May 16, 2022

Like Janet and a few others, I've been on the hunt for an easy summer dress to replace a couple I've retired due to wear. What I want is an easy, casual dress to wear around the house (or out, if the spirit moves) and it can't be short or overly bare.

Today I got this dress from Barbour.

Pros:

Gorgeous cotton jersey, nice hand and weight -- 1000 times nicer than most dresses of this kind.
Navy stripe reads as faux solid grey -- works easily for me due to my colouring.
Easy fit.
Pockets.
Nice length. Can wear with sneakers, sandals, stompy boots in early fall.
Works with my denim jackets.
Affordable (I got it on sale).

Cons:

Why oh why did they embroider Barbour on the boob??????? (Note -- this is not visible in the product photo — artfully disguised by the model's hair. Nor is it mentioned in a single review!!!)

I'm frustrated. I think this little nameplate is a deal breaker for me and it's so unfortunate because the dress is otherwise great. Admittedly, the gathering initially made me wonder if it reads as too young or twee for me, but I could overlook that for the sheer comfort factor, TBH.

Would love your thoughts, though. Maybe I can accept this for mostly at-home wear...

ETA: Possible solution downthread, thanks to NancyW!

So....on reflection, I've decided to return this dress after all. I love a lot about it, but even though at a sale price, it's more than I want to spend on something that's going to bug me whenever I wear it. Now, on the lookout for a similar thing. Sigh....

Posted in the Dressing category

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32 Comments

merwoman replied 1 year ago

Oh that is so annoying! Why indeed!
however, Suz I love how you’ve styled it, it looks fabulous on you. How often would you wear it ‘out’ without a scarf or jacket?
LJP replied 1 year ago

I’m surprised at my reaction : it doesn’t bother me much . It “is” kind of silly given Barbour isn’t exactly an athletic - casual line that you’d expect it on , but as long as your accessories are on the quiet side , I don’t think it’s a problem ( personally ) . I suppose one could argue that the gathering plus the logo make for a lot going on , but it is pretty cute and comfortable looking ! I’d keep it .
Sal replied 1 year ago

I like the dress Suz - it is not too young and it suits you. And these dresses are so useful you are right.

I do have a couple of tees with logos like this - not sure what I would think on a dress? But if it annoys you then I would leave it - there will be others.
NancyW replied 1 year ago

It would have kept me from trying it on in a store, but now you have it, it fits and it is great for your life and climate. So? Put a brooch on it? Keep it for mild days? You look so happy in it!
JAileen replied 1 year ago

It’s funny how the logo is covered up by the model’s hair. I’ve noticed that the way they show an item tells you a lot. If they don’t show a coat buttoned up, it’s a good bet it looks bad when it’s buttoned up.

I don’t like logos at all. I’ve seen dresses at Macy’s that I liked and then turns out it reads “Tommy” (for Tommy Hilfiger) up the side in huge letters. This one is pretty small but in a prominent location. I don’t know.
slim cat replied 1 year ago

Lovely dress and great styling! The logo doesn't bother me as much as Old Navy on every nice tee ;-) .
Suz replied 1 year ago

You are all so smart and thoughtful and it does me good to hear that several of you share my ambivalence. Nancy W -- the idea about the brooch is really clever and might just work! I have a sentimental favourite from my MIL of silver elephants walking in a line -- it might cover it perfectly! I'm going to try that.
Kate replied 1 year ago

Super annoying. I love the dress on you. Can you live with the embroidery as a house dress, and toss jacket or scarf over it for outside wear? I especially like the banded navy neckline, which would be nice to show if only the embroidered logo wasn't there.

Is it possible to carefully remove the embroidery with a razor blade? The material might be thick enough that the resulting holes in the fabric wouldn't be visible unless someone inspected it close up.

I hate logos, and have often removed them from clothes and purses. I've become pretty good at it, but I'm highly motivated! Purses have sometimes needed the help of a skilled cobbler to do the deed. Maybe you could ask a local tailer if removal could be easily accomplished.
Suz replied 1 year ago

So...Nancy's idea might just work! Making this the Babar dress vs. the Barbour dress, ha ha!

Here it is with the little brooch. It's a bit of a fiddly job to get it to cover the embroidery completely but it does do the job. Please excuse my hair, by the way -- I'm 3 weeks overdue for a cut if not more.

1 2 3
Murph11 replied 1 year ago

Gah! Perfect solution for a lil annoyance on the perfect casual dress!

Such a cute pin!
Janet replied 1 year ago

Ok, the pin does work! I would be annoyed with that logo too. I don’t mind a logo on gear, but that dress is not gear! Looks like you’ve found a solution for it. I was wondering about picking out the embroidery too, but that’s a very risky proposition.
Indigoprint replied 1 year ago

Seems like it could be a wardrobe workhorse. You have clever options to hide the logo. Looks like a keeper to me.
Jaime replied 1 year ago

Ok, you have really made me smile with your Babar over Barbour :) ! What an appropriate solution! Apart from that, your original styling with jacket and scarf look great. The logo makes it more casual, which might be ok for around the house, and out and about you now have several good solutions. Can't believe they hid it with the model's hair though - false representation! misleading advertising! Alas, if only I had enough outrage energy left for such things :) .
rachylou replied 1 year ago

The dress does fit so nicely and the pin is pretty good (excuse to build up a little pin collection?). And the name right there really isn’t that bad… altho it’s slightly reminiscent of a country club staff uniform or something... Yeah. Ok. Had to go there and say it, lol :o
CarolS replied 1 year ago

Oh, that's bloody annoying! The dress is fabulous otherwise, so I suppose it you can live with the pin solution you've got a keeper...

