Ask Angie: DvF wrap dress - YouLookFab Forum

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Ask Angie: DvF wrap dress

olga

i wonder what is your opinion on DvF wrap dresses for somewhat curvy woman like me, i am US size 10-12; tried one wrap dress once and could not figure out what is flattering about it. May be these are better on thinner people? and i for sure needed a slip dress with it, otherwise not for work...

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Anonymous

I'm with you Olga. I'm a 6-8 right now, and find those dresses brutal. The jersey shows every single cell on your body it seems and I can't figure out how it was supposed to be so flattering. Anything that needs heavy Spanx support is more than I can deal with. I'm also curvy, and have breasts that look way too out there in this dress - again, what is up with this?? I personally think it's for the super thin and small breasted, unless you're ok with looking super-sexy in a body -con way , which I am decidedly not.

olga

thanks Lisap, it comforts me i am not alone like that, internet is full with statements its so flattering, so i can not understand it on me

Nebraskim

Veteran

I have never been able to wear them because I am so extremely small on top that the wrap part just hangs open. I also do not care for such an exposed decolletage. I'm a 12, mostly straight up and down with a wee bit of pear tendency in my thighs.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The DVF wrap dresses used to be a LOT more flattering. I have clients with DVF wraps that are 6 to 10 years old that look killer sensational. And yes - a curvy figure filled it out to perfection.

Unfortunately, the DVF wraps since then have been an inferior fit most of the time. Too short and too skimpy on the bust and shoulder. They barely cover anything and are in flimsy fabric too.

Staysfit

Veteran

Maybe try the T72 style if you can find any. They are cut slightly fuller and IMO may fit better. They're my favorites.

Lucy

Veteran

Interesting! I love wrap dresses, I am all curves and they are the easiest fit of all dresses for me. I am a size 6-8 in US sizes ( I think ... I'm Australian!). I look for darker colours and a small pattern, as lighter shades and flat colour do show every lump and bump.

Jules

Veteran

Ugh, a DVF wrap was always on my maybe-someday list of nice things to own... Too bad they've gone downhill.

rachylou

Veteran

I've got an old DvF. It's a bit too suburban for me now, but I hang onto it because I do find it looks good. The material is heavy so it doesn't make you look lumpy, and this version has a bit of collar - more structure up top. I gather they're not made like this anymore.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Dresses are hard, period. At least it seems that way to me. I have no idea why the DVF wrap dress (the longer hem style with the longer sleeves) works for my body and seems so problematic for others, and it's a bit ironic, because I have so few occasions to wear it since my life is so casual.

I got this DVF pictured here about 3 years ago. I had another one before this one but I had unfortunately bought the first one in a size 6 at my skinniest point in quite some time, which I fear I will not achieve again. So I sold the first one, and the newer one pictured here is a size 8 and still fits (although I could stand to lose 5 lbs or so before wearing it after this holiday season). I love this dress but it's not easy to make it casual day wear or art-gallery rock'n'roll cool, you know? It's great for weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc. I had the front stitched closed where the wrap overlaps so I don't have to layer a cami underneath.

It seems other ladies can easily wear cool and casual straight or short dresses and look amazing, and they never look good on me. I take consolation that a dress exists that looks good on me, even if I rarely ever get to show it off.

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rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I guess I should note the dress is sleeveless...

MsMaven

Veteran

From the time they first came out to now I could never wear a DvF wrap dress. I couldn't get why people raved over them. I have had wrap dresses that worked. Hers are too short in the waist and the top doesn't really wrap--just gapes open. Funny how such a dress with such a fab reputation just doesn't work for many of us.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

MsMaven, I think you hit on part of why this dress is good for me and so difficult for others -- it's for the short-waisted! I just realized it when you said that. I was always confused because I'm pretty busty and not "thin" and others complained that this dress would not close over their bust. But because I am short in the torso and narrow across the back, there is adequate fabric to give me just enough coverage. I imagine that is not the easiest proportion to find in women, and it's also part of what makes it so hard for someone with my build to carry off straighter dresses.

