Reviews: Bayan Dress, Dusky Alba Dress, Traversing Dress


The Wind Catcher Dress ($168) isn’t included in this reviews set but I had to share this photo because the styling is amazing. The Rockefeller Center (NYC) team put the Buds & Bunches Tee ($58, review here) under the dress and adorned the look with the Collected Shapes Necklace ($42). When I saw this look my jaw dropped. It took me a few minutes to pick it up off the 50th St sidewalk. This look is such a great idea for busty ladies like me who adore strapless necklines but can’t often pull them off…bravo Rockefeller Center, bravo. You can see a closeup in my Facebook Store Inspiration album.


This reviews set actually kicks off with Girls From Savoy’s Bayan Dress ($188). I thought I remembered it having a sash but there were none to be found on the slim pickings I saw on the rack. The dress does come with a belt but I guess these were all missing theirs. I would have liked to try belting it with something more significant anyway but Anthropologie has this insanely dumb rule that you can’t bring belts into fitting rooms with you.

Your loss Anthro because without a belt to give me any semblance of shape this dress is fail to the nth degree. I tried on my normal size 6 and it was big. I’m sure a 4 would have worked better. I like the three tiers to this dress though they kind of remind me of a cupcake wrapper. The satin trim and straps are a nice touch; the colors of this dress are great. I also like how this dress moves:


But it’s pretty shapeless. I like the way Anthro styled it (see the far right pic on the product page). On sale I might give it a shot. Wishlisted.


Tibi at Anthropologie! Haven’t seen the brand at Anthro in a little while so this was a nice surprise. This dress is the Dusky Alba Dress ($388). It has earthy party goddess written all over it and I think I’d get a lot of use out of it in the summer. Maybe I could try the tank layering trick at the top of this post. Hmmm….

I knew I’d need to size up so I grabbed an 8. I guessed too small unfortunately. The 8 was far too tight around my chest. Otherwise however the dress is stunning. It has great detailing, from the twist across the back to the subtle bubble hem. This dress seems cut for smaller chests and even if a 10 “fits” the bodice might be too short on me. I guess we’ll find out next time I’m at Anthro. Wishlisted for now…


I did have one complete failure in dress form courtesy of Moulinette Souers’ Traversing Dress ($148). All the site reviewers love it…me not so much. I grabbed my normal size 6. The bodice was very tight, so I sized up to an 8 (far right shot). That was a little better but still pretty tight.

The dress has a lined eyelet pattern across the chest. It’s quite pretty on the hanger but was contorted once I put the dress on. I liked the sash, which has a contrasting floral pattern though I wish it was longer and fuller. This dress is cotton which I love. So I liked everything about the dress except how it looked. It was a pain to get on and I couldn’t wait to take it off. Back to the rack.

21 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    March 9, 2010 / 10:42 pm

    I agree about the Traversing Dress . . . it runs super small in the chest! Such a shame, because it is a lovely dress. I have a large ribcage & chest, so I wasn't ever CLOSE to zipping up my normal size 12.

  2. March 9, 2010 / 10:48 pm

    I had exactly the same problem in the traversing dress… I tried on my normal size 12 and it fit more like an 8… So disappointing because I was ready to buy it if it fit – it's so cute! Oh, well more money for other dresses i guess 🙂

  3. March 9, 2010 / 10:52 pm

    How odd that yours didn't have a belt – I'm pretty sure it did when Kim tried it on! The blasted belt rule drives me crazy! Some of the assistants forget, but others leave it on the chair outside where I can nab it when they're not looking 😉 Aside from the whole "Where's Wally's Waist" element, it looks really great!

  4. March 9, 2010 / 10:59 pm

    I thought the Bayan Dress came with a belt too. Without one it really is shapeless, but the color is so so pretty!Are you saving the Wind Catcher Dress for another review? My store hasn't received it yet and I'm eager to see it!

  5. March 9, 2010 / 11:00 pm

    Sorry for the confusion ladies — the Banyan Dress does come with a belt, but the particular one I tried on had lost its belt. I will update the post to clarify…more comments later.

  6. March 9, 2010 / 11:28 pm

    Roxy thanks for posting the reviews. I really appreciate being able to see items on a real person, specially since the nearest anthro is 4 hrs away. The Traversing dress and Banyan dress were on my wish list but I may have to take them off…I don't think they will work for me.

  7. March 9, 2010 / 11:30 pm

    Although I like the idea/colors of the Bayan Dress, I think it's just too shapeless to do anything positive for me….even with the belt!Speaking of belts though…got the Looping Lanes belt and ladies, I think this is the new IT belt. Goodbye Snakebite, Hello Looping Lanes!

  8. March 9, 2010 / 11:50 pm

    I agree it is really dumb that they do not let belts in the dressing room, it makes you feel like you are being treated like a criminal or klepto . The bayan dress has nice colors but does remind me of an old lady dress with the shapeless design. thanks for the reviews;)

  9. March 10, 2010 / 12:00 am

    Also about the belt thing, they should just count it as an item and let you bring it in! When I go to my local Anthro, they count how many items I have and write it on the mirror hanging on my door with my name. So….why not write "belt" on there to and just make sure to check for one when the person comes out of the dressing room?

