“Prairie Home Companion”. I love quirky fashion as much as the next gal. But on most, this dress is just not flattering. However, if the point is to be ironic, a la Lena Dunham. I’m down...
9
Was fitting the model with shoes that are too wide and a size too big intentional? It's a bit hard to believe that the stagers didn't notice.
28
I know this isn't the point of the article but - it would have been better to use a picture of this dress in a street setting, not a fashion setting with the white background and model stiff pose, and on a person of regular buil not wearing shoes that appear to be very oddly fitting for the model. She looks as if she couldn't walk in these. If the dress is comfortable, the shoes should be too. I appreciate all the comments about the environmental issues. With Europe experiencing 113 degrees last month, we can't let any opportunity pass to remind ourselves that everything in our lives is connected to this problem.
42
This reminds me of the Eddie Bauer dresses I wore in the 80's and 90's and the L.L.Bean dresses I like now. Though I dislike the polka dots and the material (I prefer cotton), the cut has two qualities that mean a lot to me: comfortable to wear and modest. I much prefer wearing something that allows me to walk through the world in such a way that is less about the curves of my body and more about the character of my heart and the quality of my mind.
105
This is an article that called for multiple images: seeing is believing. The single image doesn't do justice to this dress's purported ubiquity.
36
@Christian Schwoerke Hi Christian, Thanks for your comment - I am the NYT reporter who wrote the story. The reason we don't have many photographs of women wearing the spotty Zara dress here is for one of the themes we touch on in the article; privacy. At the NYT, we regulate carefully use of imagery where the subject hasn't given permission for it to be circulated. There are also legal risks if we republish photos from social media posted by a user who doesn't have legal copyright of the content. If you want to see more photos, do go the @hot4thespot on Instagram. There are plenty there. Thank you for reading! Elizabeth
74
@Elizabeth Paton I enjoyed the article. However, the picture is simply not good. It shows nothing about the dress. Her arms are don by her sides making the dress look very stodgy, her shoes are way too big and don’t go with the dress. It almost sees as if it was an intentional move by NYT not to show the dress in a fun expressive way. If so many women are purchasing, there must be a reason and that photo gives no clue to it.
10
I looked up the Instagram of the various women wearing the dress and it really is not flattering on any of them. The popularity of this garment clearly attests to its comfort. Women, especially in the hot, humid climate that we are experiencing all over the world, long for comfort. Clothing stylists and manufacturers need to keep this in mind and perhaps design more clothing made from natural fabrics with a little more pizzazz than this. This is basically a sack and a sack that doesn't look good or regular shaped women much less women like me who have a pear shaped body and are shorter in stature.
29
“Flattering” just means “makes you look thin” which does not have to be the goal of women’s clothing.
16
@Silvana
I can’t imagine wearing this material on a European summer day. Also, as others pointed out, it seems suited for someone taller than 5’10.
8
It sure looks nice on the model.
13
They could have used a better photo of the model. The pose does not really show the dress well and the shoes are too big and to me, do not look right with that dress. Perhaps was NYT’s subtle way of making us dislike the dress because it is not haute couture.
11
Thanks, now they'll probably raise the price.
1
I love that this dress has sleeves and a longer length, and the polka dots are fun. I am so sick of the form fitting sleeveless look. Manufacturers like that look because it is far cheaper to make a dress without sleeves. But on most women, and certainly most over a certain age, the sleeveless look is terrible, especially in a business setting.
68
Well I'm glad that the popularity of this dress is not based on some fake endorsement by a celebrity, social media "influencer" (God I hate that word) or being pushed by any big fashion label. If I see a celebrity endorsing a product, I won't buy the product. If I think I am being influenced by someone I've never met, or have no idea what kind of person they are, I will not buy the product. That said, the popularity of this dress has now been co-opted and is being run through the publicity, influencer machine just as surely as if it were being endorsed by a Kardashian. I remember when Beyonce and her husband were trying to co-opt Occupy Wall Street by selling T-shirts that said "Occupy Main Street." Money, money money. Like they needed more of it. Just buy what you want, I mean what YOU want, not what someone else or some manufactured trend tells you to buy.
