**Update: Check your email today for a 20% off code! If you're not an email subscriber, sign up and possibly ask Customer Service if you can have a code (they've been great to me). The red dress is back in stock in Petite 0!**
Dress: ASOS Tailored Pencil Dress in sz US Petite 0, Red (?)
Buy here in petite (also in black and cobalt) or here in regular (on sale).
Buy here in petite (also in black and cobalt) or here in regular (on sale).
When I saw that this dress was titled "in the style of Lady Gaga," I was apprehensive that there would be some whacky feature to it like an exaggerated poofy skirt. After careful inspection...I don't see anything Gaga-ish. I would see this more on someone polished like fellow petite Eva Longoria.
Sizing: Asos UK sz Petite 4 = US Petite 0 = H&M sz 2. The Petite 0 I ordered definitely fits smaller than sz 00P / XXSP from the typical petite favorite brands like Ann Taylor, LOFT, and BR.
Fit: This dress is cut narrow in the torso/waist, and has pleated full tulip hips. When zipped up, the US sz 1 on me has no room to spare at the chest and waist, but still a few inches of space at the hips. The bottom opening for the legs is narrow. Even with the slit, it's a snug fit past my hips when putting it on. Length on me hits right at the knee. I want to shorten it about 2 inches, but then the back slit would look funky and truncated. Woe is me.
Fit: This dress is cut narrow in the torso/waist, and has pleated full tulip hips. When zipped up, the US sz 1 on me has no room to spare at the chest and waist, but still a few inches of space at the hips. The bottom opening for the legs is narrow. Even with the slit, it's a snug fit past my hips when putting it on. Length on me hits right at the knee. I want to shorten it about 2 inches, but then the back slit would look funky and truncated. Woe is me.
Measurements: US sz Petite 0 measures 14.75" from armpit to armpit, 12" across the waist, 17.5" across the hips at the widest point, 13-14" across the bottom leg opening, 14" from top of shoulder to waistline, 33" total length down the back center.
Front and back, inside out (click to enlarge):
Quality: The material feels like a thin, smooth suiting material with a tiny bit of stretch. It is 100% polyester (machine washable), unlined, and the zipper feels kind of cheap. I wore it for a few hours and it didn't wrinkle. Price seems steep for the quality, but to me it's a fair price for a pretty sheath dress that requires minimal alterations.
Shopping Experience: Free shipping and free returns = happy me. Shipping is now tracked, which is great because I know that used to be the main complaint with ASOS orders. My order this time came from Atlanta, GA (versus the UK, like last time) and took about 5 business days to get here.
Colors: Currently, this dress is only offered in Black, Blue, Cafe Creme, and Red for petite sizing. The Cafe Creme is a light blush pink and kind of looks nude on me because I'm so darn pale right now. The strange thing is, I also ordered Red (it looks like a vibrant cherry red on the website) but I was sent an entirely different color. The one I received is a burnt sienna-coral-ish color, and looks just like "Firebrick" from their regular sizing. I'm confused because I don't even see that color as an option for petite sizing! So if you order Red ... you may receive Red, or you may not.
Dress: ASOS Tailored Pencil Dress in sz US Petite 0, Cafe Creme
Buy here in petite, here in regular (on sale), or here in linen.
Buy here in petite, here in regular (on sale), or here in linen.
Verdict: Keeping both. A rarity for me at this price. I know many of you probably find the Cafe Creme to be terribly unflattering against my skin tone, but I'm going to save it for when I'm tan.
I highly recommend this dress, but it can definitely be hit or miss depending on your body shape. I want to emphasize the narrowly-cut torso and tulip-style hips. If your chest is any larger than mine (I'm wearing a 32A with this dress) then I'd recommend sizing up.
Readers - what do you think of this dress? Did any of you pick it up?
Already gone in US size 1 in all colors! Looks great on you...I hope they restock but doubt they will since it's on sale. :(
ReplyDeleteI love both colors on you but my fav is the red/coral color! The fit is perfect on you:) I would totally get on board with this dress but the material frightens me. Perfect for work and oh so classy!! Thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteI like the coral color.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can get the tailor to extend the slit in the back? I don't think it will be TOO hard since all they need to do is just cut and make a seam. I think hemming will make the dress look even more awesome and hopefully the tapering effect will remain the same!
