Jessica's Reviews
All reviews by Jessica
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31 reviews
So many compliments!
This dress was such a surprise, from the quality (very high, for such a low price point) to the pattern of the fabric. I was skeptical about the color and the pattern, but figured I'd take a risk. I'm glad a did! The chartreuse color would ordinarily have scared me, but offset by the dark nude it read as almost a neutral pattern. The quality of the fabric itself felt great and was much heavier than anticipated. This is a great option for shoulder season--spring or fall--when you want something with substance but don't want to wear wool or knit. Based on all the reviews, I ordered a 4 and a 6, and expected to have to size up into the 6. However, I found that the dress ran very true to size, and went with the 4. The arms were the snuggest part, but I even felt like I would have liked to try a 2; the top of the dress felt a little bigger than necessary. All told, I was very happy with this dress and received so many compliments on it throughout the night!
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Mind Maze Shift
Tracy Reese
Size Worn: 4
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Perfect for spring
What a fabulous, elegant and feminine dress! I wore it to a benefit that has no official dress code, and attire is all over the map; from pants and work clothes to black tie gowns. This dress was the perfect in-between; not overly formal, but still incredibly chic and just sexy enough not to offend in a fairly conservative crowd. The color is as it appears on the model, a lovely peach; I often shy away from pastels, but this peach was punchy enough that it flattered my olive skin tone. I'm 5'2, and with 3-4" heels, the length was perfect for a relatively conservative event; it fell just below the knee. I'd only note that the fit could potentially be challenging: I was probably in between sizes, and went smaller, with the 40 rather than larger, with the 42. Had the top of the 42 been a bit smaller/more fitted, I might have gone that route as the 42 left a little more room around the hips. The dress does have some give, but not a ton of stretch. So, while it looked great, it was just a little more snug than I'm used to. The dress is definitely cut for a long, lean person. I was surprised it worked as well as it did on me, but would caution even curvier women before renting this one. I accessorized with my own jewelry, and the Whiting & Davis gilded lattice clutch, which was fabulous! It's a fairly neutral, understated gold, and fits perfectly in the palm of your hand while still offering enough room for two smartphones, lipstick and a lip gloss. Since I don't have too many occasions for a gold clutch, I'd definitely rent that bag again!
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Tuck It Away Sheath
Viktor & Rolf
Size Worn: 40
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Simple, but bold and modern
I paired this cuff with the minimalist Marco Bologna black sheath dress, and it was a great look. The clean, modern lines of the cuff complimented the clean modern lines of the dress. I give it four out of five stars for two reasons: 1) It was a little large (I have small wrists) and it kept flipping over. It seemed like its default position was with the underside (hinge) on top of my wrist, and the attractive part of the cuff underneath, where no one could see it. 2) I wore this cuff to a work event, where I was meeting and shaking hands with a lot of people. Everytime I shook someone's hand, the hinge would flap open and snap shut. It was loud and distracting, and sometimes a little embarrassing. I'd wear it again, but to an event in familiar company, where I wouldn't be putting it through so many firm handshakes!
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Cutting Edge Cuff
RJ Graziano
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
So simple...but so chic!
I've rented a lot of dresses over the years, and this dress was among my biggest surprises. The detailing is lovely (the grosgrain detail on the exposed zipper is actually repeated at the shoulders; it's subtle, but interesting, and adds a touch of femininity to a very modern style). Perhaps it was my decision to go with the 4 (instead of the 6), but I was surprised by how much more of a shape this dress has in person. On the model, it looks pretty boxy, so my expectations were low. But on me, the overall look was much more fitted. It was very short, even on my 5'2" frame; when I was standing it hit about 2" above my knee, but when I sat, it really hiked up (something to watch out for if you're planning to wear spanx or control top hose). This dress is very well made--the material is heavy (it's definitely not a summer LBD, and would be more comfortable in spring, fall, or even winter with a pair of opaque stockings). In terms of sizing, I wore my true size, but it definitely runs slightly small. If you're debating which size to choose for your back-up, definitely size up. The only real issue to be aware of is that the pockets aren't really functional. On both of the sizes I received, the lining of the pockets was split or shredded on the inside of the dress. It didn't affect the appearance of the dress, and it was tight enough that loading up my pockets wasn't an option to begin with, but if you were thinking about sizing up and throwing your phone or lip gloss in a pocket, it might not be possible. Overall, I was thrilled with this rental, and would even consider buying this dress if I saw it on sale. It's incredibly versatile; perfect for those occasions where you're unsure of the dress code and don't want to feel over- or -under-dressed. I wore it to a celebratory work event, and felt perfectly appropriate. I accessorized it with a statement cuff from RTR and my own black pearl drop earrings. Super simple, but very elegant!