18
All the negative comments here are depressing me. It really does seem that "we" as society have just gotten so vicious.
I thought the dress looked cute, light and covered all the right spots especially when you have put on a few extra pounds, as well as looking nice on slim people. We all don't wake up thinking "what sort of fashion statement shall I make today?". We just want to look presentable without every flaw showing. As for the spots, I like them too.
I think it looks a lot nicer than a nightgown and is obviously NOT a nightgown. What this is whole story is actually telling me is that some women feel comfortable in this type of light dress and maybe there should be more options like this in the marketplace.
133
@Celeste
Buy a few yards of curtain material at Walmart. Sew a couple of seams. Or use tape. Throw it over your head. Wear a sign that says, "This is not a nightgown." Done.
20
Dress version of a Snuggie--and just as ugly!
28
@elleng
and not warm!
3
Fast fashion—surely a bad idea, right? Ugly, too.
11
It looks like a nightgown.
20
Viscose, which this dress is made of, and other types of rayon often contribute to deforestation and therefore species extinction and worsening of the climate crisis. Aren't we long past the point where the New York Times should write any article without considering the planet?
22
Cotton sure as heck contributes to deforestation too, and the pesticides are no good for insects. Wool produces inordinate greenhouse gases. Polyester produces micro plastics (whose risks are probably overblown) and different greenhouse gases.
There are no really “clean” materials. As a devout environmentalist, I have been looking for years but have yet to see a really good quantitative accounting of the costs of different materials in multiple dimensions. In the meantime I try to consume less and recycle more.
I hope everyone complaining about fabrics is at least vegetarian. That’s an order of magnitude more important.
46
@Scientist Maybe just buying fewer clothes would decrease the carbon footprint of the fashion industry. Just a thought.
29
@Scientist I mostly agree with you. In terms of a solution for climate change, "Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming", edited by Paul Hawken, ranks a plant-rich diet slightly ahead of tropical forests. However, loss of habitat will surely wipe out some species before climate change or pollution can do it.
Yes, it is a complicated issue but we can't afford paralysis. We still need to try to make the best decisions we can and it starts with awareness.
I agree that consuming less and recycling more is a great strategy. Clothes that last from year to year, as opposed to fast fashion, matter. Like you, I long for a really good quantitative accounting on this ... and on other complex topics such as palm oil which, listed as various ingredients, is in about half of consumer goods. In my opinion, the investigative power of the New York Times could do so much more on environmental issues like these.
12
A shapeless bag that won't even look good on tall women, much less those of us who are height-challenged.
21
@WastingTime -
Here is the - Sack Dress - circa 1958...
https://www.google.com/search?q=sack+dress+vintage&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=qSAKKxsC56FeqM%253A%252CMcx-ArBqkgNspM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTKMLalosefUxHb45xKJGB6Aof2EQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjVvKOI4K_jAhVDWq0KHXuXBZQQ9QEwA3oECAYQCg#imgrc=qSAKKxsC56FeqM:
1
When will humans embrace environmental protection and restoration as the latest "fad," and get over this tendency of one-upping of their fellow human beings by pimping the color or striping or cut or material of their garments?
Have we ALL begun to fiddle while the towns, cities, counties, and countries burn?
Surely it's cool to live fast, die young, and leave a beautiful corpse, but there is that pesky issue of responsibility [express or implied] to those who come after us.
15
@George But a small, bright light here. The popularity of the dress is not being driven by celebrity endorsements, which are offensive on so many levels: 1. do celebrities really need more money? 2. Why do we value their opinions above our own/ 3. The idea that if someone pays you enough, you'll say anything, is simply horrific. If you're an actor, act. If you're a singer, sing. I lose respect for any celebrity who has pimped themselves for money. And I'm glad this dress has become popular on its own.
