Monday, February 22, 2010

Another Curvy Girl Review

Dear readers, I learned a very important lesson this weekend - never do a dressing room review while it is that time of the month and you already wear the biggest size the store carries and cannot size up due to bloat! (Unless you are broke and want to dissuade yourself from buying anything.) I tried on a lot of things and nothing looked or felt good. I swear my boobs seemed like an entire cup size bigger and I was ready to chop them off! Don't even get me started about the belly...

Anyhow, I tried on a boatload of stuff and really wanted to review the Reed Shirtdress but I could not get the dang buttons to stay fastened over my chest and even on the hanger those buttons were just falling out of the holes so I'm hoping it was just a faulty dress and I can try one on again next week. I was also planning on trying on the Plains & Prairies Dress but got frustrated after getting caught up in the attached lining and gave up. So here are the good, the bad, and the ugly that made it onto this week's review list.

The Swinging Sweetheart Dress ($168) was the only thing I tried on that felt like it had any potential whatsoever. However, there were still some issues. I tried on a 14 and there was some bunching of material in the back right under the scalloped edge where the black section begins. I'm not sure if this is strictly a fit issue or has something to do with my swayback. Either way, I'd definitely say this dress runs a bit small or it could be that I was running big. The pink silk part of the dress is actually sheer but you can't tell in the front thanks to the pleats. In the back, however, you can definitely see back fat in action. In order for this dress to work I would either need to a) wear it with Spanx standing up only and never sit down, b) lose 10 pounds and possibly still wear Spanx at least for the back fat coverage. This dress is so pretty and although I don't currently have the occasion to wear it, I would like to have it on hand in case an occasion should arise, and because of its vintage appearance, it will always be in fashion. Maybe once it has been marked down twice?! The problem with this method of shopping is that I don't plan on staying this weight.


Here I am wearing the Collected Calico Dress ($138) in a size 12 because my store did not have it in a 14. I had way too much boobage for this dress and it felt like I was wearing a sports bra with all of the smashing going on. The print does look better in person than it does online and the dress itself feels soft and I think would be comfortable had it fit correctly. There was a lot of shaping happening in the upper half of the dress (including some elastic banding in back and boning) which means you could possibly go braless if you were so daring. Another plus is that it comes with pockets! The only downfall to this dress beside the ill-fit was that it seemed like something a 12-year-old girl would wear, minus the cup details on the breast. The Anthropologie website says that this dress is 31.25" in length so either that measurement is incorrect or I have shrunk a foot and am now 4'5" tall. I would guess it is closer to 41" in length.


I had high hopes for the Sunny Escape Tank ($68) and imagined myself frolicking about during spring in this cheerfully bright top, but noooooo it had to go and do horrible things to my body like creating an arrow that points to my belly fat and gaping holes that show my bra. I tried on a large and didn't even bother asking for the XL because even though it might have fit my bust better, I feared it would just look like I was wearing a muumuu. I was so disappointed! I envy the woman who can pull this off! You can see Roxy's recent review here.


Here I am wearing the Balletomane Tank ($78) in a size large. I think this top would look really pretty on someone with a smaller bust but I definitely did not need any extra weight in that area. Speaking of weight, this top literally felt like it added an extra pound of weight to my breast zone making me feel even more like a hunchback than I already do. Boobs are heavy my friends and I don't need them to be heavier! There were also some back-fat issues happening and like I said, this just wasn't a day where I was feeling pretty in anything I tried on. The material of this top is otherwise very light, soft and pretty, being made of cotton and modal with the outer layer being almost a superfine netting. I recommend this top for someone who is smaller on top and larger on the bottom as way to balance out your figure. This could also hide some tummy problem areas, which I think it would have done for me had I tried on an XL. You can see Kim wearing it here.


Why no, I'm not pregnant, nor am I smuggling a bowling ball under my top. That is just me wearing the Vermillion Flurry Blouse ($128) in a size 12. Although this top looks orange in my pictures and red on the Anthropologie website, it is actually more of a coral color in person, something in between red and orange with a hint of a pink hue. The airy ruffled collar on this blouse is lovely but the white cuffs on the sleeves along with the reddish color are reminiscent of Annie from a distance when combined with my red hair. Even if this top did not look horrendous on me, it would still be a pass.


The Celebratory Blouse ($78) looked pretty and festive on the hanger but just made me look like the number 8. It is also see-through and no one needs to see my belly bouncing around town! I really liked the buttons and the subtlety of the ruffles but this top was an obvious disaster on my body. I tried on a size 14.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think you are being waaaayyy to harsh on yourself. As a curvy girl myself, I actually like the 1st dress, ballantome and the celebration blouse. I think they look cute.

Red Leslie said...

Hehe! I'm telling you it is because of the bloat that I just felt gross in everything. I'm normally not that critical of myself but yesterday was just a bad day to try things on. From now on I won't do reviews during my period anymore but since my blog is new I didn't want to skip a week without a review!

The ballantome would have been a winner but I'm serious it was literally heavy to wear. Or maybe I was just off my rocker yesterday because Kim said she didn't experience it the same way. Thank you though :)

Eun said...

Thanks for reviewing the Ballantome tank. I was thinking about ordering it, but now I'm reconsidering. I have a D size bust and I don't think this top is going to do me any favors since I'm top heavy anyway. I love your reviews! Thanks so much :)

Kathleen said...

I like the Swinging Sweetheart Dress on you! I've been pining over that since it appeared online but haven't seen it in my store yet. I don't really have anywhere to wear it either unfortunately (but that doesn't mean a girl can't dream!)

Kathleen said...

Eun, I actually felt the same way as Leslie about the Ballantome Top and I don't have a big bust. I felt like the top added about ten pounds! (But it's so pretty!)

Contessa said...

swinging heart dress awesome! But the Balletomane top I actually like. I am a 38C and took the medium and I think since the ruffling lays flat it looks good. I will have to send a photo of me in it so you guys can see. Not to mention I have received many compliments on it! my husband and friends thought it was such a flattering top.

Red Leslie said...

Contessa - Please do send in a picture and your own review and I will post it on my blog! Send to redleslie7@gmail.com

CheesyGoodness said...

You look the hotness in the balletomane! I like the calico on you, too, but if the ladies can't breathe...

Sorry you were having a bad try-on day. I refuse to enter a changing room unless my hair and makeup look decent, otherwise I HATE anything I try on, so I forgive your negative comments on perfectly nice pics! I guess we all do it sometimes.