I don't know if anyone else has been sighing over the dresses from smallish label tba to the same extent that I have. Until recently, it was internet lusting only, but I remembered that the UK Urban Outfitters stocked a selection, and made a point to pass by one last week. Since I had my camera, and since it's likely the closest I'll ever be to those dresses, I thought I'd give you a "publicity vs. reality" tour. Oh, and I know the photos are not up to my usual standard, etc. etc, but I was in a changing room after all!
The three guinea pigs:
First up, the white silk dress:
I have to say, I was actually not impressed at all by this dress in person, definitely not to the tune of £180... It says it's 100% silk but certainly didn't feel like it, and overall was strangely stiff and had a shape of it's own, which didn't have much to do with my shape. And it was just so peculiarly large and poofy. I like things that are "doll-like" in theory, but there's a difference between doll-like and looking like a doll. I could imagine being sent away from the Christmas dinner table to stand in the corner in this dress. Most odd.
The pom-pom dress:
This dress was a whole other story. I wasn't expecting to particularly like it, but I just loved it. The skirt is heavy black velvet that rises and falls in an inky wave when you spin, and the top (though clearly a bit sheer) was a nice colour that didn't wash me out, as neutrals often will.
The blue velvet dress:
Sighhhhhh. I'm really in a velvety mood this year (I think I've always loved velvet, but there hasn't been any nice velvet to be had since about the 90s...) This dress was a dream, heavy yet bouncy, gorgeously collared. It even comes in burnt orange on Asos... And there was masses of fabric:
Both the pom pom and the blue velvet dress had me doing mental arithmetic to the tune of, "if I don't eat for say, a month..."
However, I've been saved from such drastic measures. Just this afternoon arrived a lovely vintage 1960s black velvet dress, which I ordered on Etsy before I left Mexico and have been waiting for an address to send for it. And the best part? It was only $33... : ) Good things come to those who search!
51 comments:
this was such a fun post!! i do love the pom pom one for sure...
Amazing dresses !!! : D
this is such a great idea for a post!!! i really enjoyed reading your reviews on this dress and i must agree with you - the second one is by far my favorite although the prices are a little crazy. you should definitely a post like this again :)
@Diana: thanks! The second one was amazing and the third too... if anything, I don't think the photos really do the third one justice. it was one of those dresses you have to wear to appreciate!
Ha, ha, a post in a changing room, how cool! I love the black dress!
I made some photos of an outfit of me in a changing room, once (they're on my blog somewhere in the beginnen), because both dresses were extremely expensive for my standards.
Beautiful dresses btw!!!
Oh I LOVED the pompon dress, but the last velvet one is really something**
Great post***
i love the second dress.
Last sentence is perfect...'Good things...' Though your posts are always full of pictures and most people comment on those, I read your write ups carefully and enjoy them... For example in this post..last sentence is the perfect ending but sentences like 'diffrence between doll like and doll...' are also cool
The second dress, no offence its the only flattering one. It looks great on you where as the other 2 have no shape!!
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Nice write up. You should take up as a fashion editor.
all 3 dresses are really nice. But I really like the last one:)
xoxo, Olya
www.theate-olya.blogspot.com
@A: Thank you so much! I love to write and I love to know that other people enjoy my writing!
@daisymay: well, I agree that the first dress was unflattering, as I said in my write-up. The third dress was actually lovely, not easily photographed, but the type of dress that doesn't need to be flattering exactly to make an impact.
Love the second dress!! That first picture I love the angle you took the picture from!!
http://themessenger-bag.blogspot.com
i've been dying to try on all the tba dresses when i've visited urban outfitters but have so far resisted as i knew i'd come away disappointed at not being able to buy! i've had my eye on the blue velvet dress but the pom pom one is gorgeous too, you look wondeful in it! i might just give in & try some on, after all its nearly christmas so who knows what santa might bring me! :)
www.messyourhairupblogspot.com
I like the way you described the silk dress hahaha, very funny. As they say sometimes here in Spain: "una cosa es una cosa y otra cosa es otra cosa" It sounds almost absurd but it has sense haha.
Happy to hear you've founded a nice velvet dress, I can't afford tba dresses either!
Such fun & unique dresses! That velvet dress is adorable & those are hard to come by :-)
New follower here!
http://jennymayandswede.blogspot.com/
Ooh that second one is my favorite!!! Sooo cute!!
and YAY for getting your velvet dress in the mail! :D
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/
So much fun! I'm a fan of the middle pom pom dress too! Sometimes happiness is velvet! And I'm sure it goes great with ruby slippers! :)
Haha, very good, I like the third one, petonets
I love the pom pom dress..its gorgeous!!
I was laughing thru' and thru - ok, not really laughing as in "ha ha ha" but I was amused by every sentence I would say...
