Melissa's Reviews
All reviews by Melissa
TOP CONTRIBUTORTOP CONTRIBUTOR
19 reviews
Not a fan of this one.
I ended up taking this off half way through the party and changing into something in my suitcase. The top was just to itchy and scratchy, it was a constant distraction -- I was trying to keep my arms away from my sides at all times because it hurt. I also thought it was too short, and I don't typically mind a bit of a shorter dress. Something about it being so short but also so full on the bottom just looked like I was trying to hard to look like a teenager.
Member Fit Notes
Two-Tone Dress
HALSTON
Size Worn: 8
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 160lbs
Bust: 36B
Way more conservative looking than I had expected, but worked great.
I had thought the hi/low would be a bit risky since it looked so short in the picture, but the long part really pretty much came around the whole front of the dress unless you were sitting, so I feel like from many angles it just looked like a long, pink dress. The color was very soft and feminine. I am reasonably tall (5'9), but just ordered a regular length. Most of the time it recommends I get long length when available, but I never do anymore as it is always way too long. Maybe I'm just not into high enough shoes or something, but it would seem to me that someone would need to be at least 2 inches taller than me to need a long.
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Hi Lo Flirt Gown
Nicole Miller
Size Worn: 8R
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
I wish I had a picture -- I really loved this dress.
I usually do the second style for $25 thing when I order something for an event so I have something fun to wear to work. That's what I did with this. It may have been slightly on the short side for the office, but it was fun, chic, and super comfortable.
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Banana Pepper Dress
Mark & James by Badgley Mischka
Size Worn: 10
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Looked great with the dress I wore, but they were heavy on the ears. Couldn't wear them all night.
Looked great with the dress I wore, but they were heavy on the ears. Couldn't wear them all night.
Member Fit Notes
Mint Statement Earrings
kate spade new york accessories
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Very classy, and perfect for dancing all night long.
This dress worked really well for me for a formal wedding. The fabric looks structured, but it really isn't, so it is a perfect dress for people who really like to get into it on the dance floor (like me). I ordered a medium and a large, and, as seems to be the case a lot for me, I really didn't see much difference between the two. The dress is just overall very forgiving and easy to wear. I skipped a bra, but a standard strapless one would have worked just fine (it goes up high enough on the back). I was in the mood to be comfortable, although if I rented it again, I think I might try a bra to fill out the top a little. I have broad shoulders and I felt like the shoulder strap broke them up perfectly and minimized them. I'll look for more dresses like that. My shoulders always look huge in regular strapless dresses.
Member Fit Notes
Gold Metallica Pleat Gown
Milly
Size Worn: MR
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Very comfortable - felt like I was getting away with wearing a nightgown while looking dressed up.
I am 5'9 so went with the Long, but I would just get a regular next time. The dress dragged below my shoes and I had trouble walking comfortably. I typically avoid strapless because I think they look bad on small chested women, but this was better than most. The rouching by the bust line created some "volume," and since it wasn't tight there was no issue with armpit fat pouches, which I also think can be a problem with any strapless dress that fits tight across the chest.
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Flora Chiffon Gown
Badgley Mischka
Size Worn: 8L
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
This was fine for a regular work day, but not dressy enough to wear to a formal event.
Stretchy fabric made it an easy fit, although the cotton fabric looked a little cheaper than I would have hoped. There seemed to be a pretty noticeable difference between each of the sizes, but I could have gone either way once they were on. I went with the large to have a little more length.
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Lucy Dress
Pink Tartan
Size Worn: L
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
This was an easy fit and comfortable. I felt classy but fun. I'd rent it again.
Even though it wasn't tight, I did have trouble zipping without assistance, which was suboptimal since I was traveling for a work event with only a male coworker and had to ask him to handle it after struggling in my room for 20 minutes to avoid that option. Other than that, no complaints. I thought it made my waist look smaller and my boobs look bigger, which is never bad.
Member Fit Notes
Ballet Print Party Dress
Christian Siriano
Size Worn: 10
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Great dress and another easy fit.
Comfortable and an easy fit. Again, wish I'd taken a photo, but I'm getting bad at that. A dominant necklace is a must with this dress, though. There is too much openspace on the chest otherwise.
Member Fit Notes
Seeing Geometry Sheath
ERIN erin fetherston
Size Worn: 10
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Dress was an easy fit and looked classy. Wish I had taken photos. Glad I added the earrings.
Fabric is extremely forgiving. I ordered a 10 to be safe since the hips looked fitted in the picture and I am a "hippy" 8. I could easily have worn the 8, but the 10 looked fine too and I was content to have a little extra space.
Member Fit Notes
On A Roll Dress
Shoshanna
Size Worn: 10
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
I wore this to work; it was a bit on the short side, but was super cute and still professional.
Most of the reviews said this runs big, but I don't really agree. I had grabbed it as a second dress for $25 on my order, so I didn't get to ask for two sizes. DISCLAIMER, THIS MIGHT SOUND BITCHY, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO HELP: I almost ordered a 6 based on so many reviews saying it ran big, but was glad I didn't. It isn't body hugging, but especially at my height, I think it was important for it to fit with some room to move given the length, and I think that is the way it is meant to look. If it is tugging even in the slightest on your hips (as it is in some of the photos of people saying it "runs big"), it just wouldn't look classy -- not that kind of dress. I suppose I could have squeezed into the 6, but then it would have looked slutty not cute. I'm glad mine came with the waist tie. Apparently sometimes it doesn't (people probably lose them). I think it was important to cinch the waist. I wore it with a big blue necklace and really like the contrast. Actually got tons of compliments on the color, which I originally was skeptical of. Sorry not to have a picture. Since I only wore it to work, I forgot to think to snap one.