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Such A Square Sheath
MARCOBOLOGNA
Size Worn: 40
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Unexpectedly lovely
I'm not a huge Lily Pulitzer fan, and was surprised that I even liked this dress enough to rent it. It ended up being a great choice, and I received so many compliments on it throughout the evening! It's a great dress for "shoulder seasons"--spring, fall--because the material is heavy enough to give it substance without feeling too wintry, and the style is delicate enough without making it feel summery. It definitely runs a little large, so size down if you're on the fence. My only word of caution is that the embroidered/lace detailing at the top is not as much of an illusion as it appears in the photographs, unless you're very fair skinned. It's more of a mesh overlay on top of ivory fabric. If you're fair, this will look pretty close to your natural skin tone and have an illusion effect. My skin tone is a little darker, and it didn't look like an illusion. It was still nice, just not exactly what I'd expected based on the photos.
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Derby Girl Dress
Lilly Pulitzer
Size Worn: 2
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Such an easy and elegant dress!
I don't often rent LBDs, but found myself in a bind and figured that I couldn't go too far wrong with this dress. I was right...you really can't go very far wrong with this one. It's an easy fit, and the heavy-ish material is very flattering and supportive. The seaming details and exposed zipper are a nice touch. I styled it with opaque stockings, tall boots, and the Adiba Kaur "A La Carte" necklace, and it was a perfect look for a fall party.
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Flip Switch Dress
HALSTON
Size Worn: 4
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Beautiful color, strange cut
I wanted to love this dress--the color is beautiful and the draping looked great in photos--but unfortunately, I wasn't able to wear it because the cut just didn't work on my body. The bottom portion of the dress, from the hips down, seems to run true to size, but the top was disproportionately large and loose. I rented a 4, which fit me on the bottom, but was way too big on top. The 2 was too snug on bottom, but better fitting on top. In both sizes, the waist didn't nip in as nicely as I wanted it to, and the draping looked messy rather than modern. Both sizes had the same overall effect of looking ill-fitting and making me appear larger than I am. That said, it might be good for someone with a true apple shape--large on top and very slim on the bottom. It was worth a shot, but sadly, not for me.
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PB And Jelly Dress
Thakoon
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Business in the front, party in the back!
I recently wore this dress to a wedding rehearsal dinner. It was absolutely perfect! Just sexy enough, without being revealing or showy. It looks fairly conservative from the front, but I got so many compliments on it once I turned around! I had actually rented another dress, which became unavailable the day of my delivery. RTR upgraded my order and sent me this dress instead (their stylists must have used my rental history to select something I'd love, because this was a winner off the bat!). I was a bit wary at first, because chiffon has no give. The 36 fit (but just barely), but I went with the 38 for comfort. It fell perfectly over my hips, with no pulling or puckering. I felt wonderful in it, and may even rent it again, I enjoyed wearing it so much (that is, unless it goes on retirement sale first!).