9
The shape of the dress, as well as the design on the fabric, is very unflattering. And viscose is not very consumer friendly. It will shrink in the wash and it is better to have it dry cleaned.
15
@Libby I don't think that's the point of the article. People used to buy Chia pets and pet rocks. It's that the dress became popular without being pushed by the top of the food chain, i.e. celebrities, fashion industry, or ad campaigns. Calling the dress "ugly" is simply a statement of taste. I actually think it's kind of cute.
9
Everyone is missing one of the biggest issues: Cost and Price.
I think it is fantastic that women are applauding something that does not cost a fortune.
In our hypercapitalistic era, people are under too much pressure to pretend to be richer than they are. This is because we worship wealth and routinely disparage people who are not rich.
I would like to see this trend permeate the society. Let the people cast a Pox on Starbucks and come home to Entenmen cakes (a nostalgic item in NY supermarkets). Let overpriced, designer shoes go the way of the DoDo bird. Let snoothy overpriced designers bite the dust. Stop building four million dollar condos in Manhattan and invest in Middle Class Housing.
From our garments to every aspect of economics, we need radical change.
78
@David Gottfried I agree with your opinion, except for one thing: Zara is the image of Hypercapitalism.
Don't you think so?
13
@David Gottfried OK, but please consider the true cost of the garment. As I posted, this dress is made of viscose which along with other types of rayon often contributes to deforestation and therefore the drive to species extinction and worsening of the climate crisis. I couldn't find anything on Zara's website to indictate that they somehow found an ethical source of viscose. And that is setting aside the environmental impacts from manufacturing the fabric.
I assume that the true cost of this dress is really very, very high. Hey, New York Times, care to do some investigative reporting?
16
@Cindy Everything has an environmental cost; nudity isn't an option. Any evidence the environmental cost of viscose is significantly greater than cotton?
14
Many of the male commenters here are very negative about the garment--could the fact that it seems to be a testosterone repellent have anything to do with its popularity with women?
178
Yikes. Trypophobia-inducing
2
"catcalling, up-skirting, being followed, being harassed, being grabbed or touched"...most of us would risk it if the alternative is being ignored.
4
Add a belt and I would wear it. Not too crazy about the ruffle hem though.
Like others have said, this is a dress that looks best of real people and not the walking clothes hangers that are models. They do not have the curves needed to fill out the dress and make it floaty. On someone too skinny it is a sad sack.
I have a similar cut dress, in a synthetic chiffon in a bird print. No structureother than a belt. Never have I received more compliments from women than when I wear that dress. It is light and airy and I do not have to worry about showing too much cleavage. And in an over air conditioned office, I do not freeze. Because sleeves. And best of all: pockets. Love eshakti. Picked my sleeve length and had it hit that sweet spot right below the knee.
19
No one who actually HAS the dress has commented here. Suppose the dress feels really amazing on? It caresses the body gently and lets the air circulate. You don't have to worry about anything showing, neither panty line nor bra straps nor the extra two pounds you gained over the weekend. You surely won't be catcalled or heckled by men on the street. You can go about your business unperturbed. I'll take 2!!
182
@Jenifer Bar Lev
So, wearing it would be kinda like being a man, right?
I mean, you look fine, you're comfy, no one is laughing because this or that looks too this or that, and indeed, you can go about your business unperturbed!
I'll take 3! (Already have a similar shirt, other brand, and love it)
82
@Jenifer Bar Lev
viscose doesn't breathe
5
@Pia
Sure it does
7
It's ugly.
I would pay my lady $50 to NOT wear it.
14
I saw this dress reviewed in The Daily Mail like a week ago. They didn't like it much. Here are some excerpts:
"It’s covered in spots and now I too am coming out in a rash, given the man-made fabric is microwaving my internal organs."
"When a breeze gets up, the dress inflates, like a barrage balloon. If things kick off with Iran, the army could just float me off Ramsgate to ward off all comers."
