Express Ruffled, Sweetheart Neckline Dress

I find most fashion advice from Google searches dubious.
Different websites give different, and sometimes conflicting advice.
Though, back before I was a youngin’, I headed their every word.

According to the blog universe, my body shape was straight or rectangular (though I was never sure since people in the photos looked the same shape to me). I wanted to look more of the hourglass figure, hailed as the figure all clothes flattered, and bought clothes based on their advice. Unfortunately, by the power of sites combined, I became instead a frumpy monster.

However, one piece of advice led me to find one of my favorite things: Express Ruffled, Sweetheart Neckline Dress

One day, I came across an article that said sweetheart necklines would look good on me. Immediately, I sprang to sites in search of clothing with sweetheart necklines. By happenstance, a dress with sweetheart neckline was in vogue at Express.

It was perfect. It had the blog advised sweetheart neckline, optional straps that assuaged my fear of strapless dresses falling and exposing me, and 100% cotton quality that pleased sensibilities of my material conscious grandma whom I respected very much on this issue. It was also on sale and going hot.

I bought it in size small.

Size small fit wonderfully. I received more compliments than I’d dreamed of. Everything was perfect, except around the sides where it was a tiny bit large!
Darn it!

That tiny bit of loose fabric catalyzed years of compulsive hunt for the same dress in size extra small.  I crawled Ebay every month, for years, hoping someone would list my desired dress. I saw many dresses of similar design and fabric, but atlas couldn’t bring myself to replace the one I lusted after.

Then, about two months ago, I spotted it on Ebay. Express Ruffled, Sweetheart Neckline Dress in XS. A lovely lady was passing this treasure to a better home. I wasn’t letting this out of my grasp. I placed a reasonable bid very early to stake my claim. However, with each passing day, I became increasingly fearful of bid snippers. On the night the auction ended, I was pulsing with adrenaline. To me, it seemed like hundreds of other lurkers were watching this dress, waiting to rip it from my clutches. Within last five seconds, I entered an extremely high bid to better my chances, far beyond what I could afford. I was now afraid of bid snippers for another reason! Not good!
Time ticked to zero.
Sucess!
I won the dress. There were no bid snipers.

This is definitely a one in a million [advice] dress.