Reviews: Slubby Blouson Dress, Striped Swing Dress, Emerald City Sheath, Margot Dress, Nikola Dress

The kind of dress you can wear all winter long. The Striped Swing Dress ($198), reviewed.

Could you bare-legged in 23 degree weather that feels more like 10 degrees Fahrenheit? New York Fashion Week is here again and I’m sure the answer for some attendees will be yes. Meanwhile, I chose to keep my bare legs confined to Anthropologie’s fitting rooms for this latest set of dress reviews.

Slubby Blouson Dress ($118) by Dolan, size up
Style #: 4130212061411; moss (031)
★★★☆☆

Note: For sizing reference I am 34-29-38, a size 6/M in dresses. I’m 5’8″.

If you like to show off your lower half while keeping your top half more concealed, the Slubby Blouson Dress ($118) will be the ideal dress for you. This rayon-spandex jersey dress has a faux wrap blouson top and a ruched skirt that hits about two inches above the knee. It has three-quarter sleeves, a nicely defined waistline and v-neck that only reveals a very little bit. The moss color is dark enough to be city stylish yet versatile enough to conceal any parts of your body you’d rather peeps don’t see. It’s begging for a belt.

My usual size medium was unworkable so it’s up to large I went for these photos. It makes sense, as I’m somewhere between a medium and a large on the bottom. The skirt is meant to be body-hugging and for me that causes issues; my bottom half is just as curvy as my upper half. My legs are long but alas not my most killer feature. Still, it’s cool to see a dress that’s the inverse of the usual shape and for someone with a great set of gams I think this dress will be stellar. It’s comfortable and not itchy on. The material is heathered yet opaque and of a lighter weight.

Not a winner for me but worth a shot if you like the look! If you’re curvier like me I suggest sizing up. For me, regrettably back to the rack.

Striped Swing Dress ($198) by Eva Franco, TTS
Style #: 30337174; blue motif (049)
★★★★☆

Eva Franco’s Striped Swing Dress ($198) is a gift to curves! This dress hugs and swings and flatters in all the right places. I have a feeling it does an excellent job of creating curves on people who don’t feel they have many. Made from polyester, cotton and nylon, this dress is thicker with a forgiving fit. The bodice hugs without constricting and gives way to a simple, collarbone-framing black top. The skirt likewise has thoughtfully designed stripes run askew (the placement varies on each dress) before giving way to a thick black band. The waist is nicely placed, landing right at my natural waist.

It’s hard to tell from these photos I know but the dress hit me about 2.5″ above the knee. Luckily since the skirt is more voluminous it feels longer. The back has a large oval keyhole opening but it ends well above any spot that would threaten to reveal a bra. I’m in my usual size 6 which felt great. It’s tempting to try an 8 to see if the length is any better but I wouldn’t want to give up any of the perfect fit aspects.

A beautiful, figure-flattering dress with a great neckline for necklaces. Winter never had it so good. Wishlisted!

Emerald City Sheath ($298) by Tracy Reese, size up
Style #: 30659122; green motif (038)
★★★★☆

Tracy Reese’s Emerald City Sheath ($298) is a fun, body-hugging sheath that may be work-appropriate depending on your office environment. A high neckline balances a dress that hugs every curve and spills into a pencil skirt complete with back slit. The back also has a generous amount of ruching which allows some flexibility for differently sized busts, waists and hips. Made from silk with polyester and some spandex too, the dress is not stretchy but does have a bit of give. The sleeves end at the elbow which is perfect for framing tiny waists.

I’m in my usual size 6 here. The skirt portion was too tight; there was not enough give across the hips. So I recommend sizing up in this one — I sized up to an 8 to purchase. The color scheme may be a turn-off to some people but I find it so cheery for an otherwise grey winter! Although form-fitting I love how this dress celebrates the body without looking cheap or tacky. I felt like a modern Joan in this frock.

This one couldn’t wait for sale by me, I bought it as part of my birthday haul!

Margot Dress ($118) by Greylin, TTS
Style #: 30419097; red motif (069)
★★★☆☆

The Margot Dress ($118) is a fun, flirty dress with a paper-thin skirt and a cool bodic. I love the pleated top with its combination of red, black and ivory. The skirt is a gingham plaid in very thin polyester that rustles like leaves as you move. In the back there are two buttons above a keyhole that are damn near impossible to button on your own. (I asked a SA for help.) There is some wonkiness with the top; it stands away from the body as far out as your bust goes. So in the middle shot above you can the top is standing away from my stomach thanks to my bigger cup size.

In terms of fit, I’m in my usual medium and found it to feel roomy. However every review on Anthro’s site reports the dress fits small so I’m unsure if I ended up with an outlier. The skirt spills down to just above the knee and I like the cut-ins of the top at the shoulders. You could easily belt this dress if you so choose. It feels very comfortable and light on. Right now it would need very heavy layers to make it comfortable for the cold. Alternately if you live in a temperate climate or somewhere where it’s summer right now this dress is good to go!

Pretty and fun but too springy for me to take seriously right now. Wishlisted for reconsideration when the thermometer breaks the 60 degree mark.

Nikola Dress ($178) by Maeve, size down
Style #: 4130580810078; black motif (009)
★★★★☆

Could last summer’s Aria Dress (review) be improved upon? Turns out yes, by adding polka dots! This new version of the Aria is called the Nikola Dress ($178) and it’s basically the same dress. I thought the Aria was cute but something kept me from pulling the trigger at the time. It’s as though  my heart knew this polka dot version was coming. Like the Aria the Nikola has the latticework neckline in both front and back, slightly poufy sleeves with large armholes, a defined waist and a straight a-line skirt which lands about an inch above the knee.

Like last year’s version I found my usual size 6 too big so it’s down to a 4 I went for these photos. Oh, lovely lovely polka dots. How I adore thee! The dress is mainly textured cotton with polyester and such mixed in. It’s sturdy, a little thick, and rough to the touch. I love the placement of the panels on this dress, especially on the sides where the polka dots are set at an angle just so to really flatter.

OK, I’m swooning. This dress was part of my birthday haul and I think you should get it too!

What do you think of the items in this reviews set? Which dress excites you the most? The least?

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