"The sort of women who have chosen this dress are not looking for a fiance – it’s the ultimate man repeller, after all."
19
@Chat Cannelle If it will make men leave me alone, I'll take a dozen!
24
Love the pattern! How about a men's shirt and matching tie? And wall paper to match, so the happy couple could could just blend in!
9
Looks like something I would have worn in 1994.
4
@Cunegonde Misthaven
Or 1984!
3
Women who wear dresses, like the one in the picture.
Women who wear just a touch of makeup and never wear dangly earrings.
Women who wear simple jewelry or no jewelry at all..
Women who favor a touch of Chanel No.5.
Women who play the flute, laugh at my jokes and read lots of murder mysteries.
Like my wife.
Take me home, country road.
119
@A. Stanton
Fellow flutist here—yup, classy gals! You done married well, A. Stanton! Cheers!
22
Mrs. Roper called. She wants her dress back.
15
Why not? I loved dresses like this in the '80s. Loose and flowy and comfortable in the summer. Not the height of fashion, but dresses like this have their place.
37
Does anyone else see the dots as multicolored?
7
@Mary
I do, see multicolored dots. Could be a maternity dress.
6
@Sari
could be two maternity dresses
8
There must be worse dresses out there, but this particular dress is a very strong contender for worst dress of the century.
83
@Socrates LOL, Socrates, you are the last person I would have expected to comment on this article. In fact, I am belly-laughing (not AT you, I promise!) Is there any corner of the NYT you don't know??
52
It's a nightgown!
16
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....
...it’s a lovely hospital gown!
22
It's the neckline that turns me off most. A high round cut like that emphasizes a round face or chin, and is generally unflattering to the chest. As a short-ish woman (5'3''), I also avoid below the knee skirts. I do like the print, though.
11
@Lee
High, round neckline flatters those of us with a pointy chin, Lee! To each their own. Also, I'm just an inch taller, and I love the long line of a dress or longish skirt/shirt ensemble—give it a try! Anyway, nothin' wrong with being "short"!
9
Looks awful!
10
A western Burka ?
28
@Abby. Let’s keep watching for a trend as we begin to dress to avoid discrimination for gender-race-age. Facial coverings too.
5
@Lynn
I've worn pants and jackets -- with simple shirts and shoes with low heels -- since the 1970's. Not "mannish," just not clingy or ruffly or near what is considered what women's clothing should look like. You can't climb high in a dress without someone looking up your skirt.
1
That is a great dress.
18
I bought this dress months ago and had no idea it was such a phenomenon! I have a difficult time finding dresses that fit well (athletic build, long torso, short legs, medium height), wear well and don’t need a lot of fuss like ironing or dry cleaning. This dress looks great with Birkenstock’s or heals and a blazer for work. I have received many comments and for the naysayers, I dare you to try it on. It’s surprisingly flattering. Just wish it had pockets! More dresses like this please!
95
@NYCer
You probably could have this easily copied in any fabric you want, it's just three shirred levels (at just below the waist and the hem "ruffle", which is not really the case). Basic set-in 3/4 sleeves and there you go.
Not that my opinion matters, but I would assume this dress really only works on taller, slimmer women like the model in the photo here, as the line is basically straight. Looks comfy though and easy to wear. Kudos to those who can carry this off.
8
I
I'll be getting it at BB&B, but should I buy full or queen, perm press or wash n'sleep?
14
I love it!
17
Wasn't that called the MouMou and a big fashion fad in the late 1960's.
12
@GUANNA The MuMu did not nip at the waist.
8
@GUANNA
The Sack Dress was "big" in the later 50's...
1
More evidence that England is entering a recession.
18
@Imagine. I always thought the conventional wisdom is that hemlines go up during a recession.
6
This reminds me of something that Phyllis Diller would wear, for those of you who remember her.
38
Put snaps or strings on it and it would be an attractive hospital gown.
17
Hideous...
11
Oh, thank heaven for something that isn't black.
21
Is it a hospital gown?
