A beautiful body-con dress. The picture does it justice. The material is thin and skin-tight, so it will show every curve, bulge, etc. I opted not to wear it because it was for a work party and the fact that it looks painted on did not seem to match the occasion.

Abito Midi Dress

Fuzzi

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Size Worn: S

Usual Size: 4

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 135lbs

Bust: 34B

This dress looks much better in the photo. I ended up not wearing it. The material is VERY thick, with heavy ribbing, and overall the dress is so heavy as to be uncomfortable. The neckline is cut wide at the shoulders, creating the need to choose the right bra or go braless. Also, the shape of the neckline is not flattering - usually I like square necks, but the "bump" at the bottom of the square is not flattering at all. The length hits mid-calf, which is awkward.

Square Neck Ribbed Knit Midi Dress

Jason Wu x RTR

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Size Worn: S

Usual Size: 4

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 135lbs

Bust: 34B

This is a show-stopper and I loved it, got tons of compliments, and appreciated that it was pretty comfortable for a "formal" dress. However, there are definitely some things to know about it before you rent: MATERIAL: the material is a heavy, crisp cotton. You will definitely need to have it pressed before you wear it. It does wrinkle easily, and I was worried about having to hike it up to use the bathroom, but it handled that pretty well. Because it's cotton, it can be dressed down to a more casual look (I saw other reviewers mentioning that they wore sneakers, and now I can see how that would work!) but the overall style and length also make it perfect for a more formal evening. FIT: I am usually a size small in dresses, but I thought the armholes on this were unusually narrow, almost to the point of being uncomfortable. The medium backup size was better in the arms, but then the back gapped a lot, so I stuck with the small. The cut of the dress is A-line, so it's a little more fitted on top but below the ribs it starts to flare out. LENGTH: I was surprised that the length was an inch and a half off the floor. Last year I rented another Staud dress in a similar style, with a sheer overlay which was way too long even with heels. I ended up wearing flats with this dress, although a heel would have worked. UNDERGARMENTS: On the bottom, anything goes, since the dress flares out (no pantylines, etc.) On top, since the back is low, you'll need to make a choice: braless (but the thick material may be too rough and scratchy), a bra with a very low back, or pasties (my choice). OTHER: because of the dramatic back bow, it's a good idea to wear your hair up so the bow can be seen. The back is low cut, but not extremely low, so you don't have to worry about showing too much skin, if that is a concern. This dress has pockets, but I didn't want to risk creating wrinkles by using them.

Ilana Dress

Staud

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Size Worn: S

Usual Size: 4

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 135lbs

Bust: 34B

Great dress! Very forgiving: the see-through overlay hides bulges, bumps, veiny legs (sorry for TMI!). Wore it for a work party and wanted something on the more conservative side yet not too stuffy. This was perfect. The length of the skirt/dress underneath is shorter than I would normally wear, but with the black overlay, it was not too revealing. It was cold outside, and I wore black ankle boots with 1.5-inch heels. The length was fine-not too long or short. It was very comfortable, easy to pack and looked great right out of the bag, no steaming or pressing needed. I wore little stick-on bra things but, depending on your cleavage and comfort level, you may be able to do without anything. If you do want a bra, I recommend strapless or stick-ons since a bra strap would show through the material and there are already "seams" where the sleeves attach to the body of the dress, so bra straps would make it very busy up there.

Hanna Aretha Dress

AllSaints

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Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 4

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 135lbs

Bust: 34B

Overall, this is a beautiful dress that can fit a variety of occasions. The photos do not do it justice. Pros: The colors are rich jewel tones of blue, purple, and green, and the gold pattern throughout is much brighter in person. It does not wrinkle easily, so it's easy to pack and wear right out of the suitcase or bag. The fitted middle section works well if (like me) you have a smaller torso but curvier butt and hips -- it's a flattering cut. The long sleeves are translucent and 3/4 length, so it does not feel like it is heavy coverage. The rest of the dress has a translucent overlay with a liner, so it has a nice flowy, feel (the photos make it seem dark but it has a brighter look in person). Cons: the v-neck is very deep, and I don't have the cleavage to fill it so I needed a safety pin. Also, the "v" in the back is also very deep and so my regular bra showed. A stick-on bra may be the best option. Finally, it is very long. I'm 5'6 and with 2 1/2 inch heels it just barely cleared the floor. I could dance in it without stepping on it, but if you are shorter and/or don't want heels, it would be too long.

Madeline Gown

Shoshanna

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Size Worn: 4R

Usual Size: 4

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 135lbs

Bust: 34B

Overall: I think this would work best for a summer or warm weather event due to the fabric being thin and bright floral; I ended up not wearing it to the April wedding I attended as it was a very cold evening and I had another dress option. Pros: You can wear a regular bra/underwear! I like that the slit is in the front middle and surrounded by ruffles, and just goes to the knees, making it a bit more modest compared to other dresses that cut all the way up the leg. The v-neck was also reasonable, not overly low. Overall, a very fun and feminine dress. Cons: The fit from the hips to the knees is very tight and not stretchy, and the 4 felt like I was shrink wrapped so the backup size 6 was a better fit.

Evita Maxi

AMUR

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Size Worn: 6R

Usual Size: 4

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 135lbs

Bust: 34B