For my second batch of try-ons, the theme is basically “stuff I wasn’t supposed to like but accidentally kinda did”. :) (Here is part 1 of try-ons from the same trip.)
Reviewed in this post:
Refresh maxi dress – black/white stripe
Om pants – floral sport
Runbeam hoodie – texture twist
Superb long sleeve – iris flower
Cool racerback – heathered poseidon
Cool racerback – regal plum
For reference, I am 5’3″ and typically wear a lulu size 2.
Refresh maxi dress – black/white stripe
I hadn’t really gotten into the hype over this dress since I’m a bit on the short side. I just automatically assumed it wouldn’t work on me. Turns out, I actually found it really flattering, and the fabric is so soft and wonderful. Of course, it would need to be hemmed, but that would be a very simple job for a seamstress (most lulu stores are not providing complimentary hemming for this style). Unfortunately, the store only had this and grey in my size, and while I don’t mind the look of the bold stripe, the white portions are a bit sheer. This isn’t really something I wanted to worry about, so it’s kind of a dealbreaker for this colorway. I think I would’ve liked the inkwell hyperstripe or bordeaux/black cherry better. I guess I’ll count it as a good thing that the store didn’t have them, since this wouldn’t be the most practical purchase for me right now.
Om pants – floral sport
Well this was a big surprise! I tried on these pants mostly as a joke, but I actually ended up liking them. I know, they are TOTAL genie pajama pants, but they are super comfortable and so lightweight. And actually, I did feel like the look somehow worked in a casual-cool-yoga-teacher kind of way. The waistband rolled up looks positively absurd (and very maternity-pants-y), but rolled down it works. I don’t know that I’d actually buy them, and I don’t know that I’d go for this print, but overall I liked them way more than I ever expected.
Runbeam hoodie – texture twist
Lots of people have been liking the runbeam hoodie. It fit true to size with a little bit of extra room for potential layering. The fabric didn’t feel too heavy for warmer weather, and of course the UPF is practical for the sun-conscious. That said, the styling didn’t draw me in, and it just didn’t really have any “oooooooh” factor for me. (And yeah, it looks a little insane with chevron.)
Superb long sleeve – iris flower
This one was really underwhelming for me after all the love it had been getting. Lots of people love this for the color, and I don’t blame them for that, because it’s really nice. But, the fit did absolutely nothing for me. This is my TTS, so I recommend trying a size down. Also, as an FYI, I’ve heard several reports of people saying the delicate accents on the superb line have actually come unraveled, so be mindful of this.
Cool racerback – heathered poseidon
This CRB strikes a nice balance between lightweight while still being opaque, unlike many people’s experience of its jeweled magenta cousin. It’s also quite soft like heathered CRBs tend to be. I wanted to love a poseidon CRB, but somehow the heathered part makes it less attractive to me–I would’ve much preferred solid poseidon. Every time I look at it, it reminds me of denim for some reason. I was hoping I’d like it more in real life versus pics I saw floating around, but…not really. It’s definitely a great buy if you like the color, it just leaves something to be desired for me. Too bad.
Cool racerback – regal plum
Meanwhile, regal plum is just gorgeous. I’m certainly not saying anything new by pointing that out, but it’s still true! I thought this one was nice in terms of thickness, and decently soft too. I was really tempted to buy this one, but between bumble berry, heathered jeweled magenta, and my older paris perfection, I decided I need to cool it on the pink tones for a little bit. Still wondering if I made the right call–maybe I’ll scoop it up if I find a good deal later on… (Update: good deal found! This one is mine.)
The regal plum CRB looks so nice with the shorts you were wearing that day.
Yes! I love the combo too!
I got the stripe maxi dress. My store did hem it for me. They said since it was a straight hem they could. I’m 5’3″ and needed it taken up a bit.
It’s weird, some stores seem to be doing it and others aren’t. I’m not sure why the inconsistency. This store specifically told me they would not.
I have the black/white maxi dress like the one you tried on, and really like it. I’m a shorty like you…5’2…and my local store hemmed mine for free no questions asked. If you come across the navy striped one or black cherry, go for it! The style looks great on you :)
Yes I’m leaning toward the hyperstripe if I were to get one. The store I was at said they wouldn’t hem it, so I don’t know why some stores will and others won’t…
I need your shorts! And that dress looks amazing on you!