12
Ugly! Just ugly! A burlap sack has more style. This is just a big polka dot bag. Ugh! Ugly!
14
This is NOT what I come to the New York Times for. No judgment, I love a little click bate cheeky story about a Zara dress from just about any other silly news outlet but please NOT the New York Times. Even if the topic is trivial I expect some depth, some cultural significance.
14
The AOC anti elitist police force strikes again
13
@Emily Elfassy. Oh please. I've been reading the NYT for 40 years and they have always had a Styles section, and covered fashion.
42
How nice to see a cute, comfy, long dress - with sleeves. Every time I go to Marshall's, I look for a long dress with sleeves and cannot find anything. What do designers have against sleeves?
80
@DesertFlowerLV I don't know, but I bet it's the same problem designers have with putting pockets in women's clothes.
52
@DesertFlowerLV Cost. Same with pockets as Sad in Chicago mentioned. Same with waistbands on skirts - which has the double issue of fitting fewer people, so you can't sell as many units.
2
I wonder how much the (likely third world) workers who made this dress were paid. Pennies?
18
@Gerry Power
About 60% of ZAROs clothes are reported to be made in Portugal, Morocco and Turkey.
More expensive clothing - designer names and in natural fabrics - are also generally made in China or other low paid countries.
Only the unaffordable high high end stuff is made by people earning living wages in developed countries.
8
My goodness, that is unattractive! Just goes to show that people will wear anything they are told is trendy.
And why don't manufacturers make summer clothes out of natural fabrics that breathe? The world is getting hotter, people - and yes, that includes England! Wearing synthetics in summer is like walking around in plastic wrap.
108
@Judith
Viscose is actually made from wood; it breathes and has excellent drape.
Also, the point of the article was that the dress became a bestseller WITHOUT being touted as trendy…
19
@Blueaholic
Viscose does not breathe, as many people will attest.
Being touted on social media is all about trend.
6
As a quite short senior, wearing such a dress would make me look like Humpty Dumpty with freckles.
39
The dress is not even made out of actual fabric. It is plastic. Why does it cost 50$?
6
@MKS Viscose is rayon, which is made of plant fiber. It's not "natural" in the sense that it takes beaucoup manufacturing to get from wood pulp to fabric, but neither is it "plastic." It's a pleasant fabric to wear, silky and breathable.
88
@Lisa. This viscose dress can be machine-washed which is essential for summer dresses (no dry cleaning).
16
@Lisa
Hmmm...Believe to be called real 'fabric' it must be made of either cotton, linen, silk or wool.
Ask Lisa Birnbach, who is an expert on these things. She will tell you that you could keep a sandwich fresh for three weeks in that dress.
14
Boring, shapeless, tasteless. Wear it for your Brexit celebration because that celebration will be as maudlin as this dress.
24
I can't, I really really can't believe this is a story. Who could possibly care?
11
@lh, and yet, here we are. Including yourself.
37
People who just got home from work, are stressed out and would like to relax? Good grief, if you don’t care no one is forcing you to click.
37
@lh, okay, so you want meaning. I direct you to the fascinating history of polka dots!
http://theoldtimey.com/the-fascinating-origins-of-polka-dots/
19
I notice several colors of it on the @thehotspot. Is this another is it blue or black situation or do they offer several colors of the dress?
Either way, I will stick to my loosey goosey linen dresses! At least they are a cool fiber.
11
It kind of looks like a nightgown.
16
Why do so many people want to look like everyone else? Maybe we really are just the drones in the beehive of the giant in the sky.
9
Very dumpy, very frumpy . Why not wear a nice skirt and a blouse? That looks good on women of all ages and body types. This fad of a dress is just an ugly sack.
8
Umm, wow ... that's really ugly. I that all it takes to conquer Britain these days? Kinda sad. I really don't get this look at all -- who would wear such a drab thing except maybe a housewife in a fundamentalist cult? Not helping matters that the model looks like she's weak from malnutrition. Her bony feet are too small for the shoes.
