Thursday, July 13, 2017

Review: Pretty Dress Company Priscilla

Like seemingly everyone who's put on a Pretty Dress Company frock, I'm a massive fan! Ever since I saw the yellow gingham Priscilla swing dress on the lovely Miss Amy May, I've been longing for one of my very own. So when the Pretty Dress Co. offered worldwide free shipping in May, I jumped at the chance to grab one for my own without paying close to $40 in shipping fees, and today I'm finally sharing a long-overdue review of this gorgeous sundress!

Pretty Dress Company Priscilla
Belated spoiler alert: I love this dress. I wish I lived in the UK, so I could fill my closet with this dress in every single print. In particular, I'm eyeing the harlequin and tiki palm versions.

While my Hepburn wiggle and swing have gotten plenty of airtime at the office, the Priscilla is the perfect midcentury sundress, ideal for our weekly Chicago outings but suitable for work if I throw on a cardigan.

Pretty Dress Company Priscilla yellow

The fabric is quite a bit lighter than the substantial stretch cotton sateen of my other PDC dresses, in keeping with the summery silhouette. It's fully lined (woohoo! No static cling on the skirt here!), but still wearable in 90+ degree weather.

I absolutely love how the dress drapes and moves, and it seems to be quite wrinkle-resistant (a boon if you, like me, absolutely refuse to iron anything.) The pleats fall perfectly right out of my overstuffed closet, and cope extremely well with the ridiculous Chicago wind. Though I'm wearing it with a petticoat in these photos, it looks just as lovely without, as the skirt is so full.

Pretty Dress Company Priscilla yellow gingham
Pretty Dress Company Priscilla review

I decided to pair this dress with olive green and coral, but I also love how it looks with red accents as well as classic white, and I might even try it with purple, for that super-subtle nod to my favorite basketball team.

Since I wanted to wear this well into my pregnancy, I sized up to the 16. According to the size chart, the 16 fits a 40" bust and a 32.75" waist, but I'm wearing this comfortably at almost six months pregnant with a 41" bust. Measured flat, my dress is 20.25" from armpit to armpit and 16.5" at the waist seam. This gives a slightly less generous bust-to-waist ratio than some of my other vintage-reproduction dresses, but it's perfect for me right now and I'm happy to add darts under the bust after the baby comes, if need be.

My only quibble with this dress is the straps. I wish they were adjustable, because I am short. But in the grand scheme of dress alterations, this is one of the easiest things to fix. Even I can add a few stitches to each strap!

Pretty Dress Company Priscilla yellow gingham swing review
Pretty Dress Company Priscilla yellow gingham review

After all my other Pretty Dress Company reviews, I knew I'd be happy with this dress, but after putting this one on, I'm going to have a much harder time choosing between my beloved Hepburns and this style in the future! The Priscilla fills that gaping yellow-gingham-sundress-shaped hole in my life to a T, and I've got big plans to wear this on our next Chicago adventure! What color do you think I should accessorize it with next time?

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36 comments:

  1. I love it, so bright and summery!

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    1. Thank you so much! Yellow is such a happy color :).

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  2. Emily, you look incredible as always! I've really been loving gingham lately, I need to invest in something similar! I am also a huge lover of wrinkle-resistant fabric, anything that stays looking lovely all day even if you've been sitting down, is a total winner in my book! Many thanks for sharing your gorgeous look!

    Abbey 🐬 www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk

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    1. Thank you so much, Abbey! Isn't gingham just pure summer in fabric form? I hope you find something fun in a gingham you'll enjoy wearing!

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  3. Gahhhh. The style is adorable and my favorite color? Are you trying to ruin me? I love this outfit, and you're absolutely working it while being six months pregnant. I need to get myself a dress from this company. They're all so swoon worthy.

    Breanna Catharina
    toocuteforlife.com

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    1. This is such a classic style and I'm not trying to be the little devil on your shoulder, but the yellow gingham is ON POINT. There's a similar dress I've seen that's fully customizable, sizing-wise, and I'm tempted to pick up some other colors in a smaller gingham. But I 100% recommend TPDC and am REALLY glad I got this one!

