By the sea with Dolly and Dotty

Some dresses muster up dreams of yacht cruises across the sea, surf, sun and good company. For me, the Darlene dress in Dark Blue from Dolly and Dotty screams nautical. From its full circle skirt to its off the shoulder neckline, the Darlene dress is fun, flattering and versatile. All the things I love in one dress!

Flowers ~ Red Rose Double from Daisy Jean Floral Designs
Earrings ~ Anchor earrings from Revere Folie
Beads ~ Red beads from Debstar Designs
Brooch ~ Kraken brooch by Erstwilder (discontinued)
Dress ~ Darlene dress in Dark Blue polka dot by Dolly and Dotty
Shoes ~ Red Loraine heels in red by BAIT from Royal Vintage Shoes

The Darlene dress is probably one of my favourite designs from Dolly and Dotty. The higher neckline has meant it’s both work appropriate as well as playful enough for weekend adventures which is something I consider in all items I add to my wardrobe. The Darlene features short sleeves that come to a mid arm length, that is great for gals who prefer coverage in this area. The off the shoulder neckline which also features a small button detail is a simple finishing touch that truly helps lift the dress. The neckline is one of my favourite features as it helps to make my smaller shoulders look more balanced against my lower half.

The Darlene dress features a seamless back as the closure is a side zip. I didn’t encounter too much hassle with this zip (I personally have a preference for back zips) which was good as I do find sometimes they can catch at the waistband. This size zip however does give this dress nice clean lines and minimizes bunching at the back.  The Darlene is incredibly easy to get on and off, as the larger opening means you can pull it on without too much damage to your makeup and hair. Getting it off however is a bit of an adventure and I do recommend taking off your lipstick first!

The waistband in the Darlene is wide fitted waistband that really help nip you in and help give the illusion of an hourglass shape. Combined with the circle skirt and a petticoat, it helps smooth hips and tummies while making a petite waist and a broader upper body shape the focus. This is a great dress for girls who aren't necessarily a natural hourglass but want that 1950's hourglass feel. The Darlene is made of super soft stretch cotton which allows for a comfortable fit. For reference I'm wearing their size 14 and this dress fits beautifully with or without my corset on!

For this review I headed off to one of Australia's bright Sandy beaches and shot this gorgeous dress infront of an old anchor, to help give the right feel. Accessorized with red, anchor earrings from Revere Folie and one of my favorite ever Erstwilder brooches (the Kraken from their by the sea release a few years ago) I achieved a simple nautical look that I can easily wear away from our bright beaches!

The Darlene dress retails for £39.99/$66.61AUD, which makes Dolly and Dotty a super afforable option for pinups on a budget. If navy polka dots aren't your thing, this style also comes in other polka dot colours as well as some block colour options too! Their shipping rates are also incredibly Australia friendly too.

I hope you've all enjoyed this review! Looking forward to bringing you more posts this coming February!

Disclaimer: Whilst I received this dress as part of a sponsorship with Dolly and Dotty, all opinions expressed are honest to help ensure the most accurate information for my readers.