ReplyDeleteI ADORE that coral color on you.
Very nice dress, Jean. Are you kidding me? My favorite color is the cafe creme on you! I had to reread the post several times to get the sizes straightened out in my mind. It's pretty confusing. I'm glad you got two dresses that fit you that well. Now we just need the warmer weather, don't we?
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ReplyDeleteAsos is so great with their customer service! Just love them. I really like reddish one but I can see the cafe creme to be great to accessorize with.
ReplyDeleteI honestly want to buy virtually every item of clothing you blog about. I just placed an order for a US Petite 2 dress in red, so we'll see what color I get...! Thanks so much for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteBoth dresses look amazing and fits your body shape perfectly! I love asos but never bought their dresses before. How are their petite sizes measure with their regular sizes? big difference?
ReplyDeletei love the red/brick dress, but the cafe cream is pretty too :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! And weird about the Gaga thing! I like the first colour definitely but the 2nd one is really pretty, I'm sure with the right accessories the whole look will pop!
ReplyDeleteLove both colors on you! Got mine today, coral/brick red instead of red too! You are right on about the fit. The bottom hem is tight! I wonder if there will be problems getting in/out of a car? hmmm
ReplyDeleteThis coral color looks gorgeous on you, I love the shape of this dress. It looks very sophisticated and lady like.
ReplyDeleteI got in red and blue!
ReplyDeleteOh la la, I love the coral color on you. The fit is perfect on you. Coral color--It reminded me of this:
ReplyDeletehttp://jewelry.1stdibs.com/jewelry_item_detail.php?id=692
Coral color is so in right now and I love the contrast with neutral colors like grey and if you pair with turquise looks so pretty.
My favorite is the coral one. The color looks pretty on you. The cafe creme is nice to wear in the summer. I am sure you know how to style it beautifully :)I love the silhouette of this dress. Thanks for the review. I know some of the petites are looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteTimely review! I decided to buy both the red and cafe creme this morning after seeing your tweets. I'm hoping that I receive the "Firebrick" as well. I dislike that it isn't lined but the cut is so flattering on you that I think it definitely makes it worth keeping! The Firebrick is my fav on you but I can see the potential of the Cafe Creme during the summer with some bold costume jewelry.
ReplyDeleteI would advise to only keep the red. I think if you keep both you will end up always reaching for the red even if you get a tan.
ReplyDeleteI love both colors on you!! I see you wearing both and accessorizing them differently! Can't wait to see it after hemming it!
ReplyDeleteReally great review! If I order, it'll have to be a US Size 4 (chest and waist and thighs, LOL)
You look gorgeous!! How is that Gaga-inspired?! Typo perhaps? I totally agree with Eva Longoria!
ReplyDeleteBoth colors look great on you...even the light one! :)
So, how do you tan? In the sun, bed, or spray? I was considering trying a spray tan...never have before. So if that is your method, any suggestions?
NO!!! I just typed up a decent size comment and pressed on a picture by accident. Curse the touch-pad.
ReplyDeleteThe general gist: I channel the same opinions as Michelle on the gaga-inspired-ness of the dress. It appears somewhat classic to me.
I love both colors and althouth the blushing pink looks a bit like nude on you, I think the soft seashell color would look really nice on tanner skins. Perhaps a revisit when you darken a little in spring/summer?
Gracie
The coral looks amazing on you!! I can't wait to see you wearing the creme one with a tan! It'll probably look amazing as well. : ) The petite UK 4s are already all sold out! Thank goodness. Saves me fifty bucks. LOL
ReplyDeleteI like the brighter one more :)
ReplyDeleteJust Better Together
come check out the Vintage Scarf Giveaway
very nice detailed review! of course you already know i think this looks fab on you and i got one too! lol we'll see what color i get...orange-ish like your dress or red like red. can't wait to get mine!!
ReplyDeleteI actually quite like the paler shade on your, though the other one is absolutely stunning. Just a vibrant shade, especially for spring!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I LOVE your blog!! Just came across it the other day, and I love it. I'm not exactly petite (an inch or so too tall, and about forty pounds too heavy!), but regardless your style is gorgeous.
