Feeling the Margot love.
So I said I wasn't going to be doing maxis. To all intents and purposes they are a good idea. They cover a multitude of sins (knees, cankles, bad fake tan...hell I've even been known to still have full topiary decorating my legs and go out in one).
But I have fallen in love with the midi dress. I just find them easier to wear. I love the fact you can wear heels in them, I'm able to dress them up or down, the length is never *that* much of an issue... and you can still get a hint of Summer around your ankles. And you only have to shave and fake tan up to your knees (we've been here before and I know I'm not the only person who does this...).
However then I tried on the Rixo Issy Dress - which I've only found available online now from the boutique Collen & Clare in Suffolk (can't wait to go and see them next week...a complete treasure trove of goodies)
Rixo Issy Off Shoulder Dress £295
And here I am in the other colour way.. which I tried on in Wolf & Badger but alas, now all sold out.
I also found a black one which had a different description but turned out to be the identical dress. Except called the Ella Dress as opposed to the Bea dress but still £20 and genuinely no different bar the pattern.
And the verdict.....
All in all, I have to say for £20 I was very impressed. Are you going to wear them forever? No. Are they smart enough to wear to an Occasion? No. The material is a poly mix and I had assumed (well we know what that makes doesn't it...) it was a jersey but it's a silky viscose style type of polyester. Definitely not the vile *teeth on edge* type but not the super expensive, gorgeously drapey style either (not that you'd expect that for the princely sum of £20).
Clearly they could all do with a good iron but I have to say I was more impressed than I thought I would be. Fit is generous - these are a Medium and definitely on the large side. Lovely sheering detail at the waist and on the arms and tiny buttons down the front (purely for decorative reasons). Super super flattering and very comfy to wear. Lovely and cool, despite being a maxi (which can get very sweaty around the legs).
I probably shouldn't have ordered all three as I think I ended up just completely confused by print overload. Too. Much. Pattern. Too. Much. Colour. And I sort of want a combo of all three - none of the colour combos are *quite* right for me... to be honest, I just can't make a decision so am going to sleep on in and see which one, if any, I should keep.
But reporting back - for £20, these are a steal and if you're going away somewhere warm, a great extra for the suitcase. Anyone else ordered one? Would love to know your thoughts.
It didn't help of course, that I got all carried away and ordered the bird one from ASOS as I absolutely loved the print. I love the dress too. My face without any make up doesn't look quite so enthusiastic (some people have resting bitch face - I have resting knackered face).
Here is what it should look like:-
I have to say, in reality, the colour is a combo of above and below. I really really like the colour and - despite me looking like I've been dug up - in the flesh, it does work very well on pale skin, but I know would also look great with a tan.
Something I never thought I'd say - I think I might prefer a different fabric in only one layer. This is lined - it's a chiffon style (but nicer...) print overlay on a plain under layer. Gorgeous fit - super super flattering and a great length as well. This is the 10 - again, it's a generous fit. There is a zip by the way in case you try and put it on without finding it and get stuck. Not that anyone would be foolish enough not to look for a zip first and just shove it on.... (thank you to the 11yr old for a) helping me out of the dress and b) not filming it. Yes I may have had to bribe her with a new pair of Nikes and wait in a rather compromising position whilst she stopped crying with laughter).
So I love the above birdy dress but I'm just not sure when I'd wear it. I have occasions coming up and this would be the perfect party dress, it really would - for day or night - but I already have dresses that need their outings. It's possibly not an every day dress. And it would be difficult to get a jacket over it which would limit it's usage for me. However it does come highly highly recommended (especially if you have an event coming up as it's for that money, it's well worth it).
Now others that I've found - since I was on a maxi roll.
This looks like meh from Wallis. Until you see a pic I found on Instagram. Yes it is the same dress just minus the belt. Be still my beating heart.... LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Pleated Ombre Stripe Maxi Dress dress from Wallis was £65 now £58.50
More stripes from The Outnet at Iris & Ink and as much as I adore the one above - realistically, knowing my lifestyle - how much wear am I going to get from it? Occasions when I waft down a beach at sunset? Zero.
These two are much more expensive but so so so much more versatile on a daily basis.