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Of Royal Status Dress
Carlos Miele
Size Worn: 38
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Elegant and easy
I rented this dress to wear as a bridesmaid in a recent wedding. It definitely fit the bill, and was perfect for an active day of picture-taking and a long night on the dance floor. The dress is true-to-size, and even offered more room in the hips than I was expecting. It's also great for shorter women--the regular length was perfect on me with 3" heels. My only issues with the dress were matters of personal taste: The lace edging doesn't stand up quite as perfectly as it does on the model, and required some attention throughout the night to ensure it was pulled up (it tended to scrunch down at the edge of the dress, and looked a little funny--sometimes like hair coming off the edge of the dress). I didn't love the long velvet belt/bow, which felt disproportionately long on my short frame, so I styled the dress with a vintage brooch covering the snap where the belt would ordinarily clip in. And one big caveat: There is a side slit in the dress that isn't really visible in the photos; it's very high. Not inappropriately high, but high enough that my usual, thigh-length Spanx were very visible and I had to find shorter, boy-short style shapewear. All told though, a fabulous and super comfortable dress for a black-tie affair...and most importantly, the bride was thrilled!
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Lace Surprise Gown
Robert Rodriguez Black Label
Size Worn: 4R
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
So many unexpected compliments!
I very rarely rent accessories, but couldn't resist this big, chunky necklace. I wore it with the Tracy Reese "Grand Opera Sheath," to a celebratory business dinner. I thought the contrast of the white necklace against the high neckline of the solid navy dress would add some visual interest, and it did it in spades. I received so many compliments on the necklace, from women and, unexpectedly, from a number of men who rarely notice accessories. It's a fantastic statement piece; perfect for adding a little edge, fun and contrast to a dark, conservative look!
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Carte Blanche Necklace
Adia Kibur
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Conservative, with just the right amount of edge!
I rented this dress for a celebratory business dinner, and wore it with the "carte blanche" necklace. It was perfect! I typically don't rent Tracy Reese styles, as they seem a bit to traditionally feminine for my tastes, but this dress was super modern and remarkably edgy (for a navy, knee-length cocktail dress). The fabric is actually neoprene, and the dress fit like a glove--or rather, a wetsuit. It looks tiny on the hanger, but has a ton of stretch and fits in all the right places. The exposed zipper and V-back are nice touches, that make it even more interesting from the back. One word of caution: The dress truly is a trumpet cut. While the bottom looks like it has a gentle flare on the model in the picture, it's extremely structured. A very cool, modern look, but the picture don't really do the lines of the dress justice.
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Grand Opera Sheath
Tracy Reese
Size Worn: 4
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Subtle yet sexy
This dress is fabulous! It's such an easy fit; extremely comfortable yet also quite sexy, without being too obvious. The fabric has a nude tortoiseshell pattern, overlaid with clear sequins, which give the dress a slick, shimmery look. I wore this dress to a cocktail party before a wedding, and again to a bachelorette party. It was perfect for both occasions, as it's neutral enough to be dressed up or down. It does run slightly large--I comfortably wear a 4 in most dresses, but the 2 fit perfectly.
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Desert Sequin Sun Dress
Rebecca Taylor NYC
Size Worn: 2
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
My favorite rental!
I've rented a fair bit in recent years, and this dress tops my list of favorite rentals. It ran true to size, and fit absolutely perfectly. It has a ton of structure, and the peplums sat exactly where they were intended to, and had the desired effect (I'm always a little worried about peplum styles, as I'm short and curvy). They didn't add bulk at the hips, and instead added very subtle structure. The dress is beautifully made, and the khaki color was the perfect neutral to show off some bold jewelry. I paired it with a chunky turquoise necklace and the color really popped. I'd rent this dress again...and again and again!
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Strike a Pose Sheath
Cushnie
Size Worn: 4
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Amazing!
This dress is absolutely amazing. If I could find it to purchase it, I'd do it in a heartbeat! The fit is fabulous--it runs true to size with great structure. I have broad shoulders, and loved that it gave them a little definition without added bulk. The color is quite vibrant--a beautiful orange-y red--and isn't for those looking to fly below the radar. I was a little worried that on my short frame, this dress would be too long, but with a platform heel, it fell perfectly at my knee. Very sexy, without giving too much away. I wore it to a bridal shower, but thought it would also transition perfectly from work to evening.