I LOVE coral on you, but I ADORE the cafe creme color. I don't think I've seen you wear anything in that color that's similar, and it's just simply gorgeous on you... something very polished about it, more so than the coral. I think it looks casual enough. The fit is perfect on you.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to put this on my wishlist as I'm not allowing myself to buy anything for a while, so I hope it's still there when I can get to it.
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ReplyDeleteI love the cream one as much as the coral one, but what I love the most, is your comprehensive review, it's so helpful. I'm not a petite at all (5'10"), but I truly love your feminine, professional, grown-up, elegant style, and even though garments rarely are too long for me, you offer a lot of great tips on overall fit.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
You might be able to have your tailors open the walking slit more so that you can shorten the hem. That should be an easy fast alteration from looking at the inside out photo.
ReplyDeleteI love these dresses - I just ordered something similar from Yesstyle and am curious about how it will fit (I ordered a M because of my overly large rib cage and thick waist).
They're both fabulous on you but I'm actually partial to the blush colour on your skin, believe it or not. =)
ReplyDeleteHa -- oddly enough, mine arrived last night (in cafe creme; now seeing the 'red,' I wish I'd have ordered that; will definitely have to wait on the cafe creme until I have a tan). We must have slightly different proportions -- or the cut is off, because mine fell just below the knee. Very frustrating. as you said, it's very tight in the chest and waist. I'm a bit more chesty, but I think it will still work. I'm taking mine to the tailors today to have it hemmed and see if they can open the walking slit a bit more. Best of luck with yours!
ReplyDeleteI can see how most people would like the coral on you (and I agree!), but I actually really like the cafe creme too. Coral is fun but cafe creme looks really polished! Too bad it's sold out already in size 1, but good for my wallet I guess. My semi NY resolution of shopping less hasn't been very successful so far! Too many "must buys" :P
ReplyDeleteI really like this dress on you and I am happy you are keeping both because I can't decide which color I like better on you. I think the cafe creme is still flattering on you even though it's pretty close to your skin tone and it's so feminine and pretty. sigh. I am pretty excited about the one I ordered but I know that it'll require at least a hem job. Can you let me know how much you end up spending on alterations so I can compare the quote I'll get from a tailor? I feel so overcharged here in CT...
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog via a photo of you LOFT posted on FB. You're adorable! Love your style!
ReplyDeleteBack from the hospital - minus 7 pounds 10 oz of gorgeous baby boy!
ReplyDeleteJean - I love both these colors on you. The beige shade is perfectly of-the-moment for this spring and the coral will see you through the summer. The fit is also spectacular - I don't think you need to have the hem shortened here.
Ann Taylor offered a dress with a similar fit last year (I am sure you saw it - it was a pleated neck with a lavendar oil print - here is the dress
http://www.gifts.com/search/product/Ann-Taylor-Womens-Lavender-Oil-Silk-Flower-Animal-Print-Sheath-Dress?prodID=332267&kwd=dna+print:
It was a bit shorter than the dress you have on now but the fit was similar to the Asos dresses. I wasn't wild about the print but I kept the dress because of the fit!
AT has a similar dress this season...but I didn't try it on because, well, I weighed 37 pounds more than normal plus I wasn't into the print. http://www.anntaylor.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=30597&N=1200007&pCategoryId=3939&categoryId=180&Ns=CATEGORY_SEQ_180&loc=TN&defaultColor=Winter White&defaultSizeType=Regular.
Love your blog. Could you do a post about seasonal outerwear? During the transition from winter to spring, I'm often unsure what to wear. Short winter coat? Leather jacket? Trench coat? What footwear goes with what? Gloves, hat, scarf, accessories? I often feel frumpy and under-dressed. I would like to develop a feminine style, but often look mismatched & uninspired. Help!
ReplyDeletethis dress looks so super pretty on you! i like the tulip cut shape on the skirt and i think with some slight hemming at the bottom, it'll be perfect for you. i have quite a few sheath dresses already that don't get enough wear so i'll probably pass on this one for now. but i agree you should keep both colors!