I spotted a fabulous looking white shirt the other day only to find CALVIN KLEIN emblazoned across the back in huge letters. No pin big enough to hide that.
Sloper replied 1 year ago

Nice solution (and excuse for more pins)! I hope this dress becomes a keeper - looks great for summer days.
Aquamarine replied 1 year ago

Great dress on you and great solution! Keep!
Suz replied 1 year ago

Thanks so much, all. I think I'm going to keep it. The pin works, a scarf works (on cooler days), a jacket works (ditto), so I do have options. I might have another pin or two -- or yes, it might be an opportunity to start a little collection of them! You can see what I mean about the weight and hand of the jersey -- typical jersey fabrics would not hold up to a pin like that, but this one does perfectly okay.

I could also carefully try to remove the embroidery with a special tool. I'll investigate that. It tends to work better on wovens than on knits, but it might be do-able.

And since I mainly want it for my work-from-home capsule and would rarely wear it "out" it feels okay to prioritize comfort. It's basically higher end summer loungewear, if you know what I mean. (Admittedly, that's pretty much ALL I've been wearing since Covid, but still....)
Bijou replied 1 year ago

Its a great dress and how fortunate that you have the perfect brooch to solve the problem - which for me would be likely to be a deal breaker. I LOVE the brooch, so I would definitely keep it with the view to maximising wear of the pin.
Ginkgo replied 1 year ago

I think adding the Babar elephant family pin is the perfect solution and now you've got a great dress for summer - done!
Star replied 1 year ago

Fab! Great solutions. I would not attempt unpicking the logo, no need now, and it may cause damage. I think all your cover-up options work perfectly.
approprio replied 1 year ago

Oh those pesky logos. They get everywhere! But the dress is perfect for elegant slumming. Barbour vs Babar is a joke that will never get old. ;)

tell you what, COVID has given me an appreciation for lounge wear I never had before, Some of that stuff is really showing the wear.
Angie replied 1 year ago

Suz, are you keeping or returning the dress?

Sodding logos in the wrong places :( .....but super cute dress nonetheless!
Angie replied 1 year ago

Like this but the wrong colour for you:
CarolS replied 1 year ago

Too bad -- it's such a cute dress otherwise. But, a better one is out there!
Runcarla replied 1 year ago

That’s a pretty sneaky trick the maker is perpetuating with the product photo and the model’s hair!

I have a trusty seam ripper (cuticle scissors are good too) for just such situations, though knits can be a tricky/delicate job and the stitching holes will likely disappear with a little blocking or in the first wash.

FWIW - I remove as many logos as possible, and have even removed the patch logos on my Levi’s, and breast/chest pockets on woven’s and t-shirts for myself and the men folk.
Jenni NZ replied 1 year ago

I hadn’t commented Suz but I do think that returning it is the right thing. The Barbars were really cute but probably too dressy for that particular dress? And annoying to have to pin over the logo every time.
I really hate logos on clothing and try hard to avoid them. I do have a few subtle ones on some clothing that I liked enough to overlook them. I feel why should I be a walking advertisement for someone, they can pay for other advertising like every other business does. And I am not into wearing designer stuff with double Cs or a big LV showing.
Suz replied 1 year ago

Thanks, everyone. Yes, I sent it back. With some regret, because the fabric was really nice. And maybe I'd have been able to deal with it, with a seam ripper. But I couldn't be confident. Plus, I noticed they had reduced the price still more and if I was going to keep it, I'd have wanted it at the lower price and they don't have a system for price matching. So -- off it went. Sigh.

Angie, I like that dress, too! I love a drop waist in the heat. But Nordstrom's in Canada doesn't have it.
rachylou replied 1 year ago

Ah well, no doubt the right choice… because… always the fear of being… asked for *more* towels. I tease! But I feel your irritation.
unfrumped replied 1 year ago

Oh ack. I think it is worth trying to salvage or at least take time to brainstorm a bit.
was going to suggest searching for an appliqué and hand- sewing that over. Might take time to find the right theme that is “ you” and neutral or acceptable color and also shape that covers the name. Of course then that would be there always until you remove the sewing.
I agree it is maddening especially for this sort of go- anywhere dress.
Lana replied 1 year ago

Great fix with the brooch. I just bought this dress in gray, and teal. I already have the navy version and it’s similar to what you’re looking at. I feel like a goddess in it, very comfortable, flattering and cheap.
Angie replied 1 year ago

FWIW, I'd have been annoyed with the logo placement too! Next.

Pix-Elated

K/R summer dress Barbour vs. Babar -- update: returning after all.

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