Recent curve-friendly dress finds!

Though I am a huge fan of Urkye and BiuBiu, I can't always afford to buy clothing from companies overseas (despite the reasonable pricing due to the favorable exchange rate between zloty and US dollars, shipping is often fairly expensive). Many companies that specialize in clothing for larger busts is also quite expensive, like DD Atelier [oh, but someday, I dream of buying about half the stock DD Atelier carries!) and Pepperberry-- and I can't afford those options on my current pay-grade. Though I love the idea of supporting small businesses, it's also undeniable that they can only roll out a few new styles per season as well... which means, if there's nothing that suits my taste or coloring, the options I can afford are already exhausted.

I've really been liking dresses this spring and summer, and as I've managed to find three different dresses that I liked enough to buy (each from various local stores), I thought it could be a good blog feature for hourglass women shopping in the US. It's refreshing to be able to try things on before purchasing (especially when used to buying online and needing to wait a week or two for shipping), but sometimes it's hard to tell what's actually going to be nice on, and what looks okay on the hanger, but terrible on the bust.

The first dress I'd like to discuss is one that you can buy from any of several department stores like Macy's or Nordstrom (or eBay-- my route, as I couldn't afford retail. I got an excellent price because the pictures were awful, but the dress is like new). The dress is popular online, by Suzi Chin for Maggie Boutique-- the Ruched Faux Wrap Dress. It was one of those dresses I loved on first sight, and it looked like it would have adequate bust coverage due to the fairly conservative neckline on the more petite model. The neckline and sleeves and asymmetric details appealed to me... however, I saw some reviews that said the lining was not stretchy (this is not true, at least on the short-sleeved model I own), and the size chart also was not hourglass friendly. I saw, however, that Darlene (of Hourglassy) had good luck with it, which gave me hope... and a wedding coming up this fall gave me an excuse to buy one (especially when I found it for around $20).

I ended up getting the size 4 (my measurements now put me closer to a 6 or an 8, not even counting the bust, but the 4 was the one at a killer price), and it fits, but it would probably fit a little better at a 6-- I'd recommend choosing the size based on your waist measurement, as the hips and bust both have extra space. The side zipper zips up to where my bust starts, then puts up a fight. However, the stretchy jersey means I can wiggle my top half out of the dress, zip it up, and then pull the sleeves back on. The thing a busty woman will do to have a dress that fits right at the waist!

I think, like Darlene, I really need to hem this at it hits at a bad length on my legs (an inch or two higher would look better-- I'm 5'3", 5'7" in these wedges)... but that's an easy fix. It'll be perfect for the wedding! 

 The  next option is also potentially more work or family event appropriate (I recently wore it to the shower for the bride I just mentioned)... and it was in a store I had never been in before. Dress Barn. This dress has vanished from the online store (I bought it a week before my wedding, so it's been a while) but it's from the brand Roz & Ali. It also has a faux-wrap style, like the dress above, with asymmetrical ruching. The material is fairly sturdy, but it is a poly blend so it doesn't breathe well when it's humid-- however, it does feel nice and smooth, and has washed well so far. I got it in a size 6 because I didn't think I'd have bust coverage in a smaller size, but I rather wish I'd tried on the four as the waist is big and I suspect it would be even more flattering if the waist fit correctly (and it's really not a style you can wear a belt with). Note that this dress falls at a much better "knee length" for me.

Though this dress is immensely flattering in person, the front neckline wants to climb up-- I have no idea what causes that to happen, but suspect it's got something to do with it being too wide and long in the back to lay properly. It doesn't fit as nicely when the bust hikes up, but it's a quick and easy fidget to get it laying with the seam under the bust again. Nonetheless, it does make it a dress I wouldn't want to wear to more active social events.

The other dress I picked up was from Kohl's (hit or miss, but surprising hits happen all the time). Elle mosaic surplice empire dress. (It's gone down 13 dollars since I bought it!) This dress is not professional, and requires a plunge bra, but it is cool, breezy, and comfortable-- and I really like the scalloped pattern to the fabric. The bust coverage is a bit too low for me (currently wearing bras in the 30G-30GG range)-- either the side of my bra is visible through the armhole, or the gore of my bra is visible in front, but it's not noticeable for the most part, and it's so cool and flattering in person. It comes in closest at the underbust area, which would look especially good on busty women who are smallest in that place, and has a full fabric drape below the wide elastic empire waist that doesn't cling at all to any stomach region.

I got this dress in a small-- I tried on the medium hoping for better bust coverage, but it didn't seem like there was more fabric at the bodice for the medium, just more space between the fabric panels, which made it show more of my bra. Since the medium didn't fit as well at my waist, and had more fabric down below, it was considerably less good in every way, and I'm not sure I would have even given it a second look if I'd have tried the medium first!

I didn't notice it until I was editing pictures, but it has a bit of a "hi-lo" effect, presumably because of my bust. That's a trend I'd rather let pass by, but I truly don't think it's noticeable in person, just worth noting in the pictures, whether you find it a positive, or a negative.

Wearing: Cleo Melissa, 32FF (runs tight in the band) in all pictures. Measurements approximately 38"-27.5"-38" in these photos (providing this information at the bottom of the post was an idea I got from Miss Shapen, she's so clever!)

I've always had a hard time finding dresses with bra-strap coverage in the summer, so I was pleasantly surprised to have such good luck shopping retail this year. Have you had luck finding comfortable dresses that fit your bust this summer?