  10. Anonymous
    March 10, 2010 / 12:15 am

    At my store a lot of the Bayan dresses were missing the sash as well. The dress doesn't have the belt loop/attachment threads and b/c of the dress' nature a lot of the sashes were either on the floor or missing altogether. I guess the belt policy is different in every store or dependent upon the SA. Sometimes the SA will just hang the belt next to my dressing room and tell me that I can grab it if I want to try it on (same w/ shoes), other times they see the belt and let me take it in, and I've also had SA's bring me belts to try on w/ the dress if I've asked them. All in all they've been pretty good about it in my neck of the woods. I think if you bring it up w/ them they'll be understanding & let you try it on.

  11. Anonymous
    March 10, 2010 / 12:18 am

    ^oops, I guess I didn't catch on that there was actually a 'no belts' policy in some stores.

  12. Traci
    March 10, 2010 / 12:35 am

    I tried on the Traversing Dress as well and I was basically horrified. The sash is too thin and short and the bust is tight and awkward. The skirt was too long…it was just terrible. blech.I LOVE the styling of the strapless dress in the window. Usually I'm against the whole tank top under the strapless dress thing because it looks strange to me, but this is stunning!

  13. Traci
    March 10, 2010 / 12:39 am

    GinaBean – I completely agree with you about the looping lanes belt! I LOVE it! It goes with everything!

  14. Annie
    March 10, 2010 / 2:00 am

    I'm loving the Wind Catcher dress and the Bud and Bunches tee together. If not done right, it could look really sloppy. But here in the window…looks amazing.

  15. March 10, 2010 / 3:27 am

    WOW! I love the way the Wind Catcher Dress is styled. I am not normally a fan of strapless dresses because I'm paranoid of something popping out and flashing the world, but I may have to buy that exact outfit because it just too gorgeous to resist!

  16. Anonymous
    March 10, 2010 / 5:02 am

    First and foremost, it's too bad that these dresses had no belts for you to try on. I bet it would have made all the difference on you! Now, I would just like to point out that unfortunately the STUPID belt rule is set in place because of all the STUPID people that shove them in their purses… along with all of the tights, jewelry, and home products. Therefore, they aren't allowed in the fitting rooms. It's a general rule, so no need to feel like you're being judged as a "criminal". If you want to try on a belt, what's the big deal of stepping out of your fitting room to try it on?

  17. March 10, 2010 / 5:05 am

    I tried the Bayan Dress on the other day and it has a ribbon sash that's not attached to the dress in any way, so no wonder yours was missing Roxy! You didn't miss much – it's a cheap flimsy ribbon and doesn't do much for the dress!

  18. March 10, 2010 / 12:42 pm

    Anon @ 5:42 – It was such a pain to zip up the 6 that I stopped trying. Did not want to break anything.coco – I had high hopes for the dress, so it was rather disappointing. I like your attitude much better though. :)Hometown Queen – I kinda like the Bayan Dress too, not sure where I'd wear it but the colors are fab.Kathleen – Unfortunately I haven't tried on the Wind Catcher Dress. I saw that mannequin shot on my way out. I will be back at Anthro this weekend though so I will try it on then! (If it's still out, they rotate and sell through stock so quickly 'round these parts.)Yvonne – sad to hear you're crossing them off, but glad I could save you the effort of receiving items that may not work for you. Luckily Anthro has plenty of pretties that do look terrific. ;)GinaBean – oooooh, I'm adding the Looping Lanes Belt to my wishlist. 😀 Thank you! I like your idea for the belts.ali – LOL old lady dress?!? I personally think it's a little juvenile. Still love it though.Anonymous @ 7:15 – tis true, I can try on belts outside of the fitting room. I just think it's silly. When I go to the fitting rooms, it's try things on inside the room. Not to have to stand outside of it while giving things a shot.Traci – yes, agreed that tanks under strapless dresses don't normally work. But this time it looked like part of the dress to me. :)Annie – agreed, I hope it feels right together too. We shall see…Fiona – ha, well clearly someone needs to try it! :)Anonymous @ 12:02 – it's not a big deal but it's annoying (see my comment to Anon @ 7:15 above). What's to stop me from shoving a tee shirt or tank top in my back? They're about the same density. It's just me venting about an annoyance.Kim – awesome, I love those cheap and flimsy sashes. 😉

  19. March 10, 2010 / 1:19 pm

    Just wanted to add that there will be a guest review that includes the Wind Catcher Dress running tomorrow. 🙂

  20. April 25, 2010 / 8:58 pm

    I ended up buying the Bayan belt without a sash after it went on sale and I'm trying to figure out what kind of belt I should pair it with. Any suggestions? Anyone?

  21. Anonymous
    June 4, 2010 / 8:23 pm

    I too purchased a Bayan Dress that didn't have the sash. On a whim, I just started calling Anthro stores to see if any of them had any left over sashes. Sure enough, the first one I called (in Houston,TX) had an extra sash and they are mailing it to me free of charge. I love Anthropologie's customer service!!


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