14
@Gerber
Let's not insult the model, eh?
The dress can be easily accessorised with a necklace, scarf, belt. Or left as is. Amen!
If you don't like it, of course, don't buy it!
9
"“I can be pretty certain where she’ll be hanging out at weekends,” Ms. Oakenfull said of the demographic. “She loves a bottomless brunch, food markets, day festivals, tennis, baby showers (sometimes hers), hen dos, polo, work parties, weddings, rooftop bars and poolside prosecco. Most of all, she just really loves food shopping in Marks & Spencer.”
I'm sorry, but this bit of twee nonsense made me throw up a little.
140
@Centrist
AGREED!! I rather like it, and I don't do a single one of those things! Hate shopping, am always working, taking care of my daughter, hanging at home. Would buy it for the rare occasion of having to look put together…
They're implying it's a dress for "ladies who lunch" but no LWL would pay only $50 for a dress, no? Ha ha ha!
19
How can you write about this dot fest and not allude to the best polka-dot song ever?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xGV3MGGIYyo
8
Sleeveless dresses, so ubiquitous, do not suit every wearer, so I am very glad to see a popular dress that has sleeves and falls below knees. And I love 3/4-length sleeves. A very nice look that's very practical. Not every woman wants to look like a Fox News presenter.
212
It's the polka-dots that grab you, certainly NOT the shapeless bag of a dress. The only figure this would flatter(and I use that word loosely) is a woman about 5 foot 10 inches and slim. For the rest of us out there, it would NOT be flattering in the slightest.
33
@Outraged in PA - Thanks! That's just what I hoped. Looking forward to it for the summer.
9
@Outraged in PA My first thought upon seeing this dress was that it looked like every other dress at Zara: Made for a very tall, thin woman, not a 5'0 foot tall chick with love handles (me).
7
And soon to be forgotten in the next 3 months, so much for a waste of 50$, how can it be that expensive?
5
@WD. Actually, that dress would great with tights, a belt and a jacket. You could even add a scarf. That's a 3-season dress, as far as I'm concerned. (And here in Australia a year-round dress.)
13
I am disturbed that Zara uses so many synthetic materials- they might have a nice design occasionally but never quality material. This dress is made of viscose which was developed as a cheap alternative to silk. It is manufactured from wood pulp that is treated with highly polluting chemicals and the fabric quickly pills, looks old and falls apart. Wearing any synthetic, or semi-synthetic material in summer heat will react w your sweat and make you stink- your sweat will in turn stain this fabric. So sick of reading about plastic and synthetic designs that are trendy without looking at the problems- like that inflatable chair article a while back.
261
@Aud Take a second look at those shoes. They don't fit. They are much too large for the model.
22
@Aud Yes, I remember there was a viscose plant in the town near where I grew up and it smelled bad too.
6
"Little House on the Prairie" called and they want their dress back. Really, this dress should be pared with a straw bonnet and work boots. A lot of the women on the Instagram feed wear it with a black motorcycle jacket too for an urban look. Every style comes back eventually.
17
Geez!
I get dizzy looking at those dots.
Too long for household chores or gardening.
Too ugly to wear outside.
Get rid of the dots, make it fleece and I'll wear it in the winter to sleep in. Will buy it on sale for about $35
23
Is this finally the end of what I call "sausage skin" dresses? I hope so. Some nice flat strappy sandals would go perfectly with the look.
53
Is their any tailoring at all. It looks like their are only 4 seam lines hem, neck and one on each side. not much for $50,00.
9
@GUANNA
It looks like a baggy nightgown..... as well as my beginning sewing project from an 8th grade Home Economics class in 1962.
23
@Deborah Anderson
We sewed skirt suits, with zippers.
3
Love it, but not paying $70 on the US site.
8
It looks quite frumpy to me. I would call it a frock, rather than a dress.
11
It looks hot. Is England still cool in the summer? Nowhere else is.
