Martha's Reviews
All reviews by Martha
TOP CONTRIBUTORTOP CONTRIBUTOR
18 reviews
Fun, with pockets
The dress is really pretty, and was great for me, as mother of the bride at the bridal shower. The picture was taken while I cracked a joke about putting my hands in the pockets to show them off. I loved the different shades of blue and sparkly silver. The sparkle doesn't show that much on the website photos. I paired the dress with silver ballet flats to dress it down a little for a daytime event. Four stars because of a couple of challenges: had to select a specific bra with straps narrow enough to fit in the lingerie straps. Even with that, the dress is cut low and wide in the back, so I had to use fashion tape to keep the straps concealed in back. I used this picture because my back is shown in the mirror, where I noticed that my bra is still showing. Should probably have gone with a strapless. The skirt of the dress is very poufy because it has a layer of tulle. There was a lot of fabric with the pleating detail, so the tulle made the skirt stand out more than I would have preferred. But, I got loads of compliments.
Member Fit Notes
Blue Gradient Dress
Theia
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Beautiful but too small
Couldn't wear this dress, as it ran small. The color was beautiful as was the lace. You should be staright and narrow to look good in this dress.
Member Fit Notes
Blue Ainsley Corded Lace Dress
Diane von Furstenberg
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Endless compliments!
I wore this to a business gala. It was appropriately covered up, but still made me look fantastic. I would give it 5 stars, but as others have said, the black lining hangs a little longer than the lace over-dress, so I had to use copious amounts of fashion tape for a temporary hem. I wore a regular bra, not sure why the stylist's notes suggest no bra, because there is definitely no support built into the dress. My guess is that the suggestion is made because the dress shows details of everything underneath. Spanx showed too much at the top, I wore control top panty hose, because the evening turned out cooler than expected. I wanted to also review the new shipping and return garment bag my order arrived in: FANTASTIC! RTR has done away with the cardboard box, which is great for the environment. The dress shipped in a terrific garment bag that folded into three sections, with separate shoe and accessories compartments, and zipped with shoulder length handles! Made transporting the dress from home to office so easy, and kept everything organized. The garment bag is also the return "envelope." I applaude the reduction in waste, RTR!
Member Fit Notes
Persian Lilac Sheath
ERIN erin fetherston
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Flattering but impossible to zip
My husband liked this dress better than the one I chose to wear to my business related semi-formal event. The problem was the side zipper. My husband would not be with me when I was changing for the event, and the side zipper was impossible to zip on my own. Additionally, although a one-shoulder garment, the side that did have a shoulder also had a very high arm hole. It was uncomfortable in my underarm. This dress is best for people with narrow hips.
Member Fit Notes
Earl Grey Peplum
Carmen Marc Valvo
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 160lbs
Bust: 36D
Colorful and fun
I wore this dress to a semi-formal work related function. The compliments started as soon as I removed my coat! The fabric is bright and fun and the style was conservative enough for the business environment. The dress has lingerie straps to keep a regular bra from showing. The only reasons why I didn't give it five stars are that I'm not a great fan of the selvedge seam of the skirt being a feature at the waist or of the darts at the bust being exposed on the outside. The darts at the bust are detailed to look like a continuation of the gathered skirt. I think this dress runs a little large, which was good for me as I seem to be between sizes.
Member Fit Notes
Impressionist Dress
Carmen Marc Valvo
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 160lbs
Bust: 36D
Super flattering!
I wore this dress for a cocktail night on a cruise. The black side panels were really flattering and slimming, and the dress looked really good with silver and opal jewelry It packed easily and came out of the suitcase wrinkle-free. I wore a standard bra. The only negative, not really visible in the picture, is that the darts at the bust came to a very exaggerated point. I was concerned that it looked like large nips. If not for this, the dress would have gotten 5 stars.
Member Fit Notes
Different Strokes Sheath
Theia
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 157lbs
Bust: 36D
Young at heart!
This dress looked great and made me look and feel younger. I did need to wear a low cut bra with thin straps. The dress is equipped with snapped loops to align bra straps with dress. The dress holds its shape well without being heavy. It was in a suitcase for three nights while I was in transit, but came out looking great. I wore it on a cruise night when the dress code was "cocktail attire" and felt very glamorous. It would be 5 stars but I don't think it will fit a much larger bust and it exposed some flab that I didn't know I had. It came just below my knees and I'm 5'-4". The dress just needed some nice earrings to let it shine! I wore jet pendant earrings not really visible with the stair pattern behind. And it has pockets...
Member Fit Notes
Golden Garden Dress
Jill Jill Stuart
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 157lbs
Bust: 36D
Sizing is inconsistent., small chest required.
Before I went to RTR for a fitting on a Saturday, I had a pre-existing dress order for the following Wednesday. When my dresses arrived on Wednesday and didn't fit, I didn't hesitate to accept this dress as a replacement, since I had tried it on just a few days earlier. The 10 was tight in the store, so I ordered the 12. When the 12 arrived on Thursday, it was just as tight as the 10 had been. It barely zipped and was really tight across the chest, I'm barely a C cup now. The hem had some sort of stiffener in it that made the skirt stick out in a funny way. I put a sequined black sweater over the top to conceal how tight it was on my chest and went to my event. Not one complement the entire evening, which is unusual for a RTR dress.
