Reviews: Polaire Vest and Tweed & Chiffon Dress

Oh, Anthropologie. You and your tricky camera angles! I knew the Tweed & Chiffon Dress ($188) would be short since it hits mid-thigh on the model. But this photo, shot on the up angle, distorts just how short the skirt portion really is.

Now granted at 5’8″ I am pretty tall. I was also a bit screwed by how small this dress runs in the hips. I started at my true size 6, the photos above are an 8 and truly I needed an 10. So that also contributed to the skirt riding up on me. However, even if I’d had the 10 on I would have gained at most 1/2-inch of length. Keep in mind that the skirt has a 1-inch vent in the center back of the skirt. I didn’t take a photo because it would have bordered on way too much booty. Even with tights I am bummed by how high the skirt will be. I don’t know that I could wear this to work.

Despite my complaints about the length this dress is otherwise fab. The chiffon top is easy and flowy with a gentle v-neck and a cool back. The quality is there. The pink, black and taupe tweed of the skirt is tough but not rough. This dress is like the winter version of the little black dress.

Fitwise, anyone who is pear-shaped or who has an hourglass shape is going to need to size up one size. Straight shapes should be fine in their true size. I would still love to buy this dress and give it a shot. But it might be a sale purchase rather than full price.

The Polaire Vest ($118) was far too intriguing not to try on. The asymmetrical peplum hem, the corset bodice, the neckline halfway between deep scoop and v. And it is so soft! Feels like shearling or fur (it’s wool). It feels like my favorite winter blanket. Also it has snap closures. Hallejulah! No 1,000,000 hook and eye closures to fight. No buttons that gap. Snaps! The only thing that might have been better is velcro. (Kidding.)

To defend the vest a bit, I think the skirt of my dress is messing with the proportions. I’m wearing the medium which I found to fit great. I see some of the online reviews mention the corset is tight, and it was certainly close fitting, but nowhere near as tightly as the Monochromatic Corset Dress ($188) I reviewed here. I still had a full range of motion. I think over dark, straight jeans (instead of the a-line skirt I have on above) and paired with a blouse underneath this will look quite slimming at the waist. But what do you think? Have you tried on either of these items?