Stepping out little black dress - dress discontinued by DreamGirl - review by Ms. N

This marks the third in my series of "Little Black Dress™" reviews. The first review was for the Mullholland Tank Dress. Next came the Black Dress by Espiral. Today's review is for DreamGirl's Stepping Out Little Black Dress.

The Basics

I've said it before, and I will say it again: Every woman needs a little, black dress. Maybe you don't need it today. Maybe you won't need it this month. Trust me though - at some point in time, you will find yourself in a situation that calls for the simple elegance that only the LBD can deliver. When that time comes, the Stepping Out LBD might be one to consider.

DreamGirl's Stepping Out LBD features a wide neckline with sleeves that can be worn on or off the shoulder. The dress is loose around the bust and more fitted underneath it. The skirt will not appear too tight, however, because there is a line of ruching down the left side of the dress from the waist to the bottom hemline. This ruching gathers the material in such a way as to disguise minor figure flaws. There is also a strip of material that runs down the length of the left side and hangs in a manner that is purely decorative, meant to draw the eye to the ruching, and away from the aforementioned flaws.

The material for this dress consists of 90% polyester, and an amazing 10% spandex. This allows for a good bit of stretch, if it is needed. This dress will caress your curves, but it is so comfortable that it will do so in such a way that you will hardly be aware of it. As with the Mullholland Tank Dress and Espiral's Black Dress, the fabric on DreamGirl's Stepping Out LBD is thin and somewhat sheer. You will wish to wear a slip underneath if you choose to wear this in public. The good news is that the way the dress is made, you will be able to wear a bra without fear of flashing straps (when the sleeves are worn on the shoulder).

Sizing and Measurements

This dress is available at EdenFantasys in sizes small, medium, large, and XL. Oddly, the DreamGirl size chart for the site does not list XL. I am not sure what that is about, but I have been able to find the sizing for DreamGirl's XL elsewhere online...

For XL
Size - 14-16
Cup - D/E
Bust - 38"-40"
Waist - 31"-33"
Hip - 40"-42"
Weight - 160-180 pounds

My measurements are 42-34-40, I wear a D cup and a size 12-14, and I usually waver between 150 to 160 pounds. Given that this dress is 10% spandex, I decided that with the stretch factor, XL would be the best choice for me.

The length of the dress from shoulder to the bottom hemline is 34". On me, this meant that it was a couple of inches above the knee - not a mini skirt! I was happy about that. The sleeves measure 4" across - plenty of room to conceal straps from a bra or any other shapewear. The fabric at the neckline drops a maximum of about 8" if you are wearing the sleeves on the shoulders. This will mean that the fabric will drape across the bust, revealing a minimal amount of cleavage. If the sleeves are worn off the shoulder, there will be less draping, less drop, and less cleavage showing. At the waistline, the dress measures 17" across without stretching.

Packaging, Care Instructions, and Storage

The Stepping Out LBD arrived on a DreamGirl hanger in a clear, light plastic garment bag, like those from the cleaners. It had a tag attached showing the model for the dress as shown on the product page. Care instructions indicate that the dress should be hand washed in cold water and allowed to line dry. There are no warnings against wringing, so it might be possible to machine wash this dress on a delicate cycle. Personally, I would be very tempted to try it. As for storage, you may use the hanger that came with the dress. Simply hang the dress in your closet with the rest of your clothing.

If I am going to say anything "bad" about this dress, it is that it is a little sheer, it may ride up a little, and it may hug curves you don't want hugged. Add some shapewear underneath it though, and most of those little issues are taken care of. Oh, this is not necessarily a negative, but I should also add...you may wonder how exactly the neckline should be arranged. You will figure it out though.

I have to say, I like this one. It is very comfortable, not too short, and not too low-cut. In the words of Goldilocks, this dress is "just right!" I still have one or two more little black dresses I want to try out before I make my final decision as to which one to wear to my big event, but the Stepping Out LBD is definitely one that will give the Mullholland Tank Dress a run for its money!

On to the pictures...

I am weeks away from my reunion, and this is one of the dresses I am considering for the event. The other is the Mullholland Tank Dress. They both have their virtues, but I do like that this one exposes less cleavage. Whether or not that gives it the nod for my night out remains to be seen.

Check out both, and let me know what you think.