Reviews: Abydos Dress, Midnight Wanderer Dress


One of the things I love most about Anthropologie is my luck with their dresses. Both their in-house designers and the ones brought in design shapes that flatter almost everyone. Yet it’s rare to see two similar dresses. Yoana Baraschi is quickly becoming one of my favorite brands at Anthro. Almost everything I try on from this label is a must-have. The Abydos Dress ($228) was no exception. Hello amazing neckline!


But of course not every dress can be a winner. I started out with a small (not pictured). While the top of the small fit I couldn’t get the skirt over my thighs. So I went to my true size medium which fit on the bottom but was too big on top. It’s a shame because the dress is a dream to wear. It’s a beautiful silk frock with a drawstring waist and layer upon layer of sequins and beading at the neckline.

I spent some time inspecting the neckline of all the dresses at the 5th Ave Anthropologie (NYC) and they all looked impeccable. Not a loose thread in the bunch. So the quality is there. It’s just that the shape was not friendly to my curves. It fits like a sheath.


I tried on one dress with beading so why not two? Above is the Midnight Wanderer Dress ($288) by Ranna Gill. I liked the way the jersey is pleated around the bust and then left to cascade freely down the front. The beadwork on the shoulders continues around to the back in an x shape between a v of the jersey.


One thing about this dress: it’s heavy. After a night out I might feel a bit weighed down. I tried on my true size medium and it was a bit roomy. The dress didn’t have as much shape as I hoped. It sat on me like a babydoll dress. It makes for an easy feeling and this dress is pregnancy-friendly. The navy blue color is lovely so make sure to use color-safe detergent to keep it that way!

Probably the best thing about this dress is that you could toss it in a bag, travel with it and not fear wrinkles when you take it out later. It would satisfy for all but the fanciest parties and is appropriate for any season really. I wasn’t persuaded to buy it immediately but it’s earned a spot on my wishlist for sure.

Later today I’ll have more dress reviews. One dress I’m holding back until it makes to the site…here’s a hint about that one:

3 Comments

  1. October 26, 2009 / 5:32 pm

    I love the neckline on the 1st dress. Beautiful! The shape on #2 is great on you.

  2. V
    October 26, 2009 / 11:13 pm

    If you're talking about the Sterling Dress, it's already on the site!! I think it's kind of pretty.. I would love to hear what you think about it.

  3. October 26, 2009 / 11:34 pm

    V – Yes I am! I am headed home from work now to write up the review, expect the post in about an hour or so. 🙂


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