Good idea too for a blog post. Can't wait to see what idea you come up with next.
~ NRIGirl
i do loveee the pom2 dress xD
the first dress is the cutest! :DD
#1 looks good, but #2 and #3 are showstoppers!! they suit you so well...now where to get the money...that is the worst part. oy
xoxo,
Carrie
Waauuw your second ensemble is amazing!! Lovely post!
xxx
lifeisroyalty.blogspot.com
I love the second dress...looks amazing!
The dresses are lovely, such as your blog!!! Really cute!
xoxo
i have to agree with you, despite loving feminine dresses and the first one looking the most feminine one, it looks stiff, in a bad way, and does not look silk at all. so it's a no no.
the other ones, agreeing once again, would love to own both of them! of course they are also way out of my budget scale haha! though it must feel nice to actually try them on (I've only seen them at the family affairs site)
oh and i'm going to London for a few days next week :D
awh i love this. your analysing bit is beautifully written
x
what a great post! i've seen these dresses on more financially-endowed bloggers and just dismissed them as being impossible for me. i should just go hang out in a changing room and get my fix :)
i love velvet too--it's so funny how these fads come back around. i wonder if any of my old velvet dresses from elementary school would still fit... i haven't grown much taller!
How brilliant; I wish more folks would do posts like these! I, too, am an admirer of the white silk and pom-pom tba dresses, and have considered saving up for one, so I appreciate the real-life documentation of them. The pom-pom dress looks KILLER on you!
You have quite the interesting and lovely blog here. Consider me your newest follower. :)
Lovely top!!
Vicky
(new post: It's not all about fashion & follow me)
lovely dresses !! I love your blog :)
yes to the pom pom dress! i love changing room shots too. . they are such great fun
omg the pom-pom one looks great on you, it's just so beautiful!!
The pompom dress is adorable, cuter on you than the model I think! I love velvety dresses so much! I have a greyish one that I don't wear very often but just love, and it was only like $3, so I keep it around haha!
Such beautiful dresses! I definitely agree that the second and third dresses are by far the most adorable on you. The first one is what I call a "good in theory" dress. It looks and seems like a good idea, but when its actually on someone, it's just a big mess. Lol. I've tried on several of those myself recently. ;)
And also, thank you for being such a sweetheart to me the other day. Your words brought a smile to my face. :)
girrrll the second one is made for you! also, i'm so stoked that you got your package and love everything! hooray!!! :D :D :D
xx
MILK TEETHS
Emily--wanted to let you know that the necklace arrived safely in the mail on Monday 10/25. I will be doing a post on it in the next week or so.
Oh, and personally, the pom-pom dress was my first choice and looks great on you.
What a fun post!! My favorite is the pom pom dress.
Can't wait to see your Etsy delivery. :)
Leaving the House in THIS?!?!
eee! i can't believe you tried those on! the last one is to die for...
Beautiful and fun post. In past, i have also done some shoot in trial room. Sometimes, you do want the feel of a particular dress, yet do not want to spend a bomb. This kind of a thing feels good.
You do look nice in pom pom dress and the velvet dress. I am glad you got something of your choice in less price range.
Emily, this is such a great idea for a post! I really enjoyed it. The pom pom dress looks incredible and I loooove the velvet dress to bits.
I can't wait to see the black velvet dress you found via Etsy. I found a red velvet dress with the prettiest lace collar at a thrift store some months back, but it needs some serious hemming. There's just something so luxurious about velvet that never ceases to make me smile. Oh, and speaking of smiles, your line about there being no nice velvet to be had since the 90s was seriously funny. And true!
P.S. Definitely heed your boyfriend's suggestion and use film! Your digital photos are always so lovely, I can't even begin to imagine what you'd do with film :)
sure I'd love to meet up Emily!
send me your e-mail to my blogging mail (blacksheepr@gmail.com) and I'll reply you from my personal e-mail, because I go ages without looking at my blogging one, oops. and then we can arrange a meeting :)
looks like Alexa Chung *----*
really.
xx
I'm glad i'm not the only one who does this! I wish I could get away with it at the higher end stores, but they just follow you around like puppy and seem to be able to smell my lack of money hahaha. Thanks for putting these up!
Sigh...I have been lusting after that blue velvet dress for so long! I am glad to hear that is thick and amazing. I finally decided to save my splurge and buy a velvet dress from topshop but it ripped on the first wear! I think I will be returning it and saving up for that one, it looks wonderful.
I love the second dress you tried on, its just so lovely - love the dots, the nudes and the heavy black velvet flowy skirt? The best combo.
And the best part is how you reviewed them :)
<3
Changing room photos are such fun :) I love the shape of the white dress.
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