Image courtesy of Pink Clove
This print is so bright and lively and I absolutely love it. I was really excited when a few weeks ago Pink Clove's PR rep invited me to review something from their current range, and of course my only choice could be this dress. I requested the Tropical Print Wrap Dress in a size 16, which is the smallest size available (Pink Clove's sizing range goes from UK 16 up to a 30/32).
When the dress arrived I wasn't disappointed with the print - it's amazing! An array of beautiful tropically-inspired colours feature in the floral print on a charcoal black background.
The fabric is soft and stretchy and so easy to wear. It's not thick, heavy jersey so it's ideal for spring and autumn and could even be worn on a cooler summer day. The fabric does go a little 'silvery' when stretched, but I didn't find this to be a problem as if anything the dress is a fraction too big for me. It's made from 96% polyester and 4% elastane, and is easy to wash and wear with no ironing required.
The dress is similarly shaped to previous iterations but I am pleased to report a couple of improvements to the cut.
First of all, there seems to be quite a bit more room in the bust. My other two PC wrap dresses are lovely but I do find I have to wear a vest underneath them to avoid accidental bra show. This version definitely has more boob room and as you can see from my photos I am able to comfortably wear it without a vest. For reference, I am wearing my Ewa Michalak S Tęczowe Kfiaty bra 32KK/70KK in these photos (review coming soon!).
Secondly, in my original PC wrap dress review I complained about the fact that the folded over fabric on the neckline kept unfolding and that I had to use Wundaweb to stick it down so that it would stay folded; this dress has the neckline foldover stitched in place. My Wundaweb can remain in the cupboard, huzzah!
I do wish the wrap skirt had more fabric so the 'upside down v' shape at the bottom of the dress was less pronounced. I prefer to keep my knees covered so if there was more fabric in the wrap that would help to keep them hidden. As a side note, I really wish these dresses had pockets!
The sleeves are great - elbow-length is perfect for this time of year, especially if you want a bit of arm coverage. This length is also good for the workplace, where sometimes bare arms are frowned upon.
As I mentioned earlier in this review, I do feel that the size 16 is a smidgeon too big for me and my curves seem to get a little lost in the busy and baggy fabric despite the elasticated waist - which ends up a bit high on me as my boobs take up a lot of length in the top half of the dress - doing its best to show my shape. Not to be deterred, I added my faithful Forever 21 belt, and hey presto my curves reappeared in all their glory:
This dress is perfect for all sorts of occasions and can be dressed up or down. Here I've gone for a middle of the road look with black Maidenform leggings and black Primark killer heels, which would be appropriate for a day at work or drinks with the girls. I'd wear it with black tights for a more glamorous look if I was going on a big night out.
The Pink Clove Tropical Print Wrap Dress is unfortunately now out of stock on Pink Clove's own website but do keep an eye out on eBay and Amazon as you never know where one might turn up! You can read a fab review of this dress over at iCurvy here - I particularly love how Jo styled this dress with a sweater over the top so that it looked like a skirt.
Image courtesy of www.icurvyworld.com
The print is also available in a skater skirt, a peg leg jumpsuit, and a peplum top (on Amazon here).
