Ann Taylor Sweater Dress - Testing the Garment

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Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

Six women from across the country went to the their local Ann Taylor, tried on this sweater dress, and reported back to StyleList. Find out what their experience was with the fall frock and whether or not they would buy it.

Natasha Holstine

Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

Name: Rosemary Ebertfrom
From: Coopersburg, PA
Blog: Momperks
Body type: Not pencil thin.
Personal style: Comfy and easy but stylish and current.

How do you feel? The clerk recommended the XS but I did not want to try on anything that clung to me. The small was roomy. I am typically a 4/6 and I could tell that if I had this dress on for even a small amount of time, it would stretch out. I would definitely have needed the XS if I was going to purchase it.

How is the fit? I thought that the large square neck was hard to pull off for someone with a small bust. It was literally hanging off of me and almost gaping. The dress was form fitting but not in a clingy type of way. I did feel like my middle was highlighted, a definite deal-breaker for me. It was a comfortable fit but not something I was used to.

How is the fabric? The fabric was a tad on the itchy side for me. It was not the type of dress that I would forget I had on as the day went on. The fabric made it seem like I had a sweater encompassing my entire body. I almost couldn't wait to get it off.

How would you accessorize it? The square neck would look terrific with a huge chunky necklace and a pair of stacked stilettos.

Would you buy it? This dress is definitely made for someone with an hourglass figure who can fill it out. It is shapeless without a figure to put in it. It was definitely not for me but I could see it looking fabulous on another body type.

Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

Name: Sylvia Colette Branch
From: Cleveland, IL
Age: 40
Body type: Classic hourglass figure
Personal style: Comfortable classics paired with a funky accessory.

How do you feel? It felt very comfortable, cozy even. A dress like this is so easy to wear; slip it on, grab a few accessories depending upon your mood and go!

How is the fit? Typically, I wear a medium but it was hard to judge on the rack which size would fit the best, so I brought a small, medium and a large into the dressing room. The medium felt a little large, but it did fit the best on my size 8 frame. It was much longer than I expected, a petite medium might have worked better, I'm 5'7 and was surprised that the hem hit well below my knee, but that is an easy fix. Other than that, I really like the neck of the dress. It is low and wide, which gives the heavy black dress a nice face-framing quality.

How is the fabric? The merino wool had a nice tight weave to it. Overall it had a soft feel without being plush. It draped well.

Where would you wear it? I would wear this to teach my art classes, to an art show, date nights, shopping, anytime.

How would you accessorize it? Long necklaces, scarves, textured tights, boots, flats or heels, any of the above would work. This basic dress could have a multitude of looks depending on what you pair with it. It could easily be dressed up or down, and I would do both.

Would you buy it? I would definitely buy this dress, black dresses are a staple in my closet and this cozy number would be a nice addition. I would have to look into a petite or having it hemmed though.

Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

Name: Patrice Yursik
From: Chicago, IL
Age: 31
Blog: Afrobella
How do you feel? Elegant, comfortable, surprisingly sexy!

How is the fit? This is a form fitting, but VERY comfortabledress. If I felt more self conscious about my body and my curves, it might accentuate that. But since I'm not and I embrace my curves, I love how this dress fits and makes me feel. I love that Ann Taylor has a dress that comes in my size that fits so well!

How is the fabric? It feels luxurious, soft, and stretchy. The fabric is the perfect thickness for fall.

Where would you wear it? This is the kind of dress I'd wear a LOT in fall and winter - so anywhere chic and glamorous when it gets colder. Cocktail parties, dinner parties, funerals (hey, it is all black)...

How would you accessorize it?
For this first experience, I wore it with leggings by Bali, boots by Nine West, a bold statement necklace by Peace Images, and a beaded flower hair clip by Ododo Originals. But it makes me want to buy a big red corset belt. Or a wide leopard belt. I'd also rock this with a cardigan over it, or a bold scarf...the options are endless!

