This dress is by a new petite only clothing company called Sweet Velvet. The designer is based out of Los Angeles, so I was lucky enough to get an opportunity to chat with her over a cup of coffee. Shushan, the designer, was wearing heels, and we were about the same height! Gotta love fellow petite ladies designing for us!
This dress is called the Audrey Cocktail Dress, and it’s my favorite piece of the whole collection. Of course, the debut collection is small, so it’s not too hard to pick a favorite just yet.
I was apprehensive about this dress mostly because of the bust design, and mesh detail at the shoulders. I thought this dress could get really busy, and maybe even tacky, really quick. When I got it home and had an opportunity to try it on, I was pleasantly surprised. The bust detail is really interesting, and it’s a breath a fresh air to get a petite sized garment in such a fashion forward design.
I added a belt, some long pearls, my little black Chanel East/West, a pair of black Jimmy Choo’s, and the words out of my mouth were, “I feel like a fashion editor, on her way to a very chic office.” Wishful thinking!
I’ll also mention here that I’m wearing my Sascha strapless bra from The Little Bra Company. You could probably get away with wearing a nude, strapped bra, but with the mesh detail at the shoulder, a strapless looks much better.
Fit: I’m wearing a size XS, and the dress fits really well. Being so petite, it’s amazing to pull something on that actually fits, and not have to poke and pinch at fabric wondering about alterations. I slipped into this dress and was really pleased with the way it fit. The armholes are perfect, and the seams along the waist are really slimming, and gave me an hourglass shape. The top can accommodate a larger bust than myself, but if you’re very small busted, you might find yourself with some extra fabric up top.
Quality: The dress feels well made, and the fabric is stretchy and thick. All items are currently being made in the USA. It is not lined, which I would like to see in future designs from Sweet Velvet. My one gripe about the dress is the fabric. I really wish the fabric content would be upped, as this one is polyester/rayon/spandex.
Price: This dress retails for $119, which is a bit steep for the fabric content, but you’re also paying for USA manufacturing, and a really nice, specially engineered petite fit.
Sweet Velvet ships within the US, and also offers free return shipping.
Disclaimer: Sweet Velvet lent me this dress to review. This dress will be returned.
Check out the Sweet Velvet online store, and be sure to check back later this week for something special from Sweet Velvet for AN readers!
What a lovely and unique dress! And I love what you did with that belt.
Le gasp, that dress looks stunning on you! I actually like the sheer, one-sided shoulder with the bold modern neckline! I really, really like it!!! Uhh, you totally met up with a designer so in my eyes you are a fashion editor already. =0D
Did you make your belt loop that way or did it come like that? If you did it yourself, please show us how you did it! Looks too cute and I always am at loss in what to do with the extra belt tail.
Oh, I'm a dingbat. Disregard my last comment there. I just realized you looped it and the other side is just a buckle. CUTE, it looks like a bow!
Goodness, you look sooo beautiful! That dress fits you so well!!!!!!
I get what you mean about the details but I think you styled it really well! Off to go check out the website!
That dress is so chic! I really like it and it fits well! YAY!!
This lady has the right idea, thank you for the review!
That's a great dress. I'm hugely allergic to wool so I'm actually happy to read about the poly/rayon/spandex blend! So many work dresses are made of wool so I can't buy them.
The dress looks so great on you! Like a classic sheath but updated :) And it fits like that off the rack? Pretty amazing! I love all the accessories too and thanks for introducing another petite company! :)
Lovely dress. I like the whole outfit though, you do look like a fashion editor. The Chanel and the pearl necklace are a nice touch.
I can tell you are a pearl lover, did you know that Chanel re-released the Westminster Flap this year? I don't know if it's still available but I thought of that bag when I think of you.
….wow, the fit of the dress looks simply stunning on you. I am also surprised an XS (not even numerical sizing) fits like that on you right off the rack. I agree with you though about the material…I rarely spend over $100 on a dress, and if so, it is usually silk or lightweight wool. But I suppose this is good for your reader (above) who has wool allergies! I am curious how the fabric wears and whether it sustains it's shape and whether or not it pills. I have nothing against any of those materials, as long as it doesn't pill after a few wears or lose it's niceness after a wash. Is it machine wash?
