Review: Banana Republic Dresses

It's been quite some time since I've tried anything on at BR. I was there yesterday and saw these sheath dresses and they looked quite promising on the hanger so I thought "why not try it on and give it a whirl?"

 

Francine framed sheath  00P

I really like the design of this dress and contrast of the darker and lighter panels together. The darker panel flatters the mid section and gives the illusion of a slimmer silhouette, while the lighter panels give the illusion of curves. The weight of the fabric is heavier than I anticipated and makes the dress look expensive. The downside of the heavier fabric (with the lining combined) is that it stiffens the neckline area and therefore causing it not to lay flat against the body. I'm not sure if you can tell in the far right picture, but there is gapping in the shoulders, neckline and armhole. Besides the gapping, I'd say this dress fits really nice. It's neither too big or tight and very appropriate for the office. I also wish the length of the dress was about 2 inches shorter like it is on the model. 

Even if this dress was deeply discounted, I probably wouldn't purchase as I'm not quite sure if alterations could fix the gapping issue.

 

Chevron striped ponte dress 00P

 I love the navy and white chevron print and how it gives a nautical feel to the dress. 

Out of all the dresses I tried on in the post, this ponte knit dress fits the slimmest. There are a few things I'd change though. First I would shorten the straps by about an inch to bring up the armholes and neckline so it's more appropriate for work. The lower neckline is fine if you're intending to wear this for more casual occasions. For the price, I'm also surprised that the dress is not lined. I think the length of the dress is a tad long and it would be ideal if its was an inch or 2 shorter to lengthen and flatter the legs.

This is such an adorable dress and worth the alterations. I would wait for a good sale on this one since it is quite expensive at full price.

Belted ponte sheath 00P

The color of this dress is called amber glow which is similar to a light mustard yellow. It's actually quite a flattering color and would be nice to add to your spring wardrobe. I also love the pockets --I'm a sucker for dresses with pockets! I have the same issues with this dress as the one above: the neckline is too low for work, the dress is unlined, and it's a tad long for a petite frame. The belt on the dress is also a little flimsy and  it could be more sturdy & stiff.

Like the dress above, I'd consider purchasing and altering if the price wasn't so steep.

Vanessa V-neck Sheath 00P

What drew me to this dress was the beautiful pomegranate color and the raised texture of the fabric. The dress is also lined and definitely looks and feels expensive. The pockets are also a nice bonus to this dress. For me, the fit is on the looser side all over. It's a quite boxy, especially around the skirt area, and I feel that this dress gives me no shape at all. I'd recommend this dress for someone who is more curvy and has bigger hips. Again, the neckline might be a tad low for work and I wish the length was shorter. I probably wouldn't purchase this dress even if it's deeply discounted. Alterations made to slimming this dress would be difficult since it has pockets and is fully lined.

If you have tried on any of the dresses above, please let me know your thoughts. I'd love to hear them.

There is also a 25% discount off your purchase that BR is running, use code BRNEW25. Code expires tonight at 11:59pm ET.