Member Fit Notes
Rocket In the Sky Dress
HALSTON
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 160lbs
Bust: 38C
Not up to usual Badgley Mischka Standards
Between the time I ordered the dress and the delivery date, I was at RTR to try on dresses for another occasion. All the Badgley Mischka dresses I tried on in size 12 were too large, so my stylist suggested we add the size 10 to my existing order, just in case the 12 was too large in this dress. Imagine my surprise when the 12 was too small! It was even tight on my hips, and I wear size 10 pants. Further, the fabric was very thin and light weight. The dress wrinkled just trying it on and taking it off. It is stretchable fabric but everything underneath could be seen. Not a success.
Member Fit Notes
Turn Over Sheath
Badgley Mischka
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 160lbs
Bust: 38C
Not what I was looking for
This dress was sent as a second replacement option for the dress I rented that was damaged when returned by the previous renter. This dress was not appropriate for the event. Hard to see in the website photos, but it has a gold Lurex thread running through it randomly. Sparkly wasn't what I was looking for. It also seemed kind of cheap looking.
Member Fit Notes
Sass Meets Class Dress
David Meister
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 160lbs
Bust: 38C
Too long and too big
I got this dress as a back up, and wore my first choice dress. I've wanted to try this dress, but couldn't have worn it if I wanted to. It was way to long on my 5'-4" tall body. It's true that the fit notes say it's knee length on someone 5'-7" and it was at least 3" below my knees. Additionally it was big at the waist and hips.
Member Fit Notes
Angle Up Sheath
Elie Tahari
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Good fit and flattering
I wore this to a special business event, where something fairly conservative but fun was appropriate. I got the 14 and the 12 as a back up, since I've been losing weight. I could zip the 12 but thought it looked too tight. The 14 was still flattering and created curves. I wore spanx; I think unless you have a completely flat stomach, you will want to as well. I also wore a strapless bra, even though other reviewers said they could wear a regular bra; my bra straps were too wide.
Member Fit Notes
Green Illusionist Sheath
Badgley Mischka
Size Worn: 14R
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 168lbs
Bust: 38D
Even better in person!
I had a great time tonight wearing this dress! Lots of compliments; my husband insisted on the five-star rating. The dress is very comfortable and was light weight enough for a summer wedding in the south. I used a single piece of two-sided fashion tape to keep the sleeveless side of the dress in place for the evening, and it didn't slip once throughout lots of dancing. A standard strapless bra worked fine. I'm a little bigger on the top than bottom, so someone with a little more curves could still wear this size. Ignore the silver chain on my left shoulder, that's my evening bag that I didn't remember to take off for the photo.
Member Fit Notes
Black Truffle Dress
Carmen Marc Valvo
Size Worn: 14
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Heavy sweater-like dress
This dress is too heavy for a summer event, and not dressy enough for an evening wedding. I think it might be great for a winter morning wedding, or a charity lunch or business event, where you want to look professional, but not too embellished. It looked good with a black suit jacket I had in the closet. It needs spanx or other smoother, because the knit shows every bump.
Member Fit Notes
Hex in the City Dress
Pink Tartan
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Pretty color, cool weather dress
I tried this dress but didn't wear it. The color is beautiful and the fit is good in the body, but a little tight in the arms. Also, since I'm only 5'-4", the sleeves were long on me, coming below the elbows. The skirt came down to my knees. This dress is fully lined under the lace and has extra layers of tulle and lining to give the skirt fullness. It also seemed like it would be too hot for the event, a summer wedding in Virginia. I think it would be good for a cool weather event, where you need to dress conservatively.
Member Fit Notes
Lace Ella Dress
ML Monique Lhuillier
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Too much cleavage
I wanted to love this dress! The material is beautiful, with a dark silvery floral pattern and very dark blue "leaves" on a black background. But, it was too tight in the chest and much too low cut for me. Even my husband, who is not impartial about breasts, said it was too much. It might work better for someone who is a C or less and taller than me, but the V is so deep, it went below the curve under the breasts. It would have ruined the look to have to wear a cami under it.
Member Fit Notes
Jasmine Rainwater Dress
HALSTON
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Not worn, tight sleeves
This was my back-up dress. I tried it on at the showroom and it sort of fit, so I thought I should get it in case my first choice didn't fit (I didn't get to try it on). The dress sent seemed to fit tighter than the sample tried on one week earlier. The sleeves don't seem to be sized properly, they were much too tight at the upper arm. They were so tight that I couldn't get the shoulders of the dress up onto my shoulders. Also, the cut of the dress body iseemed very straight top to bottom, so wasn't very flattering to my figure. Since my first choice fit and was more figure flattering I went with it.
Member Fit Notes
In And Out Of Love Dress
Carmen Marc Valvo
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C
Successful first rental!
I don't really know if this dress runs true to size, I've recently lost a lot of weight and had not tried on dresses since before the diet. The dress fit me with a little room in the hips, so it was very comfortable for my event, since I had a lot of sitting and standing. I had to wear a nu-bra, but the dress did all the work. Even though the dress does not have a low neckline, (the lace fills in) there was still really noticeable cleavage. I was nervous that it might not be appropriate but it was my husband's business function and he didn't think it was too much. I gave the dress only 4 stars because it is absolutely impossible to finish dressing by yourself. My husband had to be at the event hours before me, so I had to struggle into the dress myself. I had to turn it around back to front to zip it and hook the lower hook. I could reach the upper hooks (there are three) but I couldn't get them to stay hooked when doing it myself. After I got the top one and started on the second, the top one came undone. I ended up going to the event only partly hooked up and wore my coat until I was able to enlist some help to hook me up. After that, the dress was great, and I received several compliments.
Member Fit Notes
Never Let You Go Sheath
ML Monique Lhuillier
Size Worn: 14
Usual Size: 14
Height: 5' 4"
Weight: 162lbs
Bust: 36C