4
Looks dumpy to my eye, too warm to wear something like that in Texas heat, or Spains heat also!
11
Too bad they couldn't give the model shoes that actually fit her.
20
@Cathy, those shoes are all wrong anyway, aside from being too large. I would style it with red flats, and either a red belt or a bold necklace with red in it (depending on the figure of the person wearing it).
On the Instagram page a clever woman has accessorized it with a bright red lobster necklace.
13
@Cathy -Just got back from the UK a bit ago. Financially, times are hard there. I am sure the model is grateful to have shoes, regardless of whether they fit or not.
8
Models do not wear their own shoes on fashion shoots.
3
I value comfort, but clothes that are that baggy and shapeless are unflattering. A nice, fitted dress looks good on anyone, no matter their size or age. Unfortunately, the only way to get that is to be perfectly proportioned or to buy bespoke or have a tailor.
12
Looks like a nightgown. All the model needs is an Uncle Scrooge sleeping cap
24
Looks like a tent. But at least it's modest.
4
Ok now it's time for story on seersucker.
12
It's really ugly.
Worse than any sack.
31
Draggy baggy. No thanks.
11
Have to laugh at some of the comments. Such agita! A fluffly story about a popular dress. Plenty of heavy duty sky-is-falling stories elsewhere on NYT for your delectation.
50
@binkle Yes but this is more delicious than the Trumpian drama of the day!
22
I can see this dress as being popular in Britain with their dreadful weather and all. Plus the sagginess of this hideous garment will hide all the wearers flaws.
5
Wow, ugly, frumpy dress. People are willing to wear this outside?
21
Why women would want to look like everyone else is behind me. In my clothing I try to go either unique, or absolutely generic (jeans and a tee, for instance). No in-between.
For my junior-year prom (my school was small, so it was a joint prom of juniors and seniors) in high school I sought out a small boutique and found what I thought was a dress no one else would know about. It was a sort of Grecian, white, draped and gathered affair. Very chic, very pricey, very mature for a 17-year-old. At the prom, a senior girl stomped up to me, her cheeks puffing and her face pink. She was wearing my dress, but in a less sophisticated light blue. She looked me up and down, and declared, “You look better in it than I do. Stay away from me.” And she stomped away. I don’t remember much about the prom, but I remember that clearly. I thought it was hilarious.
16
@Passion for Peaches
A classmate and I showed up for some hideous sixth grade grad ceremony in the 70s.
Wearing the same dress.
Our mothers were mortified but we thought funny.
Both of us never in a dress and it seemed peculiar that this was the only acceptable one we could find.
11
I'm happy to see loose-fit clothing featured anywhere but I'm puzzled by the dress? Everyone looks dumpy - a belt helps but the dress flatters no one/ Is this one of those "what color do you see" tests?
49
@Mary Ann Hanna, polka dots are happy, easy to accessorize, and they camouflage a lot of bumps and unwanted bits. I don’t think much of the style of the dress, but I understand the appeal of the fabric.
12
@Mary Ann Hanna
It would flatter me but I don't want to look like I have measles. It would be distracting for me to wear it.
Like, to me.
8
@Passion for Peaches
I agree with you but also with Ms. Hanna. I think a dark belt and dark shoes or even sandals could help bring some spark and stark contrast to the overall ensemble. Anything less leaves one looking like she is shopping in her nightgown.
13
Hmmm. I can see where that this dress could be comfortable, especially on extremely warm and windy days.
But the shoes? Way too dressy for that kind of garb. Perhaps a belt would help improve the look of the ensemble.
All I know is this - the woman displaying that dress is extremely thin and the dress just hangs on her. Someone my size wearing that dress would like I just came out of a tent factory, unattractive, unappealing, and unhappy.
84
@Marge Keller If you go to the instagram page, you will find that larger-sized women actually look better in the dress (and make the dress look better!) than the scrawny model.
21
@pulsation
Great suggestion.