LaPed

Veteran

I'm an hourglassy size 0-2 and I've passed on every wrap dress I used to own (never tried the DvF though). They all look liked maternity wear to me. :-/

catgirl

Veteran

I can't wear these either... I think you need some exact proportions for this style of dress to work properly. Can't be too busty, too flat, too hourglass, too straight, etc. Amy what's-her-face wore these so well in American Hustle, but there was a lot of cleavage going on too.

Janet, maybe you are the ideal DVF woman!

Ooh is that silk

I haven't been lucky enough to try a DVF original, but I have tried masses of wrap dresses. Being busty and short-waisted, they are really hit and miss depending on the cut.

Shallow wrapover or straight-cut = weeping in the changing room at my sausage shaped jersey covered form;
Generous overlap, seamed waist tie, just-over-knee length = gorgeous, rip the tags off and wear it home fabulousness.

rachylou

Veteran

Another Oh! I'm definitely short waisted.

Style Fan

Veteran

I had a DvF on my fantasy wish list. I always thought it would be a great dress to have for weddings and just maybe come in a colour I liked. Now I am hearing that I waited too long to try one on and see the magic. I really don't want to look like a sausage.

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

I have a DvF dress coming in the mail today that I tried on at the store. I have a pearish/small-busted hourglass figure, and had written off wrap dresses years ago. However, this dress has a structured bottom half, which creates a fit-and-flare silhouette. It may not be the look you're going for, but it does create a flattering silhouette. It isn't as low cut on me as it is on the model.

Diane von Furstenberg Diane von Furstenberg 'Valerie' Floral Print Wrap Dress

$548.00 $328.80

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Jules

Veteran

Ok couple of thoughts...
Like Janet I am a short-waisted. Once upon a time I also had a waist like Janet and in those days, wrap dresses in general were one of my best and easiest to wear cuts. Part of figuring them out (for me) was learning to wear a cami underneath, unless perchance I wanted to be a bit busty, then hey, I had that option. But when I bought a wrap I made sure I had an appropriate cami.
I did generally prefer a bit more of an a-line, and something other than clingy jersey. In summer I would wear bike-length lycra shorts underneath which helped flatter as well as make sure I was always covered in the event of wind or my ties came undone. My best ones cost more than say H&M and had decent overlap and well-constructed, long belts. It's not a cut to skimp on fabric with, I suppose, which fast fashion will do. But I've had some cheapie fake wraps that weren't bad either.
I think if you have, like me, a lifetime of struggling with many many dresses that are cut too straight, and/or with a waist somewhere closer to your generous hips than your actual waist, wrap dresses can be a godsend and maybe even very flattering. At one time they could take me from bumpy 8-hourglass to something closer to a proportionate x-hourglass. Honestly, one of my most conventionally feminine/flattering looks. But I've had a tall, slim rectangle friend who can wear a lot of things tell me she can't do them at all.
Now I've never tried the DVF dresses, so I don't know how they stack up now or in the past...

Gail

Veteran

I have never had any success with wrap dresses. Mostly I have found the fabric too thin and therefore showing every lump and bump and the tops always gape. I did have one that was close from Talbots but it was a fake wrap, the top did work but I really didn't love the whole fit enough to keep it I think I passed it on with the tags still in place !

Beth Ann

Veteran

My DVF knockoffs have died, after many years of wear, but I think they can be terrific on a curvy figure. Most of mine were a size 12. My cheaper versions (from Kohls and Target!) were a thicker fabric, and were either black or a print, which I think fools the eye into smoothing things out a bit. I would size up when you try them on, because I think a bit of shirring and drape is more flattering. I loved to wear them under jackets and belted with a wide belt, too! That last tip helps add structure and gives definition to a waistline that isn't 20 anymore!

anne

Veteran

I love the look of wrap dresses - but they don't suit me at all. I've never tried DVF, but for the style in general, I'm just too flat chested.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

This is an excellent wrap dress for curvy women. Much better than the regular DVF if you need more coverage and substantial fabric.

Karen Kane Ruched Faux Wrap Dress

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