Yes they’re one of my favorite pairs! Spring has sprung speed shorts, if you wanted to know. :)
I’m about 5’4″ and bought 3 of the maxi dresses (bordeaux, inkwell stripe and black/white stripe) and the fit and lengths of each are somewhat different. I had some issues with the bordeaux being too loose in the hips (puckered loosely along the hip seams), so I tried on about 5 other bordeaux dresses (at my local stores) and they all fit differently and had different hem lengths. Ultimately, I was able to find the dresses that seemed to run a little shorter and didn’t need any hemming. I also noticed that the fabric of one of the bordeaux dresses was noticeably thinner than the others. I even weighed 2 dresses (note, same color and size) because I thought I might have just been imagining it. Sure enough the thinner-feel dress was thirty grams lighter (weighed on a kitchen food scale) and when held up to the light, was noticeably more sheer. Unfortunately, that was the one that fit best, but had to exchange since the lightweight/sheerness really bothered me. Just says something about inconsistencies in quality and cut.
Wow, that’s so strange, thanks for making a note of it! Your comment convinced me even more that if I were to get one, hyperstripe would be the way to go.
I found the striped maxi dress that you tried on to be sheer in the white portions as well. I returned it from my online order due to sheerness and dislike of hamburglar stripes. I also ordered the bordeaux version and found it to me pretty meh – thin fabric and not worth the $100 price tag, similar to suebee below. I liked the close cut tailoring on both dresses, but couldn’t get over the cheapy thin fabric feel.
Yeah, the price tag for a pretty basic maxi dress is a little steep, it’s true, but I would hope that means it would hold up in the wash better than one from, say, Target. I didn’t feel like the fabric felt too cheap on the one I tried on, but that’s just me.
The maxi dress looks fantastic on you! I’m dying to try it on but my local store doesn’t have it. Will be checking the second store for it this weekend. I wouldn’t want the B&W stripe but thanks for the note on sheerness. Regal Plum is my favorite color from this year. But I have the Ultra Violet CRB that’s so similar, plus Paris Pink CRB & Jeweled Magenta Swiftly from last year, so I can’t justify getting regal plum. Too bad because it is gorgeous!
I find myself often going back and forth over whether it is worth having similar colors if it’s something I would wear all the time. I wear CRBs pretty much daily, so it’s more justified than, say, 2 similar scuba hoodies, since I don’t wear those as often. So, I’m not sure whether that justification or the desire to keep things streamlined wins out…
My CRBs have been sitting in the drawer because it’s been so hot & humid this spring that I’ve been mostly wearing WTSS, 105F, and Sculpt Tanks. I do have the Sculpt in Regal Plum, so I guess I should stick with that….trying to talk myself out of a purchase here!
Yeah, if you have the sculpt tank in RP it sounds like that’ll get more use. :)
Susan, my store had tons of regal crbs for $34, size 2 is always the last to go. Maybe you can call the store here and have them ship it to you for free?
Eek! Which store? I think I would give in to temptation at MD price…. :)
I’ll pm you ;)
The maxi looks great on you. I searched for it all over for it and ended up ordering from a distant store. It just arrived today (heathered Bordeaux) and i’m just not sure about it. It’s cute, flattering, but is it really worth the $$? I have the refresh racer dress from last summer in black and was wishing it had a side slit which is what really drew me to the new maxi. I definitely like the luon of last years better…
The regal plum crb is one of my fave purchases from this past year! Looks fantastic!
I’m always afraid that’ll happen after I’ve searched high and low for something–disappointing! From my perspective, if it’s something you really love and will wear a lot, then it’s probably worth holding onto, unless there’s something else you’d love more for the same $$.
Hi there
If your dress is a size 4 I will buy it from you!:) let me know if your interested. Thx!
Heather
I LOVE Maxi dress! Im between 5’3 & 5’4 and think the length is perfect. In fact I tried it with 4″ wedges and didn’t like the look bc shoes were showing. I got 3 of them, Hyper stripe, Gray and Black/White , but can only afford keeping 2. Any suggestions? which ones would you keep AA? Tnx!
Hmmm, well, I’d definitely keep hyperstripe! I think the grey is kind of plain, so I kind of gravitate toward black/white stripe, though if you like to accessorize a lot, maybe the grey one would work better.
Thank you for your input!
OMG! Now I want that dress, it would be literally my first lulu purchase of the year (recovering addict) – i saw other blog pics and just didn’t like it, it looks fab on you! my body type is similar to yours so now i have a better idea of what it looks like – love everything – thanks for taking the time to post all the try-ons! your blog is awesome, informative, fun, funny and super positive!
Wow, almost 6 whole months “clean”, that’s impressive, hehe. :) And thanks for the kind words!!
Suzanne, what size refresh maxi dress do you wear? I think we are about the same size and height and thinking of getting it. thank you!
I wore a size 2 in the maxi, which is the same size I wear in other lulu (I am a 0/00 dress size). Hope that helps!!
Thank you yes it’s helps!
Thank you yes this helps me decide. I generally wear a size 4 bra & size 2-4 bottoms in Lulu.