I wore this to a beach wedding with nude heels and a gold chain shoulder necklace. I got a ton of compliments and felt really comfortable all evening, indoors and out, whether standing, sitting, or dancing. A cropped navy cardigan was a perfect addition once it got chilly. The dresses arrived in really poor condition, which spoiled what otherwise would have been another excellent RTR experience. I'll save that info for the end of my review. What I loved: - The pattern and colors are really beautiful. - The dress is lightweight and very comfortable. - It's easy to accessorize and match shoes. - The pockets are a sweet touch. What I didn't love: - The dress runs large, but only through the waist and hips. If my chest were much bigger, I would have had to size up, which would be frustrating with the rest of the dress already quite loose. - The fabric has zero stretch, which makes fitting difficult but crucial. This would be a more all-pleasing dress in a material other than cotton, something that hugs and gives along the curves. - The tulip hem is problematic if it's really windy. I learned this the hard way! - The design is unflattering in the waist/stomach; the pleats and drapes add bulk. I'm a legit hourglass, so I prefer to accentuate this area rather than hide it. If you have a little extra in the gut then it's probably ideal. A little bit of a baby bump would even be adorable in this dress. Had the dresses been the quality I expected, my order would have been perfect. Unfortunately, both sizes looked like they should have been retired long ago. It was like they'd been worn by girls who squeezed into them and tested the seams at every angle. The extra-soft cotton fabric was probably beautiful at some point, but it just looked over-worn. The 10 had a ripped seam that allowed the plastic boning to pop out and poke me in the armpit. It also had a stain on the chest - a perfectly round, coffee-colored dot - which luckily blended in with the splotchy pattern (though that color brown is conspicuously absent elsewhere on the dress). I can't blame the dry cleaners for missing the spot, but the ripped seam is a deal-breaker. I went to try on the 12 hoping it was in better condition, but the seam at the bottom of the zipper was also ripped, and the zipper was stuck to where I couldn't even pull it up. (It would have been too big anyway.) Who is letting all of these ripped dresses out the door? To RTR's credit, I contacted customer service and explained the problems, mostly because I didn't want to be on the hook for damages. They offered to send another dress and refunded my order without question. I chose to just wear the 10 and deal with the pokes rather than worry about the logistics of a last-minute hotel delivery. I hope they tighten up on QA.

Monet Madness Dress

Catherine Malandrino

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Size Worn: 10

Usual Size: 10

Height: 5' 11"

Bust: 36C

I rented this for a company party. A lot of ladies in my age range use "cocktail attire" as an opportunity to wear sequined club minis and sleeveless/strapless numbers, but I wanted to show some maturity while maintaining the "wow" factor. I've also spent the last few years dropping more than 140 pounds, so I'm not altogether comfortable in dresses that are revealing in areas that are still squishy on me (thighs, arms). This dress was the perfect way to show off curves and ooze sex appeal while staying 100% work-function-appropriate and comfortable on the dance floor. It arrived a day early in perfect condition and fit like a glove. I have a narrow waist but wide hips and big thighs, so I was concerned about the fit of the 48 (US 10) but didn't have the option to size up with a backup. The fitted hip area on this dress made me nervous, but I'm grateful for others' reviews and glad I went with my gut. This dress is utterly amazing on curves. The fabric has a lot of stretch and ruches in all of the right places. The slit hung perfectly closed when standing and peeked out just enough while moving. Yes it's a high slit, but that's a fair tradeoff for the conservative neckline and sleeves. I opted for pantyhose and didn't bother with spanx. So comfy! Other reviews are correct about the neckline: It's tough to get it to lay just right. If I could knock off half a star, I would, because that’s a design flaw. It would have been less of a problem if I had smaller arms, though. The color is amazing in real life, alternating between purple and blue (more blue in natural light, more purple in warm artificial light). I wore nude pumps and a statement necklace in peacock colors that I made by hand because I couldn't find anything just right in stores, haha. I lost count of how many times I heard the word "stunning," and someone even told me I looked like I came straight out of Mad Men. Yeesh! I was so happy with the whole experience, and I can't wait to rent from RTR again.

I Object Dress

Moschino

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Size Worn: 48

Usual Size: 10

Height: 5' 11"

Bust: 36C