I didn't end up wearing this. I had it sent as a last second backup because the dress I'd ordered was unavailable. Luckily the Kate Spade backup dress I had ordered actually worked because this wasn't great. I am a pretty classic hourglass shape, usually wear a size 12, and this was definitely way too big. That aside, it was just a really unflattering shape - I usually wear more of a fit and flare (tight in the waist, a line skirt) which looks MUCH better on my shape. I don't know what curvy girl would look good in this style honestly. It was styled to be fitted all the way past the hip, which was really unflattering, even if it fit! Not my favorite.

Moonshine Gown

Theia

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Size Worn: None

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

The good first: Adorable cut and style (a tiny bit tight in the waist) and the flared skirt is very flattering for wider hips. I have a pretty classic hourglass shape and the cut was great for that shape. The pattern and sequins were great. The bad: For a bigger chest, this does not work well, I finally got to see what it would look like to be flat chested! Joking aside, the boning in the top made it so you don't have to wear a bra, but it also made my breasts look really flat, it was actually completely disconcerting. Definitely enough so that I couldn't wear it. The 14 ended up being unavailable so I couldn't tell if sizing up would have been better, but it fit fine, like all of my other dresses, except that my chest looked totally flat. So weird. Would definitely be great on an hourglass shaped smaller chested woman!

Gold Marilyn Dress

allison parris

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Size Worn: 12

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

This fits true to size, maybe a tiny bit small. Kate Spade tends to run just a little tight. I have a classic hourglass shape, usually somewhere between 12 and 14 in pants, and 10-12 in dresses. The 14 fit perfectly. I didn't (and wouldn't have been able to) wear a bra with this, but the fabric is heavy enough that it looked fine without one. The low back and bow were adorable and the style was very flattering. Beautiful true holiday red, I felt a little like a Christmas ornament!

Fairytale Bow Dress

kate spade new york

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Size Worn: 14

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

I have reviewed two of the other Monique L high neck cross open back dresses. In short, I love them, they are beautiful and unique, and I got lots of compliments in this one. I wore it to a cocktail attire bat mitzvah and it was great - demure and young enough for a party full of 13 year olds but made me feel flirty and pretty with the open back. The dress fits true to size, and it's a little bit hard to zip without help, but not impossible. The sides of the crossed back do tend to wing out a little bit unless you keep the neckline and bust arranged correctly.

We Belong Together Dress

ML Monique Lhuillier

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Size Worn: 12

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

This dress fits true to size and is the same cut and fit as a few other dresses here on RTR by Monigue Lhullier (you can tell them by the high neck and criss cross back). I've rented this one, the navy blue version of it, and the black and white floor length version. They are all beautiful. Out of the three, this one is my least favorite. The lace at the top looks a little bit cheap and although the skirt fabric is heavy enough to hold a nice shape, there is heavier fabric in the hem of the skirt to make it fuller, and the hem was out of shape because of how it was packed and it would have been difficult to press it back into place. The positives: you don't have to wear a bra, it fits really well, the color is beautiful and would be great for a holiday cocktail party.

Red Mark Dress

ML Monique Lhuillier

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Size Worn: 12

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

I LOVE this dress. I rented it to wear while on vacation in Florida. It was technically my backup dress for a wedding, but since I knew my regular dress would work, I wore this on a sunset cruise with my boyfriend. We sailed out on a catamaran, and it looked stunning in the wind. The underskirt/lining is fairly tight and hit about midthigh and the overlay of the dress was loose and flowing. I wore it with a nude strapless bra since the top of the yoke was tan and sort of sheer. I wore the MR but the LR was probably the better fit. I wanted it to be a little shorter since I wanted to be able to scramble around the deck easily. The underskirt was stretchy so it didn't really matter that I wore the smaller size. Loved it!

Yulia Maxi Dress

BCBGMAXAZRIA

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Size Worn: MR

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

I rented this dress for a wedding in Anna Maria Florida. It is stunning; the wedding was on the beach and random strangers came up from the beach to tell me how much they loved the dress. It fit perfectly. On my 5'6.5 frame it exactly hit the floor. I also rented this in a different color for another event in the summer and got it in 12L since I wanted to wear heels. I'd say if you are 5'6 and over, rent R for flats and L for heels. I didn't have to wear a bra since it was tight enough and supportive in the bust but you could wear a regular bra if you wanted to without it showing. Beautiful dress! Will upload pics once the bride sends them around.