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Coral Origami Sheath
Rachel Roy
Size Worn: 4
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
This dress is not for short, curvy women! While it ran true to size on top (the bust of the dress looked great!) the draping throughout the skirt hit my hips in all the wrong places. As a result, I ended up not wearing the dress at all. That said, it would probably look great on a taller woman with a full bust and narrow hips.
Member Fit Notes
I rented this dress as my back-up style for a bridal shower, and boy am I glad I did! My first choice style was a terrible fit, but this dress was perfit. It's bright, fun, and best of all, incredibly comfortable. If I had to give one criticism, it would be the same one I have for most Tibi styles--they tend to be cut slightly larger/more generously on top than on bottom. It looked beautiful on, but if I owned it, I might consider altering the shoulders just a tad. Overall, this is a good choice, particularly for petite women who tend to be afraid of prints (it's not totally overwhelming on a small frame). I wish this style came in other colors (navy, oyster, black) for use year-round!
Member Fit Notes
This is dress is flattering and quite forgiving...but be warned, for many it could be a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen! This dress would be great for a woman with a large bust. I've got curves, and am usually a healthy 2/small 4, but in this dress, the 0 was even a bit loose. The top half (wrap portion) seemed to be cut very big, and even after pinning it in the front and back to keep it closed (and using some double-sided tape to boot), the wide shoulders still proved problematic and kept slipping off. While this dress was nice to have for a night, I'd advise other relatively small women to approach it with caution.
Member Fit Notes
This dress is stunning and beautifully made. A word of caution though: It runs very narrow through the hips. It also felt a bit long-waisted and might be best suited for a taller woman. I wore one-size up from my usual to accommodate my hips, with the result that the dress was slightly big on top. Short, curvy women might think twice about renting this one.
Member Fit Notes
An easy fit, but a lot of look
I wore this dress to the Belmont Stakes, and for the occasion, it did the trick. It was an easy fit--true to size and quite comfortable. However, I have a relatively large bust, and even on me, the bust was a bit big. I had to pin it together to ensure there were no wardrobe malfunctions. I'm also short, and the dress (even with heels) fell just below the knee--a little longer than I typically wear. All that said, it was a fun experiment in style, texture and color for an afternoon at the races.
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Fuchsia Floral Tafetta Dress
Lela Rose
Size Worn: 4
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
This dress is tricky, and the pictures don't really capture what makes it a tough fit. The slip underneath the sheer organza skirt is, essentially, a pencil skirt. If you have hips and fill that layer out, it looks a bit strange under the sheer, flouncy organza skirt. And when I say flouncy, I mean flouncy. The skirt had much more material than the image indicates, and gave the dress that 1950's housewife look. Neither of those issues were dealbreakers though. What clinched it for me was the sash around the waist, which you can't really see clearly in the pictures. It's VERY large/wide and VERY loose (relative to the cut of the actual waist of the dress underneath it, which is true to size). With this style of dress, I'd expect the look to be that of a cinched in, accentuated waist. Instead, the droopy, ill-fitting sash actually made my waist look much larger than it is. I rented a Small (I'm normally a 2-4), and while dress fit fine overall, that sash clinched it. Oh well, not every dress can be a winner for everyone. Thank goodness I had a great Tibi back-up!
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Mauve It Dress
alldressedup
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
Lots of compliments!
This is a lovely dress--I wore it to a dinner party in Miami, and it was perfect for the occasion. The draping and ruching hides a multitude of sins, but still shows off every curve. While the dress runs pretty true to size, the bust and collar are a little large. This dress would be particularly good for someone with a large bust.
