Melissa's Reviews
All reviews by Melissa
TOP CONTRIBUTORTOP CONTRIBUTOR
26 reviews
This dress is straight perfection
I got so many compliments on this dress. It's stretchy and comfortable, fabric is smooth and soft, it hides flaws and is really very feminine and pretty. The flounce at the bottom is understated, so it's feminine but not showy. There's a raw hem at the bottom, which keeps the fabric nice and flowy without too much structure, but the rest of the dress is fitted and sewn with enough shape to flatter just about any body shape. This dress is perfect.
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Hennie Dress
Lauren Ralph Lauren
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Heavy fabric, really pretty colors in the pleats
This was a super comfy dress, but it had a few problems. Pros: The fabric is heavy and feels very nice against your skin. It's super forgiving and stretchy and comfortable. Plus, you can't see this well from the photos but it has really brightly colored stripes hidden in the pleats. When you're still, the dress looks like a standard black sweater dress, but when you walk the pleats kick open and there are colorful and very pretty stripes inside them! It's really lovely. Cons: The length is a little weird. I'm tall and it felt a bit long on me. Not quite knee, not quite tea length. If the waist sat a teensy bit lower, it would have been a pretty tea length, but the way it fit through the ribs, it made it hit at a weird spot on the legs below the knee. Shorter girls might feel like it's long and bulky, but it would hit at a better spot to be tea-length. Other con is that the way the pleats are done makes the dress poof out a bit at the hips. It made me look VERY hippy, almost an exaggerated hourglass but not in a flattering way.
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Pleated Sweater Dress
kate spade new york
Size Worn: L
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Very revealing
All of DVF's wrap dresses tend to be revealing in the cleavage area, but this one is even more so because of the lace. It's kind of hard to see in the photo, but the lace extends all the way down through the cleavage area, so it's not really work appropriate without a camisole underneath. The fabric was super gorgeous and the fit was perfect otherwise. It would make a great date-night dress if you're willing to be a bit daring with some peekaboo around the cleavage, but not really great for work.
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Leandra Lace Dress
Diane von Furstenberg
Size Worn: L
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
The fabric is so lush
This feels SO GOOD on. The fabric is heavy and soft and it's perfect for the office. I didn't wear it to work because I'm a liiiiittle too tall for it to look right. The waist didn't fall at my natural waist and it was just too short for me. Girls with long torsos might have problems with it looking like a weird babydoll dress. The colors though are so beautiful and I wish it had fit better because it was just so so so lovely.
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Fenna 2 Sweater Dress
Trina Turk
Size Worn: L
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Like a fancy nightgown
Like someone else wrote, this ends up seeming like a fancy nightgown. The fabric is seriously lovely, but the length is a little awkward (slightly shorter would probably have helped with the nightgown problem) and the lace is gorgeous but it's left feeling just... awkward. Also, there are built in "cups" in the bust area, but it's not a built-in bra as others suggested. The cups end up making weird creases around your breasts and it's hard to figure out where the waist is supposed to sit based on where the cups (and therefore your breasts) are.
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Lace Trim Milly Dress
CATHERINE DEANE
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Love this dress
I ended up wearing a different dress, so this one didn't get worn, but it's really comfortable and very, very pretty. The back has interesting cutouts, but it has enough coverage for a normal bra. The material is really great quality, shows off your shape while hiding flaws.
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Plum Christine Dress
Elizabeth and James
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Oh, wow, this was so pretty
I ended up not wearing it because it was a little too formal for the look I was going for, but wowow this dress is pretty. The peekaboo midriff is really nice, because you still feel covered up and it doesn't look too open, but it's flirty. The lace is soft and pretty and the material feels very high quality. It's a little more purply than it might look on your screen (it looks almost reddish to me on screen, and was a magenta-purple in person) but the color was rich and gorgeous too. I wish I had another occasion to wear this because it's just so pretty.
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Mulberry Lace Sheath Dress
ML Monique Lhuillier
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Itchy lace but very pretty
This dress was so lovely to look at, but the lace around the throat was itchy during just the few minutes I had it on. I can't imagine trying to wear it for an entire evening. The fit was true to size and the length was perfect. The ruffle at the bottom is super gorgeous, too. I just couldn't get past the itchy throat!
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Red Lace Flounce Sheath
Marchesa Notte
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Sleeves wouldn't stay up
This would have been so pretty if I could have gotten it to sit right. The length and neckline were sexy, which was nicely balanced by the sophisticated print, thick high quality fabric, and long sleeves, but those sleeves... just would NOT sit on my shoulders. They kept wanting to slip off my shoulders and expose my chest to the world. I ended up not wearing it because I know I'd have been tugging at it all night.
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Blue Branches Jacquard Sheath
Nicole Miller
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Wow, just wow
This dress was super hot. I wore it for a night out in Vegas and it was perfect for the party atmosphere. The cutouts are so sexy and interesting in the back, and it's structured enough that it was firmly hugging my body but not squeezing anywhere. Super short on me, which was great for Vegas but probably not for much else... I could walk in it, but god forbid I have to bend my body at all, it would have shown everything.
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Burgundy Krooger Dress
Jay Godfrey
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
This was HUGE
Way too big, and ended up looking kind of like a black and white sack over my body.
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Multi Houndstooth Coat
NVLT
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Ruffles felt a bit silly
Maybe it's my own age showing but this dress ended up feeling very childish to me. The fit and fabric were nice, but the ruffles along the hem area kind of made the dress more cutesy than hot and flirty. It was really pretty, just waaaaayyy too young feeling for what I was going for.
