Nocturne Fitted Short Sleeved Dress

This is my first fitted short sleeve dress and I have not nailed down my size yet. I went up to 1X from my usual XL because the XL fitted bust estimate listed was the smallest XL of all the Zuri styles I've ever tried. The photo is Better Half Fitted in 1X and Electrify Relaxed in XL. They look and feel very similar, the primary difference is the shoulders of the 1X are a bit big on me and the seams keep them puffed up instead of just draping down like the seamless relaxed shoulders do. I don't love that, so I ordered an XL Better Half to try (not pictured). The XL fitted is fine in the bust and shoulders/comparable to a standard dress on me, but the length feels considerably shorter than the 1X/possibly too short --full knee exposure on me at 5'5". I'm still deciding which size is the keeper, but the pattern and colors are fabulous so one will definitely be staying!

The fitted short sleeved style is so very flattering and I am delighted with my purchase. I love that this monochrome dress is so versatile and can be worn with many accessories and colours. It’s 4 weeks until spring arrives here in Australia and I can’t wait for warmer days so that I can wear my new Intermezzo.

The fabric on this dress is lovely and the red is vibrate and lively. The fans are more of a pale pink; definitely not white. The reason I gave 4 stars is solely due to the fit of the short-sleeved dress (not due to this specific print or fabric). This was my first time trying a short-sleeved dress and the cut just doesn't sit right on me, unfortunately. I sized down one from my usual size in standard sleeved dresses, but the dolman/dropped shoulders of this short-sleeved version just made it all too voluminous while the buttons at the bust gaped when I moved my arms. Sadly, this cut is a no for me.

This is the first time I've bought a Zuri that isn't in the original "just one dress" style, and I love it—I've worn it all through the summer's heatwave, and the roomy, drop-shoulder cut has been great. I love the way it looks and also the way it feels; it's a medium-stiff fabric so it stands away from my legs, which is amazing on hot days. I could have sized down but they were out of smalls and I was happy with the roomy fit.