Back in May, I wrote up a review of the Peony Blush Dress from Teuta Matoshi which is a stunning Grace Kelly Princess fantasy gown that we all fell in love with. Since posting, I’ve had a few messages regarding fit of other Teuta Matoshi styles. It just so happens that I have a few Teuta Matoshi dresses already hanging in my closet so I thought I’d review another one for you. Teuta Matoshi is a designer most recognised for her whimsical and colourful designs. She hails from Kosovo and launched her brand in 2007 and now has a shared atelier with her sister, Lirika Matoshi (you know, the designer of ‘that’ strawberry dress) in New York. Her designs feature unique detailing, wonderful fabrics and embroidery and are all made to measure per order. In this instalment, I wanted to review the Garden in the Sky dress which is a different bodice style to the Peony Blush dress. I’ve worn it a few times throughout the year and most recently wore it whilst frolicking in the canola fields of PetTeet Park down near Beverly. This brand is exactly what dreams are made of.

Last year, I was browsing Instagram and I saw that Teuta Matoshi was having a sale and of course I had to order myself a few pretty things because it’s just rude not to take advantage of a sale once in a while. As much as I’d love to have a wardrobe full of princess dresses, I narrowed my selection to two, both in the V-neck low style. I had worn this particular style before as my reception dress (I should really do a full review of that dress because I’m still obsessed with it) and I was keen to get something I could wear a little more frequently. I have a soft spot for blue and wear it a fair amount so when I saw the Garden in the Sky dress, I immediately fell in love and became obsessed.

The Garden in the Sky dress is made up of several layers of pastel blue tulle with embroidered flowers such as daffodils and daisies scattered over the top layer. The bodice has a deep cusp v-neck which is safe to wear without a bra and I’ve also worn it with a bra which is unhooked at the back. Because the fit is flush against the body, I didn’t have to worry about slipping out and it worked just fine for me. Attached to the bodice are two gathered puffy medium sleeved with elastic ends. This means yoou can wear them along your arm wherever you find most flattering. Sometimes I like to wear them fully pushed up for an extra puffy sleeve and other times I’ll wear them further down my arm to reduce the puff. The waist is cinched and is really flattering, although the fabric is gathered, it’s not bulky and doesn’t pucker in odd spots. The magic happens with the super fluffy gathered skirt. There is so much light weight fabric in this skirt that you can’t help but swish and move around in it. The skirt is also one length and there is no ruffle along the skirt which I kind of like for a dress like this. The entire dress has a scattering of embroidered butterflies with tiny rhinestones along the centre.

I purchased the standard sizing instead of custom as my measurements were close to that of the size US 8. I have a 28 inch waist at the moment and the dress fit me like a dream. If I move around too frantically, sometimes I’ll have a shoulder slip but this is only when I’m really dancing crazily. I love the length of the skirt as it hits me mid-calf which is very flattering and I personally find it quite elegant. As mentioned above, I wear this dress with a bra sometimes but it’s a dress you can go braless in. I do have a slightly bigger bust than what’s stated on the size chart but I honestly don’t find it too tight. I’m normally a 38″ inch bust and the dress is supposed to be a 35.5″ inch bust but it really does fit me just fine. I could have sized up to the US 10 but I knew that I would prefer a dress like this to sit on me nice and tight and don’t worry, this style of dress has totally survived many big meals out and gave me no resistance whilst stuffing my face.

The only negative I had with this particular dress if after my first wear, four of the butterflies had fallen off (there might have been more but I just didn’t notice and now they’re gone forever). It’s a bit of a shame as honestly, for the price of the dress, they should be more secure. The butterflies came off the skirt which surprised me as I thought the shoulder butterflies were in the most peril.

The most stressful part of shopping somewhere like Teuta Matoshi is waiting for your order to arrive. On the site, it states that garments take four to six weeks to arrive after you purchase them. As everything is custom made in house, it’s normal for a longer wait time. I’ve heard of people getting upset at Teuta Matoshi because their garments hadn’t arrived a week after they ordered but that’s basically impossible for something this elaborate and custom made. We really have been spoilt by Amazon and fast fashion, so it’s nice to support some slow, ethically made companies. I originally ordered this dress on the 27th of November 2021 and it arrived on the 2nd of February 2022 just in time for my birthday weekend. It’s worth keeping in mind that at the time of ordering, there were still many postal issues due to the pandemic and I ordered right before Christmas and during a sale. I had a friend order a dress and it took just over a month to arrive, so their sending speed is getting faster. I do plan on placing another order soon so I’ll update the shipping speeds on that post so keep an eye out for that.

The main question I get asked about this dress is, ‘is she worth the price?’. She retails for $690 USD and although I got her a little bit cheaper on sale, she is a pricey garment. However, there is a lot happening to justify the price; first of all, she is made in house by skilled atelier workers who get paid a proper living wage. These dresses aren’t made in sweatshops in third world countries by underage workers who earn a dollar a day. Embroidery is expensive and the amount that’s gone into this dress is alone many many hours of work, even if it is done by machine. In the skirt alone, there are many meters of fabric which can cost a pretty penny even at a wholesale discount. Then there is the bodice which is fiddly to construct and put together; there is padding, boning and embroidery to workaround which can take many hours to do correctly. The fabric for something like this dress can cost you several hundreds of dollars, then the workers must make the garment and be paid a proper wage which is a few more hundred of dollars, then there is the company running costs such as lighting, water and electricity to run sewing machines. On top of that, they might even have to pay pattern designers to help grade and adjust patterns for different sizes. All up, plus a little profit on the side, yes the dress is worth the price. Like most of us who shop online, I’ve already seen Teuta Matoshi’s designs available for $120+ on websites that are clearly just using her images to sell lesser quality garments. Matoshi’s garments are not overpriced, they might be out of your budget, but they cost what they are worth and we can blame fast fashion for making us think the price is too high.

All that said, I absolutely love this dress. I’ve worn it a few times throughout the year and it gets so many compliments and tricks the odd little girl into thinking you’re a princess, which I’m totally ok with. I love the fit, the sleeves bring me so much joy and oh gosh that skirt is an absolute dream to twirl in. I’m not one for plunging necklines but this particular style from Teuta Matoshi has made me rethink everything I know about low v-necklines and has even encouraged me to try different swimwear cuts which I now love. Depending on your bosom and how ample it is, it can totally be toned down or up depending on your comfort level. I have three dresses in this cut and would happily continue buying it (I have my eye on a purple number and a lovely green one too).

This is a dress I will continue to wear for many years to come and it’s something that will continue to hold value for me. A lot of dresses from Teuta Matoshi can be seen as trendy for just now but there are certain styles and designs that will continue to be a classic for many years and seasons to come. This particular style has encouraged me to learn to sew something similar myself which I hope to do so soon. This dress is a dream, so far I love this company and will continue to support them.

I’d like to note that if you are in Western Australia and would like canola field photos like these for yourself, please go to PetTeet Park near Beverly. As tempting as it might be to hop a fence and take a few snaps, you run the risk of being caught for illegal trespassing, damaging crops and getting sick from pesticides. PetTeet Park plant a special field designed for you to frolic and visit to your hearts content. Check out their instagram to know their open times and to get updates on the canola season.

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.