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Mixed Lace Mini Dress
SIMKHAI
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Beautiful fabric
I didn't end up wearing this because it wasn't quite what I was looking for, but it was beautiful and I definitely loved the dress. Very short for taller girls, but not obscenely so. Just overall very fun and flirty.
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Metallic Floral Cocktail Dress
Marchesa Notte
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Not for a long torso
I don't think I have a very long torso, but I do usually wear long sizes (mostly legs) but this is definitely not proportioned for tall girls. The curve where your butt would start was at my lower back and it just looked a bit awkward. The overall length was nice, but proportionally the fit was off.
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Brigitte Dress
ML Monique Lhuillier
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Gorgeous color
This seems like it'll be a bit too "cute" for a grown woman to wear to work, but when you have it on, it looks professional and polished, even with shoulder bows! The cut is GORGEOUS and so is the color. Fabric is nice and sturdy, no stretch in the ribs/upper tummy though and it fit in the bust but was cut a bit tight through the ribs/natural waist. Hourglass shape might do better with this dress.
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Blue Double Bow Structured Dress
kate spade new york
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
More casual than it appears
I rented this dress for work, and it is far more casual than it looks on the model. In person, it felt thin and frumpy. When I put it on, it was oddly proportioned. Fitted in shoulders and chest, waaaaayyyyyyy too much room around a too-high waist. The colors were pretty, but it gave an "old lady" look and the fabric is way too casual and flimsy (but not in a pretty, feminine way) for me to want to wear to work. Stretchy, if you want to wear it size down one or two sizes.
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Fiesta And Scatter Ava Dress
Leota
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Great dress for work, slightly short when seated
This dress is great for work. It's professional and pretty, the fabric is thick and sturdy, and the design is to die for. It's cut perfectly, hides flaws and is professional without being boring. The neckline might become irritating after a long day, because the fabric is thick and the material is not stretchy so after a long day it feels slightly strangling (especially if you're in a warm climate!) but the non-stretchy fabric is great because the dress keeps its structure all day.
Member Fit Notes
Beekman Dress
Shoshanna
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Really soft fabric
The fabric is soft and kind of floppy, which doesn't seem to work well with such a structured jacket. I couldn't get the weird shoulder pads to sit right and it just felt kind of awkward and rumply, even though there were no actual wrinkles in it. Beautiful fabric and a nice concept, but it needs to be much less flimsy feeling.
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Splatter Dot Blazer
Diane von Furstenberg
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Cute and comfortable
It's a bit short for work, but not inappropriately so. It was perfect for my purpose, which was to be classy at work and then fun later on a date - goes from "day to night" well. The slip under the skirt is a bit short and tends to ride up a bit between the thighs when walking, but it's not that much of a problem. There is no give/stretch and raising my arms was a bit tough. The back is sheer, but not super noticeable. I wore it with a brightly colored bra and you could barely see the color through it. Super cute and I got compliments all day.
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Black Brighton Dress
ERIN erin fetherston
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Runs REALLY small, but it's a gorgeous dress
The bad: It's really small. I usually wear a 10, and the 12 barely fit. It's also crazy short, but I loved that about it. The good: It is a BEAUTIFUL dress. The fabric is thick and comfortable and it hides flaws and accentuates curves. It's really fun to wear, with the flippy skirt. I'd size up at least one, maybe two sizes.
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Floral Celia Dress
SALONI
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Really REALLY short!
The fabric on this is sturdy and so so comfortable. I was incredibly disappointed that I couldn't wear it. The size/fit description says that it's a "mini" on a 5'6" model, and it's definitely not work-appropriate on me at 5'9". I'd have worn it to go out anyway, because the color is beautiful, the fabric is comfortable and the skirt is ADORABLY TWIRLY, but the "butt" of the dress (like, where it flares slightly from the sheath-fitted portion in the back just before the wider skirt part) sits way too high. It was noticeably wrinkly because it fell on my lower back instead of hugging my butt. HUGE bummer, but if you've got a long torso this might not work for you.
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Blue Tiered Ruffle Dress
Jason Wu Collection
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Beautiful dress!
This dress was great, but the shape of it didn't fit me well. The red color is gorgeous but if you're tall or have a long torso, the "butt" portion of the dress will hit a bit high and look weird.
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Brookdale Dress
Parker
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Runs small, no stretch
This would have been GORGEOUS on, the color is so pretty. But it runs small and doesn't have stretch, so I couldn't get it to zip around my chest.
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Melinda Sheath
Slate & Willow
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Comfortable but nothing special
The sequins were a bit scratchy under the arms, but the skirt was light and comfortable. It's not as low cut as it looks in the photos, and was more conservative than I wanted for my event so I ended up wearing a different dress. It would be perfect for a wedding or other event where you wanted to sparkle but not call *too* much attention to yourself.
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Natasha Dress
Badgley Mischka
Size Worn: None
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Very comfortable and forgiving
The zipper sticks a bit over the middle part, but it ends up being very comfortable once zipped up. There isn't any stretch but the fabric is drapey and forgiving. I was able to wear a regular bra with it and ate a full dinner with dessert without worrying about a food baby. Really gorgeous and sparkly, but not overkill.
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Fifth Avenue Showstopper Dress
Badgley Mischka
Size Worn: 12
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F
Date night, so many compliments from my date and strangers!
I got a size smaller than my usual and it was still a tad roomy, definitely size down. It's stretchy so the fabric relaxes a bit over the course of an evening. The shoulders slipped a bit if I didn't sit up straight, but overall this dress was perfection. Really low cut but sturdy enough to go without a bra. Also super forgiving on flaws and great for accentuating boobs and trimming the waist down. This dress was amazing.
Member Fit Notes
Purple Lucie Dress
Slate & Willow
Size Worn: M
Usual Size: 12
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 180lbs
Bust: 34F