No one expects candy-colored sequins! I wore this skirt on a 40th-birthday resort vacation with my friends — it’s a fun, twirly treat! I thought the 6 fit just right (I am a 6), though make no mistake: The waistband has no give/stretch. I tied a white Oxford shirt on top, cropped — a very fun dinner look!

Penelope Sequin Skirt

Olivia Rubin

View Details

Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B

I wore this to a resort dinner for my 40th birthday! I am usually a size 6, but the back zips up super high… it made the 6 a bit too tight. So I sized up to the 8, which in the thighs & arms might have been a bit too big, but I was comfortable! The fabric is actually pretty robust & thick, with no stretch. I am not busty whatsoever, so it was fine to go braless for this look — it worked for me! (Maybe you could fit a bra in there somewhere? You’d have to get creative.) The print could not be more eye-catching and perfect — I felt casually glamorous & totally in-style! I LOVED this look!

Noa Dress

RHODE

View Details

Size Worn: 8

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B

I did enjoy wearing this dress, even if I’m unaccustomed to showing quite so much cleavage! If you could find a way to wear a bra with this dress, I would be surprised — the back is a bit low, and the bust area is cut wide in the front. I am fairly flat-chested, which helps with the dress showing a lot of cleavage but still being proper. That said, I don’t think it was particularly scandalous for a formal wedding, and because of the cool temps, I wore a little shrug. I am 5’6, so the length was perfectly adorable (just below mid-calf), and the swing of the skirt was comfortable for walking & dancing. A fun rental!

Oxblood Pleated Sweetheart Dress

Nicole Miller

View Details

Size Worn: 6R

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B

The color is absolutely as advertised — so bright. I ordered the size M, with L as my backup. Ideally, I would actually be between the two (I am a classic size 6) — I absolutely had to rely on Spanx for a cohesive silhouette with the M. The L gapped & hung too much to be wearable. It is low-cut, but I don’t have a large chest (34B) so it was a complete non-issue for me. The top stayed put all night with a LOT of dancing! The slit is not so high that I couldn’t wear mid-thigh-length Spanx underneath & I don’t think they showed. I usually fear a midi length for my thick calves (I am 5’6), but with high heels, this was perfect. Such a fun party dress — I recommend!

Sydne Dress

ELLIATT

View Details

Size Worn: MR

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B

This dress really is a jewel-toned dream. The fabric is stretchy, almost like neoprene, and it is brighter than it photographs. Be warned: There is no zipper! You have to slither in & out of this one, but it’s not backbreaking. I am about 5’6, and the regular, with about a 3-inch heel, was almost too short. I really wear a 6, but I ended up wearing the 8 (44R) if only because the armpit was kind of choked on the smaller size. (And I am NOT chesty!) I also chose to wear Spanx, even though I don’t usually. I was glad I did — the fabric is actually sort of forgiving, but there is not a rouche or a seam or a gather to hide behind! But it is such an easy dress & totally comfortable to wear for a night of dancing. I LOVED it!

Purple Back Drape Gown

Chiara Boni La Petite Robe

View Details

Size Worn: 44R

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B

Well, this dress is a dream! At first, I was like, "are these sleeves too much?" but after a mere hour hostessing my holiday party, I can definitely say: No. They are not too much. They are DIVINE. So admittedly, I have chubby arms, so the lace on my size-6 dress was tight but only a little confining for me. And because it's winter, I wore tights, so I cannot speak to really *feeling* the length or shortness of the dress. (Though, at 5'6, I would say it was only moderately — not scary — short.) The neckline is high but never uncomfortable, and I thought the body of the dress was very true to size. (I'm fairly flat-chested, though, so warning to gals with a bigger bust that this dress might confine you.) My eye went to where the fabric bowed out on my hips, only to reveal that YES! Even this cutie little short dress had built-in pockets. I felt like art-school Joan Holloway. Or hipster Elvira. Or something! In any case, two thumbs up!

Black Lace Retro Sleeve Sheath

Jill Jill Stuart

View Details

Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 32B

I was really excited for this dress — it was the first I've rented that I got without there being a single review of it. Brand-new dress on the site. The dress netted me a bunch of compliments! It's fairly flattering, though if you're regular-sized/athletic build like I am, the lace overlay on the top doesn't do much to nip your waist in. It actually might be most flattering on very narrow or apple-shaped women. That said, the pencil skirt is so flattering — it's a very dark color & thick fabric, so it sucks you right in. Plus, blue-on-blue is very chic. I ended up, for just about the first time ever, sizing up, from a 6 to an 8. It's not that the 6 wouldn't zip or didn't fit — but the pencil skirt does not have a long slit, so walking in the smaller size felt pretty restrictive. The 8 didn't functionally fit that much differently elsewhere on my body, but it did free up my legs a lot more. The lace isn't scratchy ( thank GOD, because it goes all the way around your neck!) and you can tell that this is a premium dress based on the lovely substantialness of the lining.