Utopia Maxi

Badgley Mischka

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Size Worn: 12R

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

I really liked this dress, but I didn't think it photographed all that well. It was made of heavy, stretchy, almost scuba-like fabric so was very forgiving in the fit. If you're a regular 12, this should fit well. It was only available in the 10 but since it has some stretch I was fine in that size. Didn't need to wear a bra, which was great! The skirt made my hips look a bit wide but it was nice to have room to move and dance, especially since I wore this for my friend's birthday bar crawl. Since I'm a baby when it comes to walking long distances I wore this with little white eyelet sneakers (mid-summer, bar crawl through downtown Phila), but it would look great with strappy sandals. Kept accessories pretty simple. Great party dress, but probably not one I'd rent for my OWN birthday.

Blue Lines Dress

Nanette Lepore

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Size Worn: 10

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

This dress got the most compliments of basically any other I've ever worn! Frankly, it might not have been the MOST flattering of the options, but it was such a stunner that I had to wear it. I wore this to a black tie preferred wedding and stole the show. My ONLY complaint was the 12r was too short. I wore it with flats and it just grazed the floor. I am 5'6" so I was surprised about that. I'd get the L next time. Overall the fit was TTS. I wear a 36dd/size 12 and didn't need to wear a bra. The waist fell perfectly at my natural waist - for reference my waist is 32.5 and it was snug but not tight. It could have done with some tailoring around the straps to get them to lay flat but I expected that from the other reviews. Overall, a great experience! (Oh, this was an emergency backup RTR sent because my original was unavailable - happy mistake, I loved it!!)

Jadore Contrast Gown

ML Monique Lhuillier

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Size Worn: 12R

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

This dress was beautiful! I didn't end up wearing it to the event I had rented it for (I wore the Badgley Mischka waterlilly dress instead) but I loved it. I rented both the 12 and the 14 as my backup, and both fit well. The 12 (pictured) I preferred because it looked structured and laid really nicely. The 14 had significantly more room through the waist and bust. For reference I have a 32.5 inch waist and wear a 36dd typically. It would be appropriate for a cocktail party, date night, or semi formal event. It hit at an appropriate spot mid thigh and the boat neck combined with the cap sleeves and ballet style back were stunning. Hair up to show off the back and gold jewelry, and you're set!

Blush Imprint Dress

HALSTON

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Size Worn: 12

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

I loved this dress! The coral was a little 'dustier' looking in person than in the RTR model picture, but it was still nice. The lining helps to make everything look smooth and the drape of the cotton is very flattering. As you can see from the second picture I am pretty busty (36DD) and while it didn't minimize my chest at all, I still thought it looked nice. The bow detail was well pressed and laid flat and the fabric still seemed new and not especially worn. It hit at an appropriate length for a dinner date, and was not as short on my 5'6" frame as it is on the model. I think that this runs a tiny bit big, so if you are a bigger 12 or a small 14, the 12 should be fine. No need to size up for backup size. As always, the RTR experience was great!

Coral Bow Front Sheath

Trina Turk

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Size Worn: 12

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

This dress fit perfectly. I wore it in the 12L because the R wasn't available. Not the end of the world, I wore 4.5 in heels (first pic, wearing with heels), and it touched the ground. I would have preferred the R because the L was longer than my taste. I am pretty proportional/hourglass, with a 36DD bust, 32ish inch waist, and full hips. I had no trouble zipping this up, and MAYBE could have worn a 10, but I was very comfortable. I wore this for a wedding ceremony at a Catholic church at 2:30pm. Did not need to wear a bra, but could easily have worn a strapless, or even a regular, so if you have a larger chest, this should work fine. Ample room in the hips, the bottom flowed beautifully when I walked, and I highly recommend.

Water Lilies Maxi Dress

Badgley Mischka

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Size Worn: 12L

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs

Bust: 36D+

I typically wear a 12 so ordered the 10 as my backup and it was huge. With the dress belted I felt like I was trying to figure out where to hide all of the excess fabric, tried bunching it all around in the back to conceal it, but to no avail. Since neither size fit I ended up sending it back (thanks RTR!). I have a large chest - 36D and it basically just hung from over my boobs and made me look like a tent. Next time I'll get something with a much more defined waist, since I'm a typical hourglass shape.

Midori Maxi

Thakoon

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Size Worn: 10R

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 6"

Weight: 190lbs