I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels the need to get a whole new wardrobe when they go on vacation. Earlier in October, it just so happened that my partner and I realised we had to go on our honeymoon because it was a bit of a “now or never” situation. Our destination? The Maldives! White sand, palm trees, hermit crabs scurrying around the beach and unlimited mock-tails. But what should I wear? Well as much as my hubby wished I could spend a whole week in a very small bikini (keep dreaming love!), it just so happened that the universe came through and the amazing company, The Pretty Dress Company, reached out asking if I’d like to test out on of their newest designs. It’s been a hot minute since we reviewed something from The Pretty Dress Company (previous reviews can be found here and here) and although I have a closet full of their stunning dresses, I couldn’t resist a brand new one just in time for my honeymoon. I was very kindly gifted the new Hourglass Swing Dress by The Pretty Dress Company in order to review for you all so I send them many thanks.

The Pretty Dress Company has been an integral part of the vintage enthusiast community and they have been loved and adored since their inception in 2008. I know personally I have a wide range of their dresses in my closet which have been apart of some very big moments in my life including my surprise proposal, Disneyland birthday trips, my engagement photos and graduations. The Pretty Dress Company uses traditional pattern cutting and corsetry techniques which give all wearers that stunning vintage silhouette without feeling like those hams wrapped in string. Each collection is designed to be timeless, universal and suitable for a range of occasions. For their newest collections, The Pretty Dress Company returns to its original aesthetic which has resulted in a loyal customer base worldwide. These collections comprise of much loved signature timeless silhouettes with a nod to the Golden Era of fashion. Along with elegant and feminine designs comprising of hourglass  pencil cuts, midi swing skirts along with chic Kennedy-esqe necklines.

The Hourglass Swing dress is part of the newer styles and we have reviewed a similar design before here. The dress features the signature hourglass dress design which wraps around the bodice and into well placed darts for a flattering bust. The Hourglass Swing features a faux wrap and stretch control lining, the dress will nip you in at the waist whilst the full circle swing skirt flows over your hips. The dress is created with our luxe crepe which has a light stretch to it. The bodice has small capped sleeves which are very cute and flattering; I’m a big fan of these little sleeves as they just cover my shoulders enough so I don’t have to worry about getting the sun on my back and shoulders which could cause burns (I’m an Aussie remember? I’ve gotten sunburnt going to get the mail). The back bodice also features a concealed centre back zip.

The skirt of this dress is an absolute dream to spin and twirl in; it swirls, whirls and enchants those around you. The skirt is a cull circle skirt with pockets on both sides. The pockets are big enough to hide a fair amount of snacks as well as your phone and a juice box. The skirt, from waist to hem, measures 28 inches (or about 71 cm). The dress is fully lined with a gorgeous soft stretch control fabric lining which isn’t scratchy or itchy. The bodice lining is fully sewn into the garment and the skirt lining is loose, sort of like wearing a slip so you can see it when you twirl.

The Hourglass Swing dress comes in a wide range of colours so I selected the pale blue to match the stunning scenery. In the current ongoing Black Friday sales, I have picked up another colour way in this dress so keep an eye out on my socials to see which colour I selected (amongst two other Hepburn cuts). The dress was so comfortable to wear even in the warmer climate; I never felt like the fabric was too heavy and I love how I can wear this dress in warmer and cooler weather. The fabric is made of 93% polyester and 7% elastane which helps give it some stretch and a good tight fit around the body without restricting movement or making it uncomfortable. The lining is made from 97% polyester and 3% elastane. It’s recommended that this dress be dry clean only but i have given my dresses a gentle wash and let them dry flat on towels out in the sun on a warm day. My dress was a size 10 and it fit like a dream.

All of The Pretty Dress Company’s dresses are designed and made in the UK. This Hourglass Swing dress retails for 149 pounds (approx. $266 AUD) which may sound like a lot but when you take into account that it is made sustainable in the the UK, the quality of the materials and the design itself, it’s worth every penny. Personally, I’d rather spend a bit more on one quality garment which is timeless and classically glamorous, that I can wear for years to come and still get compliments is completely worth more than a cheap garments that falls apart after 3 washes. As I’ve said above, I have quite a few dresses from The Pretty Dress Company and find that every time I wear them I get compliments, they always fit so well, they have not fallen apart or faded and I know they will continue to last.

This dress was a dream and I love the simplicity of it. It’s also worth noting that if you are into the Disneybound community, The Pretty Dress Company is a great place to find a high quality base of a Disneybound outfit that is comfortable to wear all day. Even this dress can be used to Disneybound as Wendy Darling from Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella or one of the three good fairies from The Sleeping Beauty. I have worn The Pretty Dress Company to Disneyland before and will stand by saying they are comfortable to wear all day be it a simple dress or a prom dress.

A final special thanks to The Pretty Dress Company for gifting me this treasure of a dress. I will cetrainly love wearing it as the days roll on and already worn it on a recent trip to KL and it once again received many compliments.
Find the Hourglass Swing Dress here.

Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way. There are no affiliate links and I do not benefit from any link clicks or purchases made.