Blue Sweetheart Colorblock Sheath

ML Monique Lhuillier

View Details

Size Worn: 8

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 32B

I thought the slit would only be a problem for long-legged ladies — not so! I am 5'6 & a pretty true size-6, and my legs are the shortest part of my body. HOOOOO! The slit is high; I thought it bordered on too scandalous for a wedding, though my friends insisted it was fine. But be warned: You can't blend in in a fire-red dress with a slit that comes close to your crotch! That said, it was a fairly comfortable dress minus that side-slit, and it photographed gorgeously. The fabric *could* be seen as being forgiving, if I could have let it bunch naturally at the midsection when I moved. Instead, I spent a portion of the night yanking the slit down as far on my thigh as it would go, which made the rest of the dress sit less naturally at the bust & midsection. I am pretty flat-chested, so the top was lovely on me & didn't feel too showy, but I imagine that might not be the case if you're well endowed. I wouldn't rent this again, but hey: Grab those opportunities to be a woman in a curvy red dress where you can get 'em.

Red Witherspoon Sheath

Jay Godfrey

View Details

Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 32B

And I am not about the Spanx life, but this dress requires it. Something about the placement of the ribbon around the rib cage — it encourages a paunch, whether you've got one or not! I actually didn't think this dress was as WOW in person as it was on the site. As previous reviews will tell you, the liner fabric doesn't show through as much as the pics would suggest so it looks black-on-black. That said, its construction is more forgiving than you'd expect, in that it's got some stretch. I am pretty flat-chested, so no surprise it bagged a bit too much up top, but that is a minor quibble. I am 5'6 & wore heels no problem, though the dress didn't touch the floor. You have so few times in life where you can toss on sequins — I say rent this dress & just go for it.

Charleston Gown

Laundry by Shelli Segal

View Details

Size Worn: 6R

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 32B

This dress is a stunner! People love a bold print, and a shimmery blue almost-chevron definitely fits the bill. I am pretty flat-chested but hippy enough, so I ordered a 6 and an 8. After a few minutes, I realized that though it fit okay, I probably should have ordered a 4 as my backup. The top was fairly baggy, & I had a lot of room where it clasped low in the back. So I didn't have a perfect fit, but the dress was really comfortable — the fabric is pretty heavy, so when we hit the dance floor, I got sweaty very fast. The regular is pretty long ( I wore 3-inch wedges that you simply could never see) on me at 5'6, but it was a glamorous floor-sweeping length for a very formal affair!

Midnight Kaira Gown

Shoshanna

View Details

Size Worn: 6R

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 32B

I am a classic size 6 & am about 5'6. True to other reviews, the 6R was EXACTLY as tall as I am. It gave me a great excuse to wear spangly flats. ;) don't sweat not wearing a bra — the fabric allows for modesty. (Then again, I am small-chested, so take my advice with a grain of salt.) I got many compliments on this dress, so I must recommend. :)

Sketching Gown

BCBGMAXAZRIA

View Details

Size Worn: 6R

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 32B

Definitely this dress runs small, but the larger size really was a great fit! The hem detail requires pulling to keep it straight — though that might not be the case if your legs are less thick than mine. ;) The midsection shows everything, even though the fabric is thick, so grab a pair of Spanx!

Blue Parrot Dress

Elizabeth and James

View Details

Size Worn: 8

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 32B

Okay, this is a stunning dress, but be warned: it felt a little short for me at 5'6. (My friends assured me it was appropriate, though.) My pic is one of a coworker & me on the dance floor. I easily could have gone for the 4 instead of the 6, but wearing the larger size afforded me a bit more on the length. The dress, though, will stretch as the night goes on, so keep that in mind. I walked away a little sad that I don't actually own this dress -- it is a show-stopper!

Aaliyah Dress

Lilly Pulitzer

View Details

Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B

This dress is so eye-catching! It's literally the stuff of cat-calls. It scratches a little under the arms, but the material is surprisingly forgiving and movable. The back is a real showstopper, and I even found it pretty easy to find a standard bra to wear with the unique cutouts. There's a subtle gather at the midsection that's a little forgiving as well. Gorgeous!

Gold Lela Lace Dress

David Meister

View Details

Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B

This dress is a gem! The fit was true to size and not uncomfortable in any way – I consider myself to have kind of chubby arms and was afraid the sleeves would choke them. Totally didn't! This dress is comfortable, and on me at 5'6, it was a great thigh-length. I got a billion compliments on the color, because it's bright and unexpected. LOVED IT.

Limoncello Shift

Diane von Furstenberg

View Details

Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 6"

Bust: 34B