Maeve broke out the seriously pretty for its Wisteria Halter Dress ($148). This frock is so sweet my teeth hurt. The front looks like a standard tank dress but in the back a cute halter top and neck tie give this dress something special. I like the pattern a lot although I think this is too strong to be an everyday dress. I recommended this to a friend looking for a rehearsal dinner dress and she loves it. The material is slightly textured but not heavy.
My usual size 6 was surprisingly big. I could fit into a 4 with no issue. So you’ll want to size down in this dress for sure. The waist hit me too high, making me look wider across than I actually am. And the skirt is really floofy around the midsection which made me look bulky. Some quick tailoring could fix the skirt up but I’m not ready to grab this one at full price. My friends and I like to have garden party picnics in the summer and this dress would be the perfect look. But I will wait until sale since there are some issues to fix. For now, wishlisted.
If I sat on a stool all day in the position of the model shot, I’d love Eva Franco’s Windswept Prairie Skirt ($198). But seeing as how I have to stand up and walk around over the course of the day, my initial fascination with this skirt quickly waned. I like the thin grey stripes populating this skirt. The ruffles, however, look fun in theory but silly on me in practice. The skirt is made from soft cotton with a poly lining.
The fit of this skirt was excellent. I loved how the waistband sat perfectly with no fuss in a size 10. No poufing around the hips either. The skirt fell nice and straight with some pleating in the back while the front fell gently. I don’t like how the ruffles look though. While the skirt itself feels light on it has surprisingly little movement to it. Even when I tried walking around the fitting room area they weren’t quite right. I understand the idea of this skirt but I feel like it’s something that looks great on the runway and odd in real life. No luck for me here. Back to the rack.
As a kid, did you ever make one of those bottles with layers of different colored sand inside? It’s what I immediately thought of upon spying the Printed Elements Skirt ($128). I think the pleating up at the waist is so cool and love the sedimentary layers of vivid colors. The solid black portion of the skirt forms the side pockets. For reasons I cannot explain I love warming my hands in front pockets, so the placement is spot on for me. I tried on both the coral and gold during my store visit — coral above and the gold below.
My usual size 10 fit perfectly. Really my only issue with this silk skirt is that it’s kind of short. It hits about two inches above the knee which is unfortunate placement for me. This skirt isn’t that short compared to many of the other super-minis out there right now I know, but I’m so sick of short skirts! I want knee-length dammit. This skirt would have gotten 5 stars had it cleared my thighs. I’m thinking of sizing up so I can wear it hipslung and get some extra length. I’m deliberating whether this skirt is worth full price to me or not. For now, wishlisted!
Let’s start with the obvious: the Wiltern Dress ($168) is not made for my body shape. Which is such a bummer because I love the neckline! Deco is one of my favorite styles and the pretty halter top portion of this dress has executed it beautifully. It is strange to see the rest of the dress rendered in chambray. Deco and chambray? I would have thought deco and silk but maybe that’s just me. According to the dress form shot the front pleats are then supposed to spill down straight into an a-line skirt. Not on me. Instead they were like curtains drawing back to reveal my hips…not awesome. The length is good, hitting me right at the top of my knees. In the back, a line of pleats keep this dress from being too loose and mumu-y.
My usual size medium fit fine but didn’t look great. This dress has appeal as a work frock with the right cardigan, jacket or blazer over the top. Throw on some rope wedges and you have yourself a look. A strapless bra, or one of those 5-way bras will be necessary for this dress. It’s cute, it’s chambray, but it’s not right for me. Pass.
Isabella Sinclair has delivered a beautiful maxi in the In The Abstract Dress ($248). It was just the right length on my 5’8″ frame, just brushing the top of my feet. There is no petite version of this dress unfortunately. The silk frock is lined until the cups and has spaghetti straps up top.
I started off in a size 6 but found I couldn’t fit into the top cups. So I sized up to an 8 which was still cut small in the bust but worked better. I think I’d need to buy a 10, which would be large in the body for me. Even the 8 showed some signs of extra material around the midsection. Maxis are made to buy looser and flowier though so I don’t think it looks bad. Your feelings about this dress will come down whether you like the print or not. I like it, so this dress is a win for me. I have nowhere to wear it though so for now I’m just admiring from afar.
Easy, simple and light, Maeve delivers a sub $100 dress with the Tied-Down Dress ($98). Maeve’s been delivering the goods for the last year or so and has eclipsed the other Anthro brands in my mind. This dress has a defined waist which actually hits at my waist! It has a cute cowlneck! It’s a good length! Hit these simple checkboxes and I’m pretty easy to please.
A 6 fit me well and I think that I could have sized down if I were less busty. I hate the rayon material. It feels very stretchy and I’m concerned that this dress will lose its shape over time. Which is too bad because the fit is great otherwise. You can wear this one with or without a belt, with or without a cardi, etc. It’s a great transition dress from winter to spring that you can wear again come fall. I doubt the longevity here though so this dress is a pass for me.
Join me as I stealthily try to make a chemise into a weekend dress courtesy of the Sunny Forecast Chemise ($68). The abstract diamond print, henley front and just-thick-enough straps mean this chemise has potential to head outdoors once the weather warms up. Rendered in cotton with cross-back straps, it’s light and fun and cute. It’s maybe a bit long, almost hitting below my knees. Quibbles though.
Wow does this chemise run large! I was swimming in a medium and even a small left extra room. The photos above are the medium and you can see all the extra room in the skirt portion. There are vertical pleats along the bodice so I wouldn’t go below a small. I do wonder if this pattern is too chemise-y — will my friends tease me for wearing a nightgown out to brunch? I think the right cardigan over top will quell those fears. Wishlisted for now!
