Dress Lust: Rebecca Taylor

I discovered the talents of Rebecca Taylor by sheer happenstance.  Blame the TV.  When I was doing holiday dress research, I noticed that Shopbop had a great little selection of her dresses.  These were my favorites:

Rtaylorsleeves

Love the puff sleeves, the 40's style neckline, the way the waist is up high, so it's flattering, but the dress doesn't balloon out in the middle, which makes it even more perfect.  The beading on the neckline is also very festive and pretty much the thing right now. 

Rtaylorhighneck

This is the killer legs dress.  The sleeves are fantastic, and it's such a sexy dress for covering up so much.  So if you hate your arms, take heart.  There is hope.  But, as I mentioned, only if your legs can take up the slack.
  

Rtaylorsheersleeve

Are you getting the message yet that I have a fondness/weakness for girlie type stuff, such as these sheer lacy sleeves?  The rest of the dress is severe enough that it works.  The sleeves add a nice element but don't take the dress to nursery school land, where it very well could have gone.  This is probably the dress I'd wear if I had a choice, even though the first one I list would be more flattering.

Rtaylorpurple

I feel like this one's kind of a miss, but it's still cute enough to include.  I don't mind the gathered hem but it doesn't seem to go with the strappy top.  I feel like maybe this could work if there were a sweater or short-sleeved jacket involved.  If only it came with a different neckline, and maybe a cap sleeve.  I feel like that would balance out the silhouette.  Of course, I love the deep plum color.

Rtaylorblackbeaded

Another example of the gathered waist.  I think the beading and the sheer cap sleeves are great details.  The dress can be worn in a very traditional way that doesn't involve black tights and choppy hair, but the beautiful thing is that it's versatile enough to do both:  be pretty or slouchy, depending on where you want to take it.

Rtaylorwhiteshift

I couldn't wear this and maybe you couldn't either, but somebody can and that person is awesome.  Technically I should be all "bah!  poufy!  poochy!  unflattering!" but I like it anyway.  I'm also sucker for white lacy things, as you can see.

That's all the news from here.  Tune in next time.