In recent years I have been really attracted to bold colors and patterns when it comes to clothes. If you take a look at Belgian street style, you’ll see that a lot of girls really aren’t afraid of colors. They know what suits them best, they know how to throw colors together, and there’s something about it that’s cheerful and statement-making. However, when I was asked to wear a little black dress for the Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire event, I panicked: little black dress? I don’t have one! I was lucky enough to find a good one in time for the occasion, but the experience has taught me that good black dresses, like good black pumps, are something that practically every woman should have in their arsenal. After looking around a little, I found this French Connection Alicia Cocktail Dress on Zalando and ordered it!
(Something for me in here?)
I shop online quite a bit, but usually from UK-based webshops for my beauty fix. Besides the conversion rate, something else that I don’t like 100% is the shipping. Even if the webshop ships the next day and the parcel gets on the plane soon, in the best case scenario we’re looking at more than a week. This is why I was so super excited to receive my Wednesday late-night order the following Monday!
The order is securely packed with this air-cushion type of thing in the box. The box is easy to open with a strip that you tear off, so there’s no need for scissors (I personally prefer this type of packaging because Tango has an unhealthy appetite for tape)!
(Lemme see…)
Voila, here’s the dress!
French Connection has some dresses along the same line, with lace artfully placed to give them a lot of glamour. It’s a flare skirt, which I would normally avoid because proportionally I am bottom-heavy, but with this one I don’t have the impression that it magnifies this problem!
I will wear this out soon and see if I can get more pictures taken, but this is what I achieved with my tripod the other day:
Here’s the back:
There is a tiny little hook where the zipper ends, so you might need someone with nimble fingers to help you with it. I love the material of this dress, and you can see it’s well-designed and well-made!
Both shipping and returning at Zalando is free, which is excellent news (I’m petty like that. Webshops that charge high shipping fees are not my best friends). I also got a 10% off coupon with the order, so I might… seize the opportunity and order something else! Zalando also has a beauty section with brands that you don’t see elsewhere in Belgium, including Jemma Kidd, Omorovicza, and so on!
Muffin had a lot of fun with this strip that I tore off:
Tango loves yet another new box!
(It’s a good size for me…)
All in all, don’t be surprised if you see some more new dresses on me soon!
What are some of the webshops you love? Do you prefer online shopping to real shopping? Have you bought anything from Zalando? They exist in many European countries!
Sunny, your beauty culture translator xx
Disclosure: I received a coupon as press sample which I redeemed for part of my purchase. All opinions are honest and my own. I am in no way compensated for this review. I have always been, and will always be committed ONLY to my readers.
Yay for the kitty pics! You really look amazing in that dress Sunny! I love the intricate lace detailing, love love! Like I said, it’s black and it has lace, what more do you want, lol! I can’t wait to see this on you in person!
Thanks so much Teri! Thanks for the nudge in the right direction 🙂
What a gorgeous dress! I love love love black outfits though I don’t have enough of them! I’m looking for a black lace top/dress since some time but haven’t found anything that I’ve liked so far.
Haha I can’t wear a lot of black also because cat hair looks horrendous on it! It takes time and patience to find something like that, but once you have it you have it for quite some time so it’s worth the effort 🙂
Such a pretty dress ! The lace detail is really gorgeous.
Thanks Jill! It really is 🙂
What a lovely dress my dear!
Thanks girl!
You look elegant in this LBD. Should definitely wear your hair up to showcase the details in the back.
Thanks girl! Once I figure out if the bun will hold up I’ll definitely do that!
Oh, that is a gorgeous dress!
Thanks Emi!
i love the dress, the lace details are exquisite
Thanks so much Naomi! The brand offers some similar dresses so you should take a look!
What a lovely dress. I love the lace! Your kitties are adorable. I miss my kitties. 😦
Thanks so much Christa! Tango and Muffin thank you too 🙂
you look elegant and sexy in the black dress!
love the lace details i love simple design with thoughtful details in clothing. 🙂
Thanks Lena! From your description I can see it’s your taste 🙂
Came for the kitties, love the dress! The detailing on the back in particular is super pretty.
LOL thanks Kassia! The box has been torn apart in the meantime so I had to throw it away (with paper recycling of course)!
I love your dress!
Thanks! xx
Pretty dress!!
Thanks Marijke!
wow, that dress is so pretty! I especially like the back, so elegant. I still haven’t found my perfect little black dress. I love lace and I hope I can find one (actually I have it already pictured in my mind/thoughts just need to find one that will look like that, lol).
Thanks so much Claire! I hope you’ll find your perfect LBD soon!
Holy crap Sunny–this dress is so so so so so so SO so SOOOO beautiful! 😛 And you look gorgeous in it and with your hair like that. The whole look is super simple and super chic–love it! 😀
Thanks soooo much Becca! I’ll probably go out like this soon, but first I have to find out if that bun will hold up!
You look gorgeous! I love the lace detail, French Connection makes great dresses.
Thanks Taylor! They really do, and now I want more LOL
What a beautiful dress Sunny, you look very good in it. I love the lace.
Thanks Jacqueline! I’ll have to wash this one VERY carefully.
You look wonderful in this dress, it really suits you! And I’m with you on the shipping fees. I just ordered something from Rouge Bunny Rouge and shipping was so outrageous that it cancelled out the 20% off discount they were offering!
hanks so much Christine! Oh uh that’s really the reason why I wasn’t very excited about the RBR webshop…
You look absolutely amazing! I love the bun and entire look, so beautiful 😀
Thanks so much girly! My hair looked a bit off that day and I hated how the first photos turned out, so I put it up in a bun and it worked!
It really does! 🙂
I love lacey dress! I love many of your dress/tops, I think I like your taste in choosing outfits. I love shopping from UK webstore too (ASOS particularly) because it carries so many brands! You look gorgeous !!
I tend to want to try things on before I buy them, but by now I have accumulated enough experience with dresses to take a bit of risk 😛
A really very pretty dress! And it suits you just fine!
Thanks Peggy 🙂