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Seashell Bateau Shift
Trina Turk
Size Worn: 8
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Cute and fun.
I really liked the bright colors on this, and it was fun to wear. However, I wish I'd gotten a size larger (I didn't bother with a second size on this one, but wish I had). Even though it was plenty full on the bottom, but the top was very fitted and I had to go without a bra to prevent gaping between the buttons. It ended up looking pretty cute anyway, but since I have somewhat smaller boobs, I usually like to have a bra with a little padding (especially with a full skirt like this), and my regular bras pushed it over the edge and made the buttons tug. It was just fine with no bra, but I would recommend that anyone with any decent sized boobs at all (or with a preference to fake it a little like me) go up a size.
Member Fit Notes
Dixie Ruffle Dress
Shoshanna
Size Worn: 8
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Loved the color, but it just didn't work.
This dress was just weird somehow. It gaped in some places, was pulling in others. The write up said it ran big, but I ended up wearing my second (bigger) size, which I basically never seem to end up having to do. The smaller size zippered easily, but the skirt just didn't lay nicely in either size, and seemed to look tuggy in the front even when it laid nicely from the back. And, the top gaped and hung loose in an odd way. It just looked like a sloppy wrap dress that I couldn't get to lay quite right. I wore it to work anyway, but I was self-conscious all day.
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Below Freezing Dress
Rachel Roy
Size Worn: 10
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Pretty and different.
I ended up wearing the size up in this one, which doesn't seem to happen a lot. I think the dress looks forgiving in the photo, so don't let it trick you. The strapless feature caused some pudge over the top in my regular size and it tugged a little on my hips. So glad I ordered the 10 as my second size and not the 6, which I almost did since it just looked like a simple wrap. Fabric is very light. I wore this in the winter and think it would probably be better for another season. Sorry, no one took pictures on this one.
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Monet Side Tie Dress
SACHIN BABI
Size Worn: 10
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
This worked, but wasn't a stand out.
I wore this to the Orchestra around Christmas. It worked for the occassion -- looked sharp, and put together in a slightly sexy way. Nothing about it makes you jump out of the crowd, though. Dress is a bit stretch and easy to wear.
Member Fit Notes
Kate Lace V Dress
Nicole Miller
Size Worn: M
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Totally different. People seemed to like it.
I was reasonably content with this dress. Wish I had gotten some kind of statement gold bracelet that took up a lot of space on my arm to bring out the gold at the top. It really is a bright green, too, which was fine for an event associated with St. Patrick's Day. On a different occassion, just make sure you are ready to stand out -- you can't miss this color. Fit was fine. I felt like it looked like it was pulling on the hips on a lot of people in their pictures, so I was prepared to go with my "size up." I think the recommendation said to go a size up if you are "hippy," which I would describe myself as, but based on the fit of this dress, I think they are thinking of people with more than just a little junk in the trunk. My regular size was fine and there was a noticeable difference betweent the two sizes. The other one would have looked a bit frumpy.
Member Fit Notes
Alpine Gold Trim Dress
Cut 25
Size Worn: 8
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Really had fun in this dress; it was fresh, flirty, and I got tons of compliments.
Dress has stretch to it, so its a very easy fit. I felt like it laid perfectly. I'm somewhat smaller in the chest, so I didn't bother with a bra. I could see this dress being problematic for a larger chested person. Some of the comments suggestion discontent with the color, but I loved it. Certainly has plenty of green in it, but my event was a St. Paddy's Day party. I'm 5'9. I thougth the length was fine, but someone much taller would probably think this is too short.
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Spearmint Sequin Cami Dress
Theia
Size Worn: 8
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Worked just fine, but I didn't love it.
No seam on the shoulders was a nice touch for me since I have somewhat broader shoulders. At 5'9, though, even with the longer sleeves, I felt like the length was a bit slutty. Given the general conservative look of the dress in the photos, I thought it would work for a party at my law firm (and it generally did), but I was conscious the whole night that anyone who thought I was wearing something a little too short for the office was probably right. Sorry no one took any pictures at this event.
Member Fit Notes
Key To Success Dress
Trina Turk
Size Worn: 8
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B
Exceeded my expectations; everyone loved it.
At 5'9, 165, atheletic body, I normally wear an 8 or 10, depending on the designer, but sometimes I need a 6 and sometimes I need a 12. Anyway, I felt like both sizes I ordered (8 and 10) would have worked just fine, and almost considered trying to think of an outing where I wouldn't see the same people for another night on my 4 day run to wear the other one. Although the angle of this picture makes it look a little "sack-like" on me, it really didn't fit that way. I wish I had a front on picture. Though the dress was jut the right length (shortish, but not so short as to be slutty.)
Member Fit Notes
Fifth Avenue Showstopper Dress
Badgley Mischka
Size Worn: 8
Usual Size: 8
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 165lbs
Bust: 36B