ReplyDeleteI am loving that coral color with your skin tone and how great is that fit?!! I'm glad you mentioned free returns as well, I didn't see that info on the ASOS website (then again I wasn't on there too long ;) Am I crazy?...I actually love the length it is on you right now! The coral looks like it might be a closer fit than the blush colored one...is that true or maybe just a trick of the pictures?
ReplyDeleteI have this dress in the coral color, US petite size 0 if anyone wants to purchase at a reduced price. The dress couldn't get over my hips! (even though I am normally a size 0. Email me: erika.stallings@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteLove them both! I'm with Grace, would have bought it in a second had I not put myself on this darn month-long shopping fast. I'll revisit on April 7th and see if they have any sizes left! Target also has some really flattering sheath dresses - but are likely too big for your tiny frame. For anyone who is a size 2, check them out @ Target.com and enter in search field: Mossimo® Women's Sateen Dress (link is super duper long, otherwise I would have posted it).
ReplyDeleteI love the coral! As for the length, I like it as is (I'm personally not a big fan of anything too short - I just got a petite-friendly dress from a designer and am apprehensive about wearing it as a dress (rather than a long tunic w/leggings))...
ReplyDeleteLove the 'red' on you! Audrey Hepburn would approve. The length looks good too as is but if it is difficult to walk in, I can see why you would want to shorten it. Great find!
ReplyDeleteThe coral wins! Both colors are actually very flattering though. It'll definitely on my to buy list. I'm so glad you updated so much these few days! yay!
ReplyDeleteI like the "red" one a lot.
ReplyDeleteSuch an elegant style, and it looks great on you! I'd had my eye on this dress for a couple of weeks, but your photos and review convinced me to finally order it. It's always helpful to have detailed info about the dimensions, the quality and so on, so thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the red/firebrick/coral shade is stunning on you, and I think the cafe creme still works with your current skintone - and it's just a gorgeous colour in itself. I ordered the black (in UK 6 regular) but the cafe creme was seriously tempting.
Just ordered the "Red" color on ASOS, hope it turns out to be the "Firebrick" color though! They restocked the US 0's earlier, but now they're out of stock again.
ReplyDeleteFor those making a purchase, try using the code UPDATEMYLOOK during checkout for 20% off all full-priced merchandise (works until midnight March 20th). Thanks for the comprehensive review, Jean.
Thank you ladies for leaving your comments and thoughts!
ReplyDelete@Anonymous I think you will get Firebrick : ) Another petite got her red dress today and said it was the same color as mine. When you get it, and if you like it, I hope you will share a photo with us! I already started a thread in the Alterations Needed petite forum under "item reviews" for sharing photos. And oh, I wanted to share that code too but unfortunately it only works for those who were signed up for email notifications. I wrote to ASOS asking why they don't make these deals open to new shoppers too!
@Frankincensy I hope you post a pic in the forum too, if the dress works out for you! I know you're active in the forum : ) Black is classic and I probably would've gotten it too were a 0 still left in petites.
@Callandra I see it too! I think darker colors are just more slimming, like they say...
@Anonymous Hi there, everything you listed "works" in my opinion! Between cold and warm weather I wear my faux-leather jacket, trench coat, and thicker blazers. Boots and flats work just fine. Hopefully as the weather changes, more petites will post their seasonal outfits.
@Annapurna A HUGE congratulations!!! Welcome back!! I hope mother and baby are doing well. Soon you will be back to your shopping grind again. I know you missed trying on clothes in the past few months : ) And yes I did see a number of similar dresses that are probably better in quality than the asos, but probably don't fit as small as their petite 0 and the colors weren't as fun!
@Megan You know, nude and blush pink are very "in" right now (or at least I keep telling myself that to allow myself to keep the cafe creme despite my blinding paleness). We should just pair it with bold jewelry and shoes. When you get it back to the tailors, please please share a photo with the petite community! I've made a thread on the Alterations Needed forum under "item reviews."
@littlenashua I'm interested in seeing your Yesstyle items! Hope they work out. I thought it'd be easy but they would have to move extra fabric to make the slit longer.
