Gens Du Monde Dress
4
5
1
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Holly Golightly would wear this dress!
I love this dress. I think I have found my perfect LBD - it is very chic and sophisticated with just enough whimsy to make it interesting without ruining its classic style. I will be wearing it to a fancy work cocktail/dinner party and also to a friend's wedding.
I took my cue from the styling in the website's photo and paired it with some "statement" shoes (magenta suede and purple snakeskin Marc Jacobs peep toe heels), but you could definitely take it more conservative with black heels, and I even think it looks adorable with sparkly flats for a more casual party look.
The material and construction of the dress are great, no real complaints there except for one - this dress (actually, I think dresses from this particular designer) runs big! I am 5'6 and wear a 34 B/C (depending on the bra) so I am not exactly flat chested but the size 4 is a little roomy in the top. However, I doubt the size 2 would fit me better because the size 4 waist (and length!) are just right.
The good news is that it's really a minor problem, it doesn't ruin the line of the dress or the pretty seaming on the bust, and I do feel totally comfortable moving around in and wearing the dress. But it is something to consider when you choose a size. The hips are full-ish but not costume-y full, which makes for a really flattering silhouette on probably any body type.
Also, it is really, really, REALLY hard to find a bra to wear with this dress. The arm holes go a little low on the sides and when I tried a strapless bra, I had to pull it so far down to hide it on the sides that it wasn't - uh - holding anything up any more so it sort of defeated the purpose of wearing it! But racerback bras were hard to make work because their straps didn't line up right with the cut of the dress and would show, either on the shoulders or in the front (like where the strap connects to the cup). But they did not show on the sides and you don't have to constantly worry about whether or not they are going to end up around your waist on the dance floor, so I am probably going to end up wearing a racerback and pinning the straps in the front so they stay hidden.
Just to be clear, though, the roominess in the bust and the effort to find the right bra to wear are slight problems in the grand scheme of how wonderful this dress is.
Overall, I really adore the dress and I feel beautiful and stylish wearing it. I know I will get a lot of use out of it and it is a near perfect LBD for someone who wants just a teensy bit of fun and whimsy with her classic, elegant LBD.
May 10, 2012
