Hello Everyone,

My ardent love for Bolero dresses has been well-documented on the blog, and it’s not unusual for customers to visit the shop and find me wearing one of their designs.  Amazingly, I would have never heard of these wonderful dresses were it not for Darlene of Hourglassy, who introduced me to the owner and designer Patricia.  Bust-friendly clothing is part of my own personal passion trinity alongside bras and bra-sized swimwear, and naturally I was curious to see how the dresses fit and lasted.  Late last year, Patricia offered to send me a free Bolero dress to review on the blog, and as my mom liked to say, I was tickled pink!  While I adore Biu Biu and Urkye, Patricia’s bust-friendly clothing company manufacturers and designs all of their products in the US, and if possible, I always like to support our economy. My only skepticism was fit and quality. With retail prices around $100 per dress, I worried the longevity and fabric quality would disappoint.  I needn’t have worried because my Bolero dresses are truly wonderful.  With fabric that drapes beautifully to accentuate curves, Bolero dresses highlight your figure without clinging to it, but what impresses me most is the small details.  The armholes in the dresses are high enough to avoid showing a bra, and the drawstring neckline at the front of most of her styles allows you to customize the coverage to suit your body. Furthermore, the basic silhouette layers well with jackets, belts, tights, cardigans, and even petticoats. It’s the perfect versatile piece!

At the time, I received my Bolero dress, I also purchased a Gemma wrap dress from Banana Republic. It was supposed to retail for $98, but I had a coupon which brought the total to $55. Inside of three wears, the BR dress was already pilling and looking a bit fuzzy, especially on the dark part of the fabric. Meanwhile, 10 months later and my Bolero dress looks brand new.

When her maxi dresses debuted, Patricia sent me one for free, and I loved it so much I purchased a second version and brought the line into the store.  And so, we have finally reached the purpose of this blog!  A lot of people, both online and in the store, have asked me about other styles and colors in the dresses, so Patricia and I collaborated on a large, photo heavy post I could use as a reference both for my customers here as well as for those online who wanted to order through us. As a result, most of the dresses you see were samples sent to me so I could photograph them and demonstrate how different styles fit. All of the samples are a size “Small” which is the size I typically take in Bolero. In the future, I may review each dress individually, but for today’s purposes, I am more interested in showing you the Bolero line rather than making an already lengthy post even longer! If you do have questions about any of the dresses, please let me know, and I will do my best to answer them.

If you want to read my original reviews, check out the posts here and here.  Both reviews address quality and sizing in more detail.  Okay, let’s get down to showcasing some more options! I want to start with the variations on the original dress I received. I think of this dress as the flagship style for Bolero which Patricia tweaks in various ways (maxi length, lace overlay, sleeves, etc.), but on its own, the design is a perfect, basic sleeveless dress.  There are more color/print options available than what is shown, but at the moment, Patricia is still finalizing the details. I will update this post when I know more!  (Note:  Click photos to enlarge.) 

Moving on from the original dress, one of my favorite ways it has been altered is the maxi version because I find it challenging to find a flattering maxi dress which does not stop at my ankles.  I have worn both variations repeatedly all summer!

Building on the basic style, Patricia offers alternatives like lace sleeves, cut-away shoulders, and three quarter length sleeves.  All of them fit similar to the original but may be more weather friendly for those worried about a sleeveless dress. My personal favorite is the polka-dot variation with the red trim!

More recently, Patricia introduced her first real departure from the flagship style in the form of a skater dress, which forgoes the drawstring top for a straighter neckline, a-line skirt, and shorter hem-line. I have to say I am in total love with this one because it’s probably the most versatile of all the dresses she has created. Belt it, layer it, throw a petticoat underneath, and it all looks fabulous!

Lastly, Patricia has also dabbled in making some accessories, and fittingly, we have a Bolero bolero jacket!

Right now, we only have the maxi dresses in the store, but we are looking to expand to other options. If you’re interested in seeing us carry the line, please comment below and share your favorites. It will help us make better buying decisions. Remember, when you buy Bolero, you are supporting a quality, made in America small business as well as an incredibly sweet business owner!

Erica