Adie Striped Silk Crepe de Chine Maxi Dress £165
And a navy stripe version from L'Agence was £330 now £165
More summery and taking advantage of the 20% off at Whistles.
Whistles Bluebell Silk Buena Maxi Dress was £225 now £180
They also do it in a black...which, with the 20% off is now £144 as opposed to £180
And then finally, thinking that I'd managed to talk myself out of these, I just thought I'd have a quick look at what was new in at ASOS. Well, that was a mistake...
If you're going to go floral - go big or go home...
ASOS Ruffle Cami Maxi Dress in Yellow and Black Floral £75
Nxext up, no, I haven't lost my mind and yes, I do know that the split in this is obscene and were I in labour, you would be able to see how many cm dilated I was at a glance. But I reckon if you didn't stand Angelina Jolie stylee with your leg stuck out or even better, get handy with a needle and thread this could definitely work as a fabulous Summer maxi (no jacket required clearly as you'd struggle with this).
ASOS Floral Ruffle Top Maxi Dress £45
And saving my favourite till last. Again - not losing my mind... I honestly honestly don't think this one actually looks like a bridesmaid's dress. With a biker or denim jacket and sneakers, out of all of the above, this is the one I would definitely go for. The more I look at it, the more I love it. And no, I wouldn't be accessorising with the small posy of flowers... Although probably best not to wear to a weddding as a guest, just in case...
ASOS WEDDING Frill Shoulder Detail Maxi Dress in Print £70
I need to walk away from the dresses now... although I managed to wear one today, with no coat. WHOOP. New midi dress from New York. Haven't had as many compliments on a dress in a long time. Can I please point my hair is not as ginge in real life as it looks in these pics... (well I don't think it is anyway..!)
Turquoise shirt dress - Maeve
Taupe Jalouse boots - Ash
Whiskey Medium Marcie Satchel - Chloe
So I am off out tonight in London. Off to a super trendy restaurant in Shoreditch, so now faced with the dilemma of what to wear... A dress too much? Ugh. Comfort zone where are you? Mayfair easy, Shoreditch, total dilemma! I think I'm going for jeans and gold shoes (not wearing my Balenciagas as we're tubing it some of the way and I have hideous memories of getting stuck on the escalator with stilettos....Would be just my luck. Dear lord, can you imagine? Topshop chunky gold heels all the way. Decision made).
love your blog Kat! You do make me chuckle! The dresses are lovely but I'm so short they would drown me. More pressing - the gold topshop shoes, I bought returned now re-bought as I know I will regret leaving them and I love them on you. Just not sure how to wear them other than with jeans....ideas?? Keep your fab blogs coming ;-) x
ReplyDeleteThey also look great with a midi dress although I have to say I have other shoes I wear with mine... Other than that - kick flares are the perfect trousers. Or any other trouser to be honest - I would happily wear them with any! Hope that helps.
DeleteAnother shorty here so maxi dresses always swamp. Occasion midi dresses are what I'm in the market for :)
ReplyDeleteI have to say personally I have erred towards a midi dress for the past year or so. ADORE And so so easy to wear. x
DeleteThey are a real steal , I have the turquoise version, I'm not sure it's still on there. I have just ordered the blue as well. I wish they would iron them before sending them though!. They look gorgeous on you. I particularly like the blue one X
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure for £20 they do ironing as well..! The blue one would be the one I would go for were I jetting off to the South of France!
DeleteThe blue Boohoo dress is definitely best for your colouring, looks lovely. At 5ft6 though, I find almost all proper maxi dresses are too long for me. I see them hanging up on a rail above my head, with the hem touching the ground, and it's obvious it would be about a foot too long! I struggle with dresses and skirts in general though, give me a pair of jeans any day...
ReplyDeleteI have to say a midi skirt and dress is the way forward for me... Or at the very least I'm so tall I can pretend the maxi is actually supposed to be a midi!
DeleteI love the pink and the black one on you. I honestly think that (if we have even half a summer) they'll be the sort of item that you go to regularly, without even thinking about it. Great for lots of different, fairly casual occasions - ie, most days (if you're a mum). Keep them!! Off for a snoop myself now.
ReplyDeleteSsssshhhhhhhhhhh!! I am trying to be good! And if I'm totally honest, I have other things I can easily be wearing...!!
