Dress: Igigi
Belt: Sportscraft
Shoes: Milu
A month or so ago Igigi sent me a press release about the next upcoming season, and there was a dress pictured in the header. Deep blue shoulders, and a print that looked halfway between a stained glass window and mermaid scales.
I knew immediately I had to have it.
It took a while to launch on the website, during which time I saw several desperate fans admonishing Igigi online for teasing them with an unavailable dress in repeated marketing campaigns. But patience was rewarded, and finally the dress, Sapphira, arrived.
It’s one of the prettiest dresses I’ve seen on Igigi’s website, and that’s saying a lot. I’m a big sucker for beautiful prints though, and the colours in this one speak to me on a personal level.
The deep reds, purples, greens and blues play up my pale skin and give the dress movement and dimension that flat colours cannot. As usual for an Igigi dress I can’t fault the quality. The fabric is the slinky jersey that Igigi are known for, layered over a denser jersey lining, so that while the dress seems light and floaty nothing on the surface clings or hugs too tight to the body. And because the lining is stretch too it’s fantastically comfortable to wear; no constraining waistbands or seams that pull when you move. The boat neckline would normally make me feel a little top heavy, but the contrast shell draws attention away from my bust, and also prevents the print from overwhelming my face. The elbow-length sleeves make it easily trans-seasonal and I like that it pulls into a drape on the hip.
It was promoted as a workwear item, and it’s certainly appropriate for the office (unless you’re in one of those “suit” offices; in which case, you poor thing) but it’s one of those happy dresses that goes from office, to party, to date, to weekend wear with ease. I teamed it first with bright yellow shoes, my home-made necklace, and a belt to draw the waist in (the dress is just the tiniest bit big for me).
Later in the afternoon the weather took a turn for the worse, so I swapped my accessories over and discovered the dress went rather splendidly with the red boots that I bought last year from Comfortview at One Stop Plus.
Two niggles that aren’t actually niggles: As with any printed dress you’re at the mercy of the cutters, and you might not necessarily get a dress that looks exactly like the one in the pictures. With a company like Igigi you’re unlikely to end up with a dress that’s upside down (*cough*dorothyperkins*cough*) but there’s no guarantee that the one you wear will look the same as the one on the website. The dress pictured in Igigi’s marketing had a lot more variety of colour.
And the one in Igigi’s video (incidentally, can I just say how much I LOVE that Igigi does videos??) has a lot more white in it.
On the one hand this can be frustrating if you’ve fallen in love with the pattern placement on a particular dress, and the finished product doesn’t quite measure up. But on the other hand, you end up with a dress that’s totally unique.
The other issue I had was that the size 12 was just the tiniest bit too big around my waist but that’s easily fixed with a belt, or even a brooch. When I took the belt off later in the day I simply gathered the extra fabric around my waist and pinned it into the gathers already at the side.
I think next time I have my sewing machine out I’ll tack those extra gathers up permanently, but the brooch works well in a pinch.
It’s definitely a dress that’s going to make it into my wardrobe for NYC and Full Figured Fashion Week – bit over a month to go, eep!
On that note, I’ve finally listed my get-me-to-NYC eBay sale up this weekend, so feel free to drop in and take a look.
Ohhh beautiful dress!!! (on a beautiful lady)
Thank you, Jess.
This dress looks really lovely on you! Way to go 🙂
Thank you, Martina!
awesome dress! I really like this one! 🙂
and of course you look marvelous!
Aw, thanks Lena 🙂
I got this dress too! the 12 is too big in the waist for me as well – it’s currently being taken in! but I love it so so much!
Ah, I didn’t think about taking it to a tailor. I might try that, just to get the perfect fit! I do sometimes wish Igigi would go down just one more size, but I’m lucky that I can fit it!
You look fabulous in this, well worth the wait and you describe the print perfectly.
Thank you! I thought of that the moment I saw the print, and it’s even more so in person!
You look beautiful.
Aw, thanks Rena <3
Gorgeous both ways! Really, really suits you and I love it in both looks
Thank you, Catherine! I think it’s such a versatile dress, it’ll work with lots of the different accessories I have in my wardrobe
Beautiful dress! Looks gorgeous on you styled in both ways!!! Love the pops of yellow you added!
Cassie
stylecassentials.blogspot.com
Thanks you Cassie! Hard to go past some good pops of yellow.
A spectacular dress on a spectacular woman.
Aw, thanks Cilla! It matches my eye now, too!
Such a stunning dress, this suits you so well!
I completely understand the print placement issue, it happens to me all the time!
Me too! I’ve been disappointed more than once by poor print placement on a dress that doesn’t resemble the one pictured online. This luckily, wasn’t one of those cases!