Also, although I adore the style of this dress (so unique), I feel that I've been turning away from buying special occasion pieces and looking more for classic, versatile pieces that can be worn at a variety of occasions without people noticing that you are repeating the garment. I hope to see SV come out with more stuff like that in the future! Overall – great review and thanks for sharing about SV!
Gorgeous dress with unique design. Fits you like a glove. :)
Interesting treatment for a too long belt. Nice visual interest.
always great to read a review from a new petite company. Thanks Kelly!
This is absolutely gorgeous and it fits you perfectly. I love it – every detail is stunning.
The fit is amazing on you! I love the detail around the collar, but I think adding the pearls takes away from that detail. It looks much much better without the necklace. :) The belt adds a really sweet touch though. Thanks for sharing this new petite company with us! I just checked out their shipping and they don't ship to Canada. It figures.. :(
Just checked the size chart for this brand. Wow!…their clothes do indeed run very small. Great for the super tiny ladies. According to the size chart I'd need a size L for my 36" (34D) bust. I've never worn a L in my life!
That is too cute! I just don't understand why no one makes affordable petite clothes. I mean, come on, we use less materials!
gorgeous gorgeous! love the neckline. >100 dollars is a hard price tag to swallow for a polyester dress, but I think the design is totally worth is (not to mention the amazing fit!) good job to them and i cannot wait to see mroe clothing from them!
The dress fits you really well. It's kinda funny that I get used to seeing you with unfitted clothes for your reviews, it is a pleasant surprise to see you in something that is extremely well fitted. Thanks for introducing us to another petite-friendly brand.
What a unique dress and it fits you perfectly! I love the neckline. For the price though I would prefer it to have a lining.
Thanks ladies! The dress really did impress me. Good job Sweet Velvet!
Hanna – LOL…well…I am the editor and chief of a fashion blog, so maybe I could kinda get away with claiming it. =P
Anonymous (9:23): Oh no! I would be so upset if I were allergic to wool! I hope you live somewhere warm, otherwise I can see winter's being a bit tough with no wool to wear.
PetiteXXS – Yup, right off the rack. I was only lent this dress for a review so I couldn't make any alterations to it. Good thing it fits perfect with no alterations needed!
Elle – I like that you think of Chanels and me in the same thought…LOL. That makes me a happy girl. =)
PAG – The dress says dry clean only, probably because of the different fabric weights between the dress and mesh. I usually dry clean any garments that I'm afraid will lose their shape in the wash anyways. I'm also curious to see what else SV comes up with. Some nice basics would be great as well.
The Little Dust Princess – I'm a bit on the conservative side, so the pearls toned the shoulder detail down just enough to make me more comfortable wearing it. If you can go all out with a shoulder detail like that, do it! =) Sorry about the shipping. The US and CA needs to work out a better shipping exchange b/c I feel so bad when my CA readers can't get something.
HM63 – I know! And not vanity sized either. I saw the size chart and figured, "maybe it'll fit me". But the fit was perfect. She ain't kidding with those measurements!
Jenn – Cheaper petite clothes (like, H&M and Forever21 price points) only comes from cheap fabrics, cheap manufacturing overseas, and bulk pricing. These independent designers usually can't order enough pieces to get their clothing from manufacturers at really low prices (bulk), and with something special like petite sizing, it's better to have your manufacturer close by so you can make sure they're getting the fit right, hence the USA (more expensive) manufacturing. Cheap petite clothing won't come from independent designers…it would have to come from mass market chain retailers. If you want it…speak up! Write, email, call your favorite stores and ask for petite sizes! If they don't know we want it, they'll never make it, right?
petiterepublic – Exactly my thought. If the dress was plain jane, I'd never consider it for the price point. But for that great design and perfect petite fit…it becomes worth it.
PetiteLittleGirl – I usually do look like a mess in my reviews don't I? It's a breath of fresh air to find something that fits for a change!