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  4. Awww this is such a lovely summery dress and I love the red petticoat underneath!
    I struggle with that problem with the straps too! I'm short and need them be adjustable! It is easy fixed with a few stitches though
    PaleGirlRambling xo

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    1. Thank you! I really can't resist adding a little red ;). And I'm going to actually stitch these straps down as soon as I get back to Chicago from visiting my family.

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  5. This dress is so pretty, really suits you as well. I love yellow and I loved checkered, so its the perfect dress for me. It is such an adorable style.
    Lois x
    www.lifeasloismay.wordpress.com

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    1. Thank you so much! It twirls like a dream and I just love the bright color and classic shape.

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  6. Omg this dress is so cute! Maybe it is just me but I'm picturing a cute black belt with the dress as well? 😍

    Nikki
    herdaringthoughts.blogspot.com

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    1. OOOOH I love that idea! Then I could add black shoes and a big black bow in my hair! Thanks for the inspo!

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  7. Love love love the dress! You look fab and the gingham is so on trend!
    Tara xo
    http://taradaniella.com

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    1. Thank you so much! I absolutely *adore* gingham, especially in summertime, but I have a hard time resisting it even in the middle of winter!

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  8. Such a beautiful summery dress! It really suits you.

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  9. Such a beautiful summery dress! It really suits you.

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    1. Aww, thanks so much! I just love the sunshine-y color!

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  10. Always in love with how you wear such colourful outfits! Can't go wrong with a non crinkle dress, what a win win! Love this dress on you!

    Jessica & James | www.foodandbaker.co.uk / www.foodandbakertravels.co.uk

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    1. Color makes living through the cold Chicago winters doable for me! And with all the traveling you do, wrinkle-free fabric is a must-have, no?

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  11. This is so so cute! Love the pop of red when you twirl! I love that gingham is a trend- though I have yet to buy any myself...now you've got me itching to get some into my wardrobe! The sunny yellow is perfect too!

    Mary Lane @NewYorkCliche
    http://newyorkcliche.com

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    1. Thank you, Mary Lane <3! Gingham is so fun and so quintessentially summery! If you find anything you love, be sure to let me know!

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  12. I love the style/shape of this dress, I would swish about for hours!

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    1. Thank you! I basically spend half my life twirling.

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  13. Oh it's so beautiful! So, so beautiful! I love your accessories too, I'd never have thought olive would go but it looks lovely.
    Cora ❤ http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/

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    1. <3 Thank you! I've loved the combination of green and yellow since I was little, and couldn't resist wearing this olive belt.

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  14. Ahhhh....I can't. I want a PDC dress so bad. Please excuse me while I go cry in the ladies room. :p

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    1. You seriously need one! Maybe you'll find one the next time UV has their version of the yard sale? This would be SO cute on you!

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  15. This dress is absolutely stinninng! I love the colour and it has such a lovely shape that fits you so well x

    Kayleigh Zara 🌻🍂www.kayleighzaraa.com

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    1. Thank you so much! I just adore a full skirt, and I really couldn't pass on the gingham!

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  16. You look absolutely gorgeous! I'm so jealous you have this dress. It's as if you just stepped out of an scene from Grease and that is enough to make me so sad.

    I need to get myself one for this summer!

    Alys | alysgeorge.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Aw, thank you so much! It really is the perfect dress for imagining you're at a dance and about to spontaneously burst into song. You definitely need it!

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  17. LOVE yellow gingham so much! I need a yellow gingham dress in my life. This one is so cute on you! It's hard to pass up free international shipping, that's for sure!

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    1. Thank you, Bristol! Have you thought about trying the Hearts and Found version? I'm thinking about getting one of the purple ones. Hopefully they'll do free shipping again!

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  18. You look gorgeous! I'm a fan of anything that looks vintage especially the mid one and who can't say no to free international shipping? Also it would be cool to accessorize something white like bracelet or necklace to match the dress. xo

    Michelle| www.brokebutflawless.blogspot.com

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    1. I absolutely love midcentury-looking clothes, too! Lately I've been getting into real vintage, and it really is like treasure hunting. A big plastic gumball necklace would be so cute with this dress!

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  19. Absolutely love the yellow, makes it so summery and then that pop of red is fab!

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