Would you buy it? I normally cap my dress-buying budget at $100, so this is slightly more expensive than I'd normally buy. But it is of outstanding quality, and I'd definitely wear it often. So yes. It's worth it.

How often would you wear the dress? Pretty often. It's a strong contender for my go-to going out cold weather dress. And it's timeless and such a great basic. I'm gonna get a lot of wear out of this.

Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

Name: Kate Pesich
From: Louisiana
Age: 27
Body type: Classic and curvy
Personal style: Classic but also drawing from each season's new pantone and print motifs.

How do you feel?
This is not my dress. While its clean lines make this little black dress perfect for the office or any other occasion that calls for business professional attire, it draws attention to all my thick spots.

How is the fit?
The large is a bit too large for me, it bunches around my waist and dips too low in the neckline. The medium is a better fit, but both sizes draw too much attention to my butt.

How is the fabric?
Stretchy but not flimsily-thin.

Where would you wear it?
This dress, while incredibly functional, is so conservative it would probably only be worn to the office, to church, or to court.

How would you accessorize it?
I'd probably wear it with a solid colored cardigan or blazer for fall, with conservative jewelry.

Would you buy it?
Probably not. It's a little too severe for my tastes and makes my butt look huge. It does flatter my neckline really well, but not enough to make up for the butt amplification.

How often would you wear the dress?
Rarely. I don't have much need in my wardrobe for such conservative staples. If I worked in an office with a business-professional atmosphere however, my chances of buying a dress like this one would increase dramatically.

Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

Name: Natasha Holstine
From: Tucson, AZ
Age: 28
Blog:Fashionalities
Body type: Pear shape
Personal style: Eclectic-mixing vintage with high fashion pieces.

How do you feel? I went in thinking this dress was not going to work for me after having a baby...and then when I found out the store only had an XS I thought I was done for...but, thank GOD it fit OK considering, and I was armed with my spanx. All in all, I felt sexy:) Very Kardashian:)

How is the fit? I think it can flatter any body type, it hits the curves just right. I've never worn a square neckline, it seems to accentuate an ample chest:)

How is the fabric? The fabric felt so soft. I thought it had to have cashmere, but there wasn't any.

Where would you wear it? I think you could wear this dress from the office to out for cocktails in the evening

How would you accessorize it? For the office I would probably add a cardi and/or a scarf to make it look a little Parisian chic and I think a skinny belt would be perfect to accentuate the waist more.

How often would you wear the dress? It's a classic LBD-so all the time.

Would you buy it? My hubby LOVED it on me, so yes. The price isn't bad either at $128.

Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

A swell sweater dress is an essential piece for any fall wardrobe, but finding the right style/fit for your body can be a tricky task. As every woman knows, that clingy cotton material can help pave the way for either va-va voom curves or totally unforgiving tug-worthy rumples. (How fun for us, right ladies?)

Since this is such a comfortable (and versatile!) piece to own - it goes from day to night, work to play rather flawlessly - we opted to enlist Ann Taylor's Merino Square Neck Sweater Dress in the third test the garment segment of the month.

As per the custom, we sent a group of women (some bloggers, some not), to their local Ann Taylor to try on this reasonably priced little black dress (or L.B.D.). If you think about cost per wear, you can get some serious mileage out of this $128 frock. A simple addition of a blazer and knee high boots or heels will make it a work appropriate ensemble while a cool pile on of accessories (a statement necklace perhaps) can give this particular frock a more downtown feel.

But don't take our word for it. Find out what our participants, who are of varying style and body types, reported back to StyleList with their thoughts on size, fit, and fabrication. The overall take-away: this dress is made for women who love to show off their curves!

Take a look at what they have to say -- be sure to make the gallery full-screen -- and let us know if you're a fan of the style of this sweater dress by leaving a comment.

Click here for slips that will enhance the look of your sweater dress.

For more fall pieces, check out how to wear the faux fur trend.

Real Women Wear: Ann Taylor Sweater Dress

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