butterfliesanddaisysvintage11

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Banana Republic Mad Men Begonia Dress Review

Posted on 4:44 PM by feeqwfqewef
It's here! or rather...I got it! Because Winnipeg is only an hour and a half drive from the Canada/US border we shipped the dress to a parcel pick-up depot on the US side of the border making it $70 cheaper than ordering from BR's Canadian site and having it shipped to my door. Score! Yesterday we drove to pick up the dress.

But I'm stalling. You all want to know what I think of my new dress don't you?

In a word, I'd say I'm dissapointed. The dress I ordered is WAY too big. I'd like to start this rant off by saying that as someone who has designed and sewn costumes before, worked in a costume shop for 4 years and worked in the Fit and Quality department at a major Canadian retailer for a year makes me more than comfortable around a tape measure.
In short, I know what size I am. I know what my measurements are.

According to Banana Republic's size chart I should be a size 10. I have a 37" bust and a 28 1/2" waist. A size 10 (according to their chart) should have a 37" bust and a 29" waist. I thought "Perfect! It will fit my bust and have room for comfort and movement in the waist." So I ordered it.

Well, here's what it looks like on me:

Is it hard to tell that it's too big on me? I feel like this picture isn't doing it justice.

Here's how much extra room there is:



The bust of this dress actually measures 40", 3" larger than advertised and the waist measures 32", also 3" larger than advertised. Now you see why I'm dissapointed?

And of course BR is sold out of size 8's.

All of this being said, there are many things about this dress I like.

I love that it has an exposed metal zipper with a grosgrain pull (handy for getting ones dress on by oneself!). Perfect vintage style detail.


I love, love, love that it has pockets! All dresses should have pockets. Period. They make me happy.


I've read online that some people are less than impressed with the construction and quality of the dress. I for one think that it's well made and is rightfully deserving a modern $150US price tag. Let's keep in mind ladies, this is not a vintage dress. It does not bear the same quality and care that our beloved vintage clothing has. It was made overseas like everything else in the mall. The difference is that it has a "MadMen" label on it to entice crazy people like me to buy it.

I also love the print. It is just as nice in person as it is in the photos online.

Aside from the size. This dress has met all of my expectations. I was sooo excited about this collection and even more excited that I'd get to own a piece from it. I'm so dissapointed.

Ok, now that I've said what needs to be said I can give you the good news.

I have a wonderful friend Jen (who I've mentioned before on this blog) who is amazing with a sewing machine. For my birthday she gave me this:

Do you like how I've used my bracelets as paperweight? The paper was rolled when I got it. 

And she has deemed my dress alterable and will fix it up for me!! Thank you Jen! You're the best!!

And you all know I will show you the dress once altered. Stay Tuned!

Lisa.xo
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Posted in Dresses, Review, Shopping | No comments
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Off Track
    Well, it seems I've done it again. Fallen off the blog-wagon. I was so excited for fall and now that it's here I just have no idea w...
  • Off with a Bang
    If you stalk me or at the very least read my blog frequently, you'll know that I had bangs cut in March. Here's the photographic evi...
  • Outfits: Cute Winter Dressing, Vintage Style
    I am constantly on the search for cute, warm, vintage-y looks for winter on the internet. I'm not gonna lie, it's usually tough! Win...
  • Good Books are like Good Friends
    I went to the book store a few days ago and bought a few books I've been dying to own for some time. I just love books. Like good vintag...
  • My Weekend in Havana
    Ok, I didn't really spend the weekend in Havana. The title is in reference to my Halloween costume - I went as  Carmen Miranda ! I rente...
  • HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
    (source) Hope you have a spooky, fun filled day! Lisa.xo
  • Do You Know the Way to Grandmother's House?
    The Boy and I love dressing up for Halloween. This year we're Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf! This is our friends new puppy...
  • More Nautical Flavour
    Another nautical inspired outfit. I love it! Off to work in 10 minutes...another quick outfit post for ya! Anchor Tee and Shorts: Joe Fresh ...
  • Goodbye Google Reader
    We all know Google Reader is meeting its untimely demise at the end of this month.  So here is my obligatory post (along with every other bl...
  • Dining Room Dreams
    I've been consumed with thoughts of a new chandelier for our dining room and of painting our dining room furniture lately. Here's ou...

Categories

  • Awards
  • Beauty
  • Bedroom
  • Bike
  • Birthdays
  • Black and White
  • Black and White Photos
  • Blue
  • Books
  • Christmas
  • Christmas Decor
  • Costumes
  • Dave the Dog
  • Dining Room
  • Dita
  • Dresses
  • Dressing Room
  • Eye Candy
  • Fall
  • Family
  • Flowers
  • Food
  • Front Entrance
  • fur
  • Gift Idea
  • Glasses
  • Glasswear
  • Green
  • Hair
  • Halloween
  • Hats
  • Holiday Greeting
  • Home
  • Hoover Constellation
  • In My Dream World
  • In the Real World
  • Inspiration
  • Instragram
  • Israel
  • Jewelry
  • Kitchen
  • Lisa's 30th Birthday Week Celebration Extravaganza
  • Living Room
  • Modeling
  • Munsch Tour 2013
  • My Favorite Blogs
  • New Stuff
  • New Year
  • No Vintage
  • Old Pictures of Lisa
  • One Dress Three Ways
  • Organizing
  • Other
  • Outfit Remix
  • Outfit Roundup
  • Outfits
  • Outings
  • Pink
  • Purple
  • Red
  • Review
  • Self Love
  • Sewing
  • Shoes
  • shop my closet
  • Shopping
  • Show and Tell
  • Spring
  • Suitcases
  • Summer
  • The Cotton Family
  • The Little Mermaid
  • The Wardrobe Project
  • The Winnipeg Fringe Festival
  • Theatre
  • This and That
  • Travelling
  • Tutorial
  • Vintage Rides
  • Welcome
  • Winnipeg History
  • Winnipeg Vintage
  • Wintery
  • Wishlist

Blog Archive

  • ►  2013 (106)
    • ►  December (2)
    • ►  November (6)
    • ►  October (11)
    • ►  September (11)
    • ►  August (8)
    • ►  July (15)
    • ►  June (18)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  March (11)
    • ►  February (10)
    • ►  January (10)
  • ►  2012 (139)
    • ►  December (1)
    • ►  November (8)
    • ►  October (5)
    • ►  September (14)
    • ►  August (12)
    • ►  July (20)
    • ►  June (10)
    • ►  May (10)
    • ►  April (19)
    • ►  March (12)
    • ►  February (14)
    • ►  January (14)
  • ▼  2011 (175)
    • ►  December (25)
    • ►  November (14)
    • ►  October (11)
    • ▼  September (14)
      • ...
      • Fall is Perfect for Layering
      • Prep Week
      • Hemming
      • Inspiration: Katy Perry In Style October 2011
      • Perfect Fall Day
      • R & R
      • 4 Dresses, 1 Low Price
      • Banana Republic Mad Men Begonia Dress Review
      • Outfits: Off to Work We Go
      • I've Given Myself A Bit of a Project...
      • 5 Ways to Add a Vintage Touch to Modern Basics
      • Inspiration: Fashionistable
      • Busy Hands
    • ►  August (12)
    • ►  July (10)
    • ►  June (31)
    • ►  May (9)
    • ►  April (13)
    • ►  March (7)
    • ►  February (13)
    • ►  January (16)
  • ►  2010 (80)
    • ►  December (12)
    • ►  November (9)
    • ►  October (6)
    • ►  September (10)
    • ►  August (18)
    • ►  June (9)
    • ►  May (10)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (2)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

feeqwfqewef
View my complete profile