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Melon Halter Dress
Yigal Azrouël
Size Worn: 1
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
I rented this dress as my back-up style for a bridal shower, and boy am I glad I did! My first choice style was a terrible fit, but this dress was perfit. It's bright, fun, and best of all, incredibly comfortable. If I had to give one criticism, it would be the same one I have for most Tibi styles--they tend to be cut slightly larger/more generously on top than on bottom. It looked beautiful on, but if I owned it, I might consider altering the shoulders just a tad. Overall, this is a good choice, particularly for petite women who tend to be afraid of prints (it's not totally overwhelming on a small frame). I wish this style came in other colors (navy, oyster, black) for use year-round!
Member Fit Notes
Aruba Splash Dress
Tibi
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
A seriously hot dress...and comfortable to boot! I typically wear a Small (2-4), but went with the XS in this dress. It was sexy without being too obvious, and the ruching/draping was surprisingly flattering. I particularly liked that it gave the backless/low-back effect while still allowing for necessary "support." Great dress!
Member Fit Notes
This dress is fabulous! Super flattering and extremely comfortable. As previous reviewers have noted, it feels like a very soft, stretchy t-shirt and the ruching hides a multitude of sins. The only reason it's a four-star dress and not a five-star dress for me is that it stretches out a bit as you wear it, especially if you're dancing, or adjusting it over the course of the night.
Member Fit Notes
This dress is fabulously flattering. However, as the previous reviewer notes, it does run quite small. I typically wear a 2-4 and had to go with the Medium in this style (while I managed to squeeze myself into the Small, it was very constraining). The lack of a hook-and-eye clasp at the top of the zipper definitely makes it that much more difficult to get on. That said, if you can make it work, it's worth the headache. The fit is incredible--the dress lengthens and slims, and the layering/ruching hides a multitude of sins. I can't remember the last time I got so many compliments on a dress.
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Plaza Dress
Preen
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
This is dress is flattering and quite forgiving...but be warned, for many it could be a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen! This dress would be great for a woman with a large bust. I've got curves, and am usually a healthy 2/small 4, but in this dress, the 0 was even a bit loose. The top half (wrap portion) seemed to be cut very big, and even after pinning it in the front and back to keep it closed (and using some double-sided tape to boot), the wide shoulders still proved problematic and kept slipping off. While this dress was nice to have for a night, I'd advise other relatively small women to approach it with caution.
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Champagne Celebration Dress
Ports 1961
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
This dress is fabulous! Super flattering and extremely comfortable. As previous reviewers have noted, it feels like a very soft, stretchy t-shirt and the ruching hides a multitude of sins. The only reason it's a four-star dress and not a five-star dress for me is that it stretches out a bit as you wear it, especially if you're dancing, or adjusting it over the course of the night.
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To Dye For Dress
Helmut Lang
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
This dress is not for short, curvy women! While it ran true to size on top (the bust of the dress looked great!) the draping throughout the skirt hit my hips in all the wrong places. As a result, I ended up not wearing the dress at all. That said, it would probably look great on a taller woman with a full bust and narrow hips.
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Perfect Party Dress
Tibi
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
This dress is stunning and beautifully made. A word of caution though: It runs very narrow through the hips. It also felt a bit long-waisted and might be best suited for a taller woman. I wore one-size up from my usual to accommodate my hips, with the result that the dress was slightly big on top. Short, curvy women might think twice about renting this one.
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Nothing but Nude Diagonal Dress
Christian Siriano
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
This dress is a no-brainer--it fit true to size and was extremely flattering. I wore it to a dinner party and it was perfect for the occasion (conservative enough to go anywhere, but with just enough edge from the lace and the racerback).
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Lace Tank Mini
Robert Rodriguez Collection
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D
A seriously hot dress...and comfortable to boot! I typically wear a Small (2-4), but went with the XS in this dress. It was sexy without being too obvious, and the ruching/draping was surprisingly flattering. I particularly liked that it gave the backless/low-back effect while still allowing for necessary "support." Great dress!
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Asymmetric mini
Yigal Azrouël
Usual Size: 4
Height: 5' 2"
Bust: 32D