Real Life, Raw & Unfiltered

I really thought this one was going to be a summer win. For just under $40…it is a solid price, and beautifully made….but you need to know some things first!

First, the print is very pretty… however it is not as subtle as in the product images, it is much more vibrant in person. The flutter sleeves are feminine without feeling dramatic. The fabric has a nice weight to it that doesn’t feel cheap, and it even has pockets. On paper, it checks a lot of boxes, especially when you’re tall and constantly hunting for midi dresses that don’t turn into accidental minis.

At 5’10” with a long torso, I’m always cautious about where a dress decides my “waist” is going to be. And this one, unfortunately, chose… incorrectly. As a reminder which I try to put in every post, I am 5’10”, 155lbs, 34C-D, and usually around a size 6, or a Medium. I did order this dress in a medium.

This dress has what’s considered an empire-style waistline (on me), meaning the smocked seam sits right under the bust instead of at your natural waist. On shorter torsos, this can create the illusion of longer legs and a floaty, romantic silhouette.
On longer torsos, it tends to do the opposite.

Instead of highlighting your waist and creating shape, the seam cuts straight across the ribcage and removes your natural waist definition. From there, the skirt drops down in one uninterrupted line to the hips. The result (at least on my frame) was that my upper body appeared longer and slightly top-heavy, even though that’s not typically how my proportions read in a true waistline dress.

From the hips down, the dress is flowy and flattering. But up top, the proportions felt just slightly off,  like the visual balance had shifted north. It also gave the top portion more of a smock-style, retro feel, similar to a 50s or 60s house dress silhouette. And while I usually love vintage-inspired styles, this particular seam placement created a more “bust-forward/top heavy” look that threw off the overall balance on my frame in a way I hadn’t expected.

It’s not an unwearable dress by any means. In fact, I think it would be lovely for daytime occasions like:
*brunch
*baby showers
*winery visits
*casual garden parties
*teacher conferences

But for my lifestyle (which ranges from barn chores, homeschooling to business errands to maybe a quick dinner out), a dress usually needs to flex into more than one setting to earn its place in my closet.

This one feels a little more “occasion-specific” than I’d personally reach for.

If you’re long torsoed and love empire waists, this may be a great fit for you. But if you’re tall or long-torsoed and typically find yourself gravitating toward dresses that hit at your true waist for better balance, this is definitely something to keep in mind.

Sometimes it’s not the dress, it’s just where the seam lands. Hope that helps!

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