I LOVE this dress. Is it only available to buy online for us Aussies?
Hi Kate, as far as I know, but it might be worth shooting Igigi through an email and seeing if they have any local distributors.
This dress suits you perfectly, Lilli! The navy base is gorgeous. It looks perfect with the pops of yellow 🙂
Thanks Jo, it’s a pretty stand out dress, and I love the way the colour play means I can play up different aspects of it with different coloured accessories.
Gorgeous dress- I actually prefer your print than the one in the pic with the additional colors!
Thanks Shelly! Purple used to be my favourite colour, but it’s not something I own a lot of as an adult, so I’m glad it’s found its way into my wardrobe 🙂
Am really in awe and wish they sold it in my size – you look wonderful!
Thank you, Meg! I often think that in the opposite direction, lol!
Gorgeous! Love both looks but particularly how you’ve styled it with the yellow shoes.
Thank you, Carla! I do love a little pop of yellow
I too was really excited when I saw the Sapphira on Igigi’s lookbook, and am glad it is now available for sale. It looks awesome on you. I haven’t bought it yet, and what is holding me back is a little concern about the sleeves … I wear a 14/16 in Igigi and my upper arms are quite big – some of Igigi’s sleeves are too tight for my liking. I wonder if there is quite a bit of stretch in these? Waists are always too big for me, and I usually belt my dresses, but that pin idea … why didn’t I think of that?
When I buy my Igigi and Kiyonna dresses, I use a Brisbane-based website called Curvy Clothing … postage is so cheap, and if you live nearby like I do, she allows pickups.
Hi Kelli,
Yeah, I’ve found there’s plenty of stretch in the sleeves, They’re not double layer as some of the Igigi dress sleeves can be, and the 12 stretches easily to 20″ around the bicep.
I recently received my own Sapphira, and I’m so glad I bought it. I think it has been sold out now, maybe Igigi will restock it. Anyway, you were right Lilli, the sleeves are fine, stretchy and comfortable. I really wish i had sized down because the waist area is far too loose. I might get it altered. I wore the dress with a red belt and red heels. I was lucky to get a front print with quite a bit of white in it, but the back view is a bit awkward with the seam creating an obvious divide in the print. Don’t care too much though, still love it.
Wow – I have been waiting for this dress to become available.
My slight concern with it was the (to me anyway) oddly placed dark patches on the back of the dress. It seems though, that as you said, that issue might also just be at the mercy of the cutters.
You look amazing.
I have to admit that worried me a bit too, Pumba. My dress doesn’t have those patches, so it’s definitely a lucky dip of fabrics! I’ll try to remember to take a pic of the back of the dress next time I blog it!
This dress is so fun! I love how you paired it with a yellow necklace and yellow shoes. I also love the photo of the model wearing it with the turquoise shoes. This dress just invites you to play with colours!
Doesn’t it just, Tina! I have turquoise shoes, actually – I should it it next time!
I LOVE this dress on you – its fun, fresh and a great cut. You look fabulous. I myself, seldom wear dresses as I was blessed with a lovely pear shape. I find dresses less than flattering and tend to wear a skirt with a sweater or tshirt so that I can have something that fits over my more than generous behind and thighs and a top that fits my chest and torso. its not always easy being a pear! I’d love to hear some suggestions that you might have to help us pear ladies find more fashionable and flattering styles 🙂
Oh, see I’m jealous! I really love that pear shape myself – but I suppose that comes down to that old truth that we all want what we don’t have. When I’m helping other people look for clothes I usually try and start with finding out what they love about themselves. Some pears really love to play up that cello shape with bodycon dresses, and other feel a bit uncomfortable & want to downplay it. There’s no reason you couldn’t do dresses as a pear – maybe try something with a wrap around bodice, and full skirt like this one: http://www.kiyonna.com/plus-size-clothing/Dresses/13121805
That dress is amazing on you … either with pumps or boots. Having a brooch closeby really does the magic. Enjoy this treasure hun 🙂
http://thickfitandfabulous.blogspot.com/
Thank you! The dress is such a winner, I really love it
Very cute dress! I love the yellow styling!
Thank you! I’ve become such a fan of yellow accents in the last couple of years
I love those shoes. I have shoe envy.
I saw the new IGIGI collection and was immediately smitten by that dress – it’s nice to know that the colors really do stand out, and it wasn’t just editing magic!
http://plush-plum.com – a plus(h) size fashion blog
Recent post: White Picks from eShakti!
This dress looks great on you. But then,you always do. that brooch idea is genius!
You styled this dress perfectly, especially with that pop of yellow 🙂 The dress is lovely — so lovely that I wanted to buy one for myself! Aaaah, they’re all sold out!
I love this! Beautiful.