Shabby Apple Review

A few days ago I told you that I ordered this dress from Shabby Apple.

It came today, so I thought I would use this opportunity to review it. (Note:Shabby Apple did not compensate me in any way, I just loved the idea of this company & I figured I would post an honest review for you)

I am very pleased with the fit of this dress. I am VERY curvy and it flatters my body type very well. The size chart on their website was accurate. Plus it is very comfortable and easy to move in. I also love that there was a little tag attached with the name and story of a woman in India who was being helped by my purchase because the company donates a part of its profits to women across the world.

However, there were a few things I did not love so much. First, the color is much darker in person. On my computer, this dress looks like a granny smith apple green. In real life it is more of a true green, like a green crayon. I’m not sure I love the color, it has to grow on me. Second, it looks home-sewn. It looks like I made it myself, which I will be completely capable of doing once I break out my new serger. And speaking of sergers, one of the serged edges on the ruffles on the front of the dress was slightly frayed. There is also a very tiny hole (maybe the size of a pinhead) in the back at the bottom of the zipper. Neither the fraying or small hole would have been a big deal by themselves, but when a brand new dress is delivered with several flaws it is a little concerning. Plus the cap sleeves stick out much further in real life than they do in the pictures.

I have not decided if I should keep this dress or return it. Like I said, I really love the fit and I LOVE the idea behind this company. (That idea being that modest is hottest and we can make cute dresses that flatter all body types and give back to less fortunate women all over the world all at the same time) Even though I am not in love with the color in person, I do think that it is a flattering color for my skin tone. I don’t wear a lot of green, but I am trying to branch out and take risks with my wardrobe, so I am tempted to keep it. It does seem like a pretty perfect Thanksgiving dress.

I was envisioning it feeling much more casual, like a piece that I could pair with a jean jacket and my new favorite shoes in the whole world, my metallic ballet flats, but it is definitely too formal to be that kind of everyday dress. This dress manages to mix elegant with home-sewn, but maybe I’m misreading it and it really just looks vintage.

There is a difference between hand-made and home-made and this dress is really walking the line. If I keep it it will either become a piece of my wardrobe that I absolutely love because it fits well and is comfortable and unique or a piece that I truly hate and regret wasting so much money on.

I honestly can’t decide if I love it or hate it. I think if it had come with a smaller price tag I would be completely in love with it, but for $80 and being from an established company I was expecting it to look a little more professionally made, it honestly looks like it came from an Etsy shop. Is that good or bad? The jury is still out.

This is what it looks like in real life.
Once I did my hair and put on a pair of heals I started to lean towards the like it side more than I did when I first tried it on.

What are your thoughts? Do you love it or hate it. Please be honest.