Dresses are always a mystery to me because often times, they don't look appealing nor attractive on the hanger, but suddenly, on my behemoth body, neither the dress nor I don't look bad at all.
I sure hope the Zara dress folks didn't use that model to see that dress because I don't see either being in their best light.
Thanks again for the suggestion.
10
@Marge Keller
Most dresses are messed up these days.
Even for me, still a standard 70s size.
The high-waist things are horrible, and they have eliminated pockets (found a few) to minimize fabric, sewing, labor and thread.
And of course the sizing is horrendous.
My current dresses are from 6-16 and there is no correlation except they fit me.
15
I checked out the dress's instagram account and it does look extremely comfortable, relaxing to wear, and I think it's appealing: maybe part of its appeal is that the women wearing it look so happy, relaxed and comfortable!
We women have had a long, complicated relationship with clothing and style. This kind of dress seems like good news to me.
179
@sues I'm sure I still have a Vogue pattern from the 70s that I could use to make something like this and even some fabric from my large collection in a closet...but alas, my garden beckons and I don't think this dress would be good for sitting in the dirt and weeding.
11
@Outraged in PA
I probably have fabric in my attic and patterns for absolutely any possibility - and I guess it's time to admit I'm never going to sew lovely things. ( and the patterns remind me that shapes change). Lovely things which don't really lend themselves to an active, retired life
3
Model looks distressed, understandably. That dress, those ill-fitting shoes...
Another example of beauty lying in the eye of the beholder. And beholders' eyes are influenced by...well, social media influencers. For me: meh. And, if the dress does not have at least one pocket big enough to hold a smart phone, double meh.
29
Trends are so interesting. There is nothing special about this dress and yet, here we are. As others have said, it's not particularly flattering but then again, neither are overalls and those were huge in the 90s and apparently back again (judging by my young nieces).
36
@Christine O
Overalls big in 70s too, with straps down and tube top or Tee. One of my best pictures, no idea where pic is.
Somehow I still have them but forget to use for painting etc. No idea they were "back"!
4
@Ivy They're back, baby. Of course, I wore them in the 90s, so I'm leaving this round to the kids :-)
3
It's $70 on Zara's U.S. site. Still not expensive but it's so shapeless! Not tempted.
47
@Karen. Shapeless dresses are nice for summer heat, though, but I think the loose styles have become very popular, influenced by Japanese linen dresses and so forth.
14
I fell in love with this dress the instant I laid eyes on it. It is a dress that just lets me be me.
38
If you have a fit body -very fit. Yoou will love it
2
OK. Remember Mumuus? This dress looks best on the very pretty elderly woman. Not a flattering style overall.
35
@Lapis Ex Mumuus are beautiful! (Or can be.) They know what they are, and I'd say are not just for the elderly :) This? Not so much for anyone, regardless of age. Well, I hope everyone is enjoying themselves.
7
I don't get it.
Maybe that's the point?
22
@fact or friction What's to get? The dress - a simple shape in a simple pattern that looks easy to wear for the summer. The story? A bit of human-interest fluff. No biggie.
13
It's the polka dots. That and gingham are universally appealing and timeless.
29
@om Only if you want to look like a picnic basket.
12
@om
Don't forget paisley!
7
It looks as comfortable as an old nightgown, and as flattering . . Easy to sell because it barely has to fit . . . But it might be a sign that many women are tired of the bare look.
That midi look that came in decades ago after minis were first popular? I always thought it was solely because there was no further north skirts could rise, and it was a relief to cover up again.
There was also that theory about hemlines reflecting the stock market....
70
I don't know. I checked out the instagram profile, @hotthespot, and I don't understand the lure of this dress and don't find it particularly flattering. But to each her own. This is similar trend to the leopard print dress going viral and having it's own instagram profile. And I agree with Ms. Benson in the article about being photographed by a instagrammer and have your photo out in the media.
It's bad enough that now if you do a search of your own name, personal details are available on internet including past addresses, last 4 digits of phone number or sometimes full, family members names and ages. But I digress.
31