I adore dresses, especially maxi dresses, but it can be really hard to find one fit in the bust, waist and hips simultaneously AND be a flattering cut. I have found the holy grail of maxi dresses.
While I was in Sydney with a friend last year, wandering about the CBD, we stumbled into a cute little boutique - the kind that looked like it would have nothing to fit my boobs. I still like looking at cool designs, though. The boutique was called Sheike, and after about 2 minutes, I found a dress that looked as though it would fit me perfectly. I didn't have time to try it on, as we had to go to the airport, so I bought it in the olive/khaki colour in a 14 on the spot.
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| Bulgari maxi dress in Soft Khaki |
I didn't actually get to try on the dress until I got back to Adelaide, but when I did... it was perfection. Thus was the beginning of a love affair between myself and Sheike. There was a sale over Xmas/New Years, during which I bought the same dress in the red colour below (and also a belt for $5).
My brother and sister gave me a Sheike gift card for my birthday in January, so I'm currently eyeing the Eden skirt, as it looks like the same fabric.
The dress also comes in black and navy. A bright citrus yellow was released recently, as well.
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| Sheike Bulgari dress in Scarlet |
MATERIAL
The fabric is this lovely stretch polyester/jersey... it has a bit of a sheen to it so it lends itself to a bit more dressy occasions. I wore the khaki on Christmas Day and the red to my birthday (but with flats and a silk bomber-style jacket to dress it down). Because of the material, the red, navy and black could all be transformed into an outfit for a formal occasion (with the right shoes/accessories and hair/make up), and I consider the soft khaki and new citrus to be more dressy daywear or something I would wear out at night to a cocktail bar with friends.
BUST
I adore the bustline, I really do. Wrap dresses are just so damn flattering. The neckline is quite low, so the right bra is imperative. I wear my bright red Cleo Marcie underneath the red one - it gives a nice rounded shape, but still separated to avoid a crazy amount of cleavage that I don't want with this dress.
The bust area of the dress is comprised of three parts: the two cross over parts and an additional drape over one side. In the picture, one side just looks drapey, but it is an overlay in the same fabric. It doesn't make the area bulkier despite there being two layers on one breast and one on the other. I think it makes it look a little Grecian, especially in the khaki colour.
The main reason I am thrilled with the bust area on this dress: I am a 32H, yet there is enough material that it doesn't show my bra under my arm.
WAIST
The waist is elasticated and sits exactly on my waist. It is higher than waists in other dresses, I think, but it's still norwhere near empire waist, which is my least favourite waist cut. I purchased the 14 for my boobs, but realistically, I would have needed the 10 or 12 for the waist. It is easily belted without getting bunched up, though, and I kind of like that it isn't stretched out when I'm wearing it, as I think it just looks more flattering.
HIPS
My hips measure about 42 inches (I don't have wide hips, but I do have a backside), and the material is fine in this dress. It doesn't cling horrible and flows very nicely from the waist. I find seamless underwear necessary under the dress, though, because panty lines will show up as the dress isn't lined. The skirt part is almost like a cross-over tulip skirt, as it has the wrap area but then just falls - the skirt is attached only at the waist band, so larger hips will cause the front split to be higher and on windy days, you might want to hold onto the front part in case it opens.
LENGTH
I'm 5'5" and I found the length absolutely perfect, but I think shorter girls (5'3" and under) will need to wear heels with it or hem it a little as the back could drag on the floor a little.
Despite being a maxi dress, it does show quite a bit of leg, mainly while sitting down, so if you are particularly self conscious of your thighs, this may not be the maxi for you. Personally, I don't mind it, as long as my thighs are nice and exfoliated.
RECOMMEND?
A resounding "hell yes". I find this dress incredibly comfortable. I really love my khaki and red Bulgari dresses, they both make me feel beautiful and sexy but not too "on show". It nips me in at the waist but isn't clingy on the stomach so I can still eat and drink in it without feeling self conscious. It fits me in the bust but doesn't smother my boobs or hang off them like boob curtains. If you are an hourglass (I'm something like 43-30-42), I would definitely recommend.
Score: 9.5/10
(The 0.5 was taken off for the front split that parts while sitting down - I think it could be improved with a short slip underneath, but I also think that could limit how many women fit into which size, especially if the slip material were the kind to ride up.)
On the whole, I think Sheike is a very promising brand for us bustier women (although I would be wary of the non-stretch fabrics). They have some really gorgeous and different designs and prints, and are definitely more affordable and "younger" than some of the other brands out there that cater for hourglass shapes (such as Veronika Maine).