DeleteI've tried for the past 3-4 years to love maxi dresses. Have bought and returned on several occasions. Just can't make them work for me so have given up now and will stick with the midi. You look lovely in them all. Would probably opt for the black if I had to choose.
ReplyDeleteHope you have a great evening.
I think they're lovely but I don't think they're WOW. And I should only be buying things that I look at on me and think WOW. (clearly I never do this... duh!)
DeleteYou will love Collen & Clare , found them last year fab shop
ReplyDeleteOh lordy I've been shopping there for years! I was nearly beside myself when they opened in Aldeburgh a couple of years back and I didn't have to make the pilgrimage to Southwold! A beacon in a sea of Joules, Jack Wills, Crew and Quba....
DeleteRixo dress is gorgeous. I saw it in stock at www.violalondon.com
ReplyDeleteI will have a look thank you xxx
DeleteI ordered the pink to take on my hols. I'm short and always dismissed maxis but this actually looks ok length-wise with heels. After a good iron it looks great. It wouldn't win any awards for its seams but I'm really chuffed with it. Thank you so much for sharing- I hadn't heard of Boohoo. I'm loving your posts- am a new follower! Keep them coming. So inspiring. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteOh so pleased! xxxx
DeleteLove your shirt dress and bag together, lovely colour combo. As for the dresses, the blue colour is my personal favorite on you.
ReplyDeleteBTW Margot would be about right given your love of gardening ☺☺��
Danish Pastry
I do not have room in my clothes budget for plants - it is official.
DeleteIt was a lovely lovely evening! And I think you would definitely approve of my outfit! The shirt dresses are gorgeous aren't they? Can see a theme emerging...
ReplyDeletehmmm thanks lying in bed reading your blog, feeling a bit vulnerable/hungover, so I had to check out the dress online, whoops just bought a maxi in mint AND an off the shoulder top. Damn
ReplyDeleteHA ha ha!! Enjoy xxx
DeleteI always feel like these sort of dresses are "wearing me" not the other way around, if that makes sense. Love a-line maxi dresses and skirts. Just bought a gorgeous thick white a line midi skirt from h&m, fab with my many FCUK short boxy t-shirts. Clean lines definitely make me feel slimmer than frills. Love the blog.
ReplyDeleteI have clean lines coming up, fear not... How to do a Parisian Summer (or my version of it anyway!)
DeleteHey Kat! Personally I don't think you should keep any of. If I were forced to pick one I'd go for the black, not the other two colours or the Bird dress. As discussed in your 'A Great Find' blog recently, I would rather have items in my wardrobe that I know I will love and want to wear forever and I certainly don't get the impression you feel that way about them. I know they are only cheap but I've made the mistake previously of thinking it's cheap so I'll just get it, but all the cheap things soon mount up to one beautiful wear forever item and take up precious wardrobe space! Also, very reasonably priced were your Hush harem joggers which I think you looked very cool in and I can see that you can easily dress those up or down! Plus you'll get lots of wear out of them, mixing them up with different tops and footwear, whereas with a dress it's just that! One item top to bottom, obvious that you're wearing the same thing if you were to wear it a lot, not much you can do to change it up, so with dresses I think you need to really love them. I guess I'm just more choosy nowadays about what takes up my precious wardrobe space so unless you feel there's something in particular you want one of those dreses for I'd give them a pass and wait for something you love to come along 😁
ReplyDeleteI think you're absolutely right and it's perhaps the floral that's not floating my boat as opposed to the dress style which, randomly, I love! I've put them to one side and have focussed my attention elsewhere...!
DeleteWould that be a Marant jacket by any chance?!!
Deleteperchance.....!!
Delete😂😂
DeleteBoo hoo. Ordered that Wallis dress this week after spotting it online in Debenhams. A day later they refunded me - it was out of stock!
ReplyDeleteThey did that with me on a pair of boots I ordered. Actually need to check they did actually refund it.. as I also paid postage which I"m not sure they were planning on refunding from the email.. Thanks for the reminder!
DeleteEver wanted to get free Instagram Followers?
ReplyDeleteDid you know that you can get them ON AUTO-PILOT AND TOTALLY FOR FREE by registering on Like 4 Like?