@Live Wow, thank you! I am flattered. It's quite fun for extrapetite to have a 5'10" reader.
ReplyDelete@Gracie Aw, I am sorry...it's happened to me all too often lol! I get paranoid and always select all and copy the comment just in case it "disappears."
@Michelle Hi Michelle - when I was in college I would occasionally tan on a bed but yes I know all the terrible effects and how it truly ages your skin...so in past years I've just been using something called "faux-tan lotion." It's a tanning lotion by Bare Escentuals and it's brown, so as soon as you apply it you see where it goes, and the scent is actually decent. I don't know how long spray tans last and they seem costly for what they are!
@R.L. RL, please post photos of yours after you get them so we can see how they fit! I'm excited.
@Claud That vintage piece is gorgeous! I'm hunting for the perfect pieces turquoise statement jewelry for this summer : )
@Fern Lol! I hope you love it as much as I do. I would love it if you shared a pic of how it fits or how you style it on the Alterations Needed petite forum. I started a thread under "item reviews" !
@♥Mishi à la mode♥ Good question! I've never compared so I don't know. A few bloggers ordered the regular sizing versus petites, so we'll have to wait for their reviews!
@Anonymous You should check back in the mornings! Since these dresses run small, the chances of a sz 0 being returned is actually pretty good. The red and blue actually popped back in stock in a petite 0 today (yes, they just changed their sizing from US petite 1 to US petite 0).
Really pretty. I love them both! xoxo Kiki
ReplyDeleteomg what a coincidence! i just received the asos linen tailored pencil dress in cobalt blue (love this colour!) 2 days ago! i love it too = ) i got a UK6 and while it's a little roomy, it fitted rather well. wished it was lined though. i thought i got a defective piece until i read your post. asos is having another 20% discount (the code is emailed to shoppers) so i'm gg to grab another sheath dress too. thanks for your post!
ReplyDeletebtw, the UK 6 measures as such:
bust - 15"
hips - 15.5"
length - 35"
here's the link to the dress i got in a UK 6 regular -
ReplyDeletehttp://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Linen-Tailored-Pencil-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1506212&SearchQuery=linen%20dress&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=RoyalBlue
Oh wow that coral colour is fantastic on you. I just came across your blog and I'm asking myself why I hadn't found it sooner? I love it!
ReplyDelete@♥Mishi à la mode♥ If you're still interested, I just got the UK 6 / US 2 regular in black, and it measures 15" across the bust and 12.5" across the waist laid flat - in other words, it's 0.5" bigger in the bust and 1" bigger in the waist than the petite version in UK 4 / US 0. UK sizing *should* be the same across regular and petite ranges, but that's assuming everything fits consistently.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS FOR COMMENTS
ReplyDeletehttp://womens-fashiontrends.com
Beautiful dresses! Thanks for the link to ASOS - I went on their site and immediately fall in love with the styles there. About to order 4-5 items. I emailed customer service but they said they couldn't generate coupon codes :-( Does anyone have a 20% off code that they won't use, and is willing to share? If so I'd be eternally grateful! My email is trang.mae@gmail.com. Thanks in advance!!
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ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this review!! I was always skeptical of ASOS because they use giant busty western models so it's impossible to guess how the garment will look on a petite body, but seeing the dress on you inspired me to order both. Managed to get the last UK 4 'red' (also the firebrick colour) and UK 6 cafe creme. I was planning to return the one that didn't fit as well but I fell in love with both so decided to keep em all XD. Really looking forward to wearing these this summer.
ReplyDeleteHey Jean! I finally got around to purchasing the petite pencil dress, but I'm a bit disappointed that the coloring on mine is so different from yours. Mine is almost like an Oompa Loompa's orange coloring >.< I just wrote a review post about it on my blog if you're curious :)
ReplyDeletehi, I'm 5'2'', 30-26-36, 44-45kg and I would like to know which UK size from ASOS would fit me.. whta UK shoe size do you wear, my foot length is 23cm so in your opinion which UK size 3 or 4 would fit me. It's my first time purchasing from ASOS so I'm rather confused.. PLEASE HELP!!!!!
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, I actually liked the cafe creme shade better on you.. both look gorgeous though :) x
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