Well peeps, it’s time for a good old-fashioned outfit post. I mean, I spent a lot of money on this dress (probably the first summer dress I bought this year) , so I might as well make some *content* out of it.
Back in January I was obviously feeling pretty bouji, because I found myself scrolling on Net-A-Porter and looking at Reformation dresses. I’ve fantasised about treating myself to a Reformation dress for yonks, as this brand epitomises so many things I love and aspire to emulate (effortlessly beautiful girls – LOL because that’s definitely not me but a girl can dream – frolicking in the fields with basket bags and in effortlessly beautiful dresses that somehow work in a city context too).
I then stumbled across this dress and must have fallen in love. On sale for £124. An American size 4 – the only size left. I’m pretty sure I waited a while to buy it, pondering on it like my life depended on it. I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much on a dress, and I was really worried about how an American size 4 would translate into a size 8. And guys, I did my research – I read as much online as I could about how people found the sizing.
I don’t get hung up on sizing like I used to – as long as something looks good, I’m happy. And like a lot of people, I am not a standard size. I swing between a UK size 8 and size 10 – I’m more of the latter when it comes to my bottom half, but do tend to wear a size 8 in dresses and tops from a lot of shops. However, I had a feeling this size 4 would be a tricky one for me.
Indeed, I was right. Sometimes a size 8 dress will be a bit too tight across my abdomen, but fine on my chest. If I size up to a 10, the fit is no longer right – it’ll just be too loose on the chest and not necessarily that great across the rest of my bod. This dress is borderline strangling me. It’s made out of viscose, one of my favourite fabrics, but not the kind of jersey viscose – the crepy viscose that ain’t forgiving. Wearing a bra with it is literally not an option, and I can’t say the smocked effect on the back helps. Essentially, I feel like it was made for someone with no ribs. But if I were to size up, it would be way too lose on my chest… the ‘perils’ of having small boobs.
I don’t know why I kept it – I think I just really wanted a Reformation dress in my life. Do I regret keeping it? Not at all – the fit is far from perfect, but I do feel pretty cute when I wear it. And looking at these pictures, I do think it looks pretty bangin’. But is it worth £248, the original price? Hell no. Honey, I’ve had £40 dresses from ASOS that I’ve found life-changing (a fine example here).
Dress, Reformation (bought in January, no longer in stock in this colour way). Earrings, Monica Vinader. Necklace, Missoma. Bag, Loewe. Shoes, Primark.
This point, however, was something my friend and I discussed. My friend, who took these pictures for me, was pretty complimentary about this dress – I think she genuinely loved it on me. I told her I didn’t think it was worth the price tag in the slightest, pointing out that I had a ton of dresses that cost much less and did a much better job. My friend’s current experience with dresses is different, feeling that dresses under £50 just don’t look good and that a higher spend is necessary. And this is where the age-old debate of cost versus quality comes in… will I ever reach that point in which I feel the need to spend more in order to get something that fits like a dream? Well, it’s dresses like these that make me say NOPE.
This doesn’t mean I will never buy a Reformation dress again (I’ve got my eye on this one, pricey but could be very cute) – I like that it’s a sustainable brand and maybe this style, called the Cammi, just doesn’t work for my physique. And hey, I got my frolicking in the fields moment.
Pictures taken in North West London on May 29th 2022.
xxx