Reformation wedding guest dresses are the unofficial uniform of the plus one. Now I've reached the age that all my friends are getting married, I wanted to know what makes these dresses so popular. There are plenty more unique wedding guest dress options, so why do people pay a premium for the most obvious choice?
To find out, I put three different Reformation wedding guest dresses to the test through rehearsal dinners, ceremonies, and wedding receptions. Here's how they held up and what I learned about its dress sizing scheme.
Do Reformation dresses run true to size?
I'm 5-foot-9 and wear a dress size 4. Each dress delivered on its promise to skim the floor when worn with heels, so the inseam measurements felt spot on.
Overall, I found Reformation's straight sizes run a tiny bit large in the bust. As for your waist and hips, it will depend more on the material and style of the wedding guest dress.
If you have a full stomach or pear-shaped figure, opt for a free-hip measurement dress like the Naira or Briony. Always allow for at least 2 inches of extra room in the hips so you can sit comfortably in your dress.
The Anaiis Silk Dress
This silk maxi dress comes has a cross-back rear and a fitted silhouette. The skirt is meant to skim the floor with heels on.
What we like
What we don't like
This is the Reformation dress you're likely to see duplicates of at a wedding. It's a brand bestseller and has seen a rotation of seasonal prints beyond its four core colorways.
The high neckline obscures any cleavage, but has a low-back design. You'll need a good set of nipple covers or a backless sticky bra to make . It's also not a side-boob friendly dress — the bodice fits like a bib, and may cause spillage if you have East-West breasts.
The Anaiis was my backup dress for my brother's wedding in Florida. Funnily enough, my little cousin forgot to pack hers, so I got to swoop in as her stylist. And since we're the same size, and it fit her perfectly. I wore it later on for a dinner and found the lightweight silk charmeuse ideal for the humid climate, but ultimately, the fabric is pretty thin considering the $398 pricetag. I could only justify this if I had several hot-weather weddings on my calendar.
One of the most redeeming qualities is the delicate floral print, which feels unique and vintage-inspired. I felt glamorous and expensive in it. If you want a solid-color silk maxi dress, I think you'd be overspending at Reformation. There are similar styles from Lilysilk or Quince at a lesser cost.
The Kastoria Dress
This empire waist gown is fit for black-tie dress codes. The skirt is full-bodied compared to its slim bodice.
What we like
What we don't like
I chose the floral Kastoria gown as my black-tie option for the black-tie-optional wedding. It's the most forgiving fabric of the three dresses I tested, made of a 98% organic cotton/2% Spandex blend.
I had it in Strapless Mode to start, but the stretchy back panel wasn't firm enough to keep it from sliding down, so I had to put on the straps.
The empire waist skirt has more volume than I'm used to wearing, but the mesh petticoat didn't weigh me down. Still, it felt too thick for prolonged wear in the heat, and took up a lot of space in my carry-on. For that reason, I don't think I'll rewear it much . If you plan to wear a Reformation dress to a summer wedding, a lightweight silk is the more comfortable option.
The Daniela Silk Dress
This silk halter dress has a plunge neckline and low back. It comes in three core colors and three seasonal patterns.
What we like
What we don't like
The Daniela was my least favorite fit of the three Reformation wedding guest dresses I tried. Looking down, it made my bust look flat at pointy at the same time. It fit nicely everywhere else, but especially if you have a fuller bust, have a boob tape solution ready. The low-back design won't allow for a bra.
The high-sheen, jewel-toned magenta silk is richly saturated in person, when I was expecting it to look a bit darker and low-contrast as it does on the site. If you're dressing for the back row, you won't be missed wearing the shade "Hibiscus Tea." But as a wedding guest, your dress isn't the focus. That's why I recommend a more subdued color when it comes to Reformation silk.
I sized down and it turned out to be the right move
I know from years of fit modeling that my dress size is a 4. (Like Kelly Kapoor once said: "I know what a 4 should feel like. I've been a 4 my whole life.") This time, I sized down to a 2 because I'm small in the chest and ribcage, and each of of these styles are fitted in the bodice with a more free hip measurement.
Much to my relief, I had no sagging or gaps up top. I only felt a tiny bit compressed in the bodice of the Kastoria dress (which was actually helpful for keeping it in place when I briefly wore it in Strapless Mode). However, if you're large in the bust, you'll want to size up to avoid excess tension (especially in a 100% silk dress with no stretch).
Reformation does offer some petite and plus-size wedding guest dresses, which each have their own unique size charts. If you're doing any online wedding guest dress shopping, knowing your measurements is essential. These numbers aren't just nice-to-have guidelines — they will save you from wasting time and money on returns.
The bottom line
The most splurge-worthy version of a Reformation dress features some sort of pattern. The solid colors don't feel special enough to warrant the price tag, but the brand does excel at delicate prints.
If you're going to spend nearly $400 on a Reformation dress, know your measurements to a tee so you can compare them to its size chart. I found the sizing fits small in the bust, and true to size in the hips and waist. If I'd gone for my usual size, I would've had to do a rush return to have it in time for my brother's wedding. Even if you're confident you have an approximate idea, it's better to be sure.
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