This is one of my favorite outfits on you! Fits you perfectly and you look oh so sophisticated and classy!!!! I think this is the first dress I've seen you in :)
Where on earth did you find classic Jimmy Choos in size 34.5? I'm so jealous.
andyurse – LOL. The sale rack at Nordstrom in San Diego of all places! I was shocked to see them on sale. They're 4 inches, which is a bit high for me, but I'm gonna start practicing walking in them so I can wear them more often.
YOU look amazing! So long and lean, simply divine!
Very pretty dress. That belt adds a LOT to the dress – I checked out the website and just can't wait for the designer to come up with more and more designs!
What a fantastic dress! It fits you perfectly and looks great, especially with the accessories you've added. :) Nice to hear about more petite designers out there!
Awesome dress! It's great to see other petite designers create clothes that are different, edgy, and not boring. =)
Awesome dress! It's great to see other petite designers create clothes that are different, edgy, and not boring. =)
andyurse – LOL. The sale rack at Nordstrom in San Diego of all places! I was shocked to see them on sale. They're 4 inches, which is a bit high for me, but I'm gonna start practicing walking in them so I can wear them more often.
Where on earth did you find classic Jimmy Choos in size 34.5? I'm so jealous.
Thanks ladies! The dress really did impress me. Good job Sweet Velvet!
Hanna – LOL…well…I am the editor and chief of a fashion blog, so maybe I could kinda get away with claiming it. =P
Anonymous (9:23): Oh no! I would be so upset if I were allergic to wool! I hope you live somewhere warm, otherwise I can see winter's being a bit tough with no wool to wear.
PetiteXXS – Yup, right off the rack. I was only lent this dress for a review so I couldn't make any alterations to it. Good thing it fits perfect with no alterations needed!
Elle – I like that you think of Chanels and me in the same thought…LOL. That makes me a happy girl. =)
PAG – The dress says dry clean only, probably because of the different fabric weights between the dress and mesh. I usually dry clean any garments that I'm afraid will lose their shape in the wash anyways. I'm also curious to see what else SV comes up with. Some nice basics would be great as well.
The Little Dust Princess – I'm a bit on the conservative side, so the pearls toned the shoulder detail down just enough to make me more comfortable wearing it. If you can go all out with a shoulder detail like that, do it! =) Sorry about the shipping. The US and CA needs to work out a better shipping exchange b/c I feel so bad when my CA readers can't get something.
HM63 – I know! And not vanity sized either. I saw the size chart and figured, "maybe it'll fit me". But the fit was perfect. She ain't kidding with those measurements!
Jenn – Cheaper petite clothes (like, H&M and Forever21 price points) only comes from cheap fabrics, cheap manufacturing overseas, and bulk pricing. These independent designers usually can't order enough pieces to get their clothing from manufacturers at really low prices (bulk), and with something special like petite sizing, it's better to have your manufacturer close by so you can make sure they're getting the fit right, hence the USA (more expensive) manufacturing. Cheap petite clothing won't come from independent designers…it would have to come from mass market chain retailers. If you want it…speak up! Write, email, call your favorite stores and ask for petite sizes! If they don't know we want it, they'll never make it, right?
petiterepublic – Exactly my thought. If the dress was plain jane, I'd never consider it for the price point. But for that great design and perfect petite fit…it becomes worth it.
PetiteLittleGirl – I usually do look like a mess in my reviews don't I? It's a breath of fresh air to find something that fits for a change!
This is one of my favorite outfits on you! Fits you perfectly and you look oh so sophisticated and classy!!!! I think this is the first dress I've seen you in :)
What a unique dress and it fits you perfectly! I love the neckline. For the price though I would prefer it to have a lining.
The dress fits you really well. It's kinda funny that I get used to seeing you with unfitted clothes for your reviews, it is a pleasant surprise to see you in something that is extremely well fitted. Thanks for introducing us to another petite-friendly brand.
This is absolutely gorgeous and it fits you perfectly. I love it – every detail is stunning.
The dress looks so great on you! Like a classic sheath but updated :) And it fits like that off the rack? Pretty amazing! I love all the accessories too and thanks for introducing another petite company! :)