I am typically all about big skirts, cinched waists and a glamorous 50s brush out, but occasionally I think it’s good for us all to try something different. When it comes to your style, stepping out of your comfort zone every once in a while can help you find new things you didn’t realise you might like, add disparate elements into your ensembles and generally shake things up a bit. Sometimes it can even give you an entirely new appreciation for your body or a previously overlooked aspect of it. Trashy Diva offered to send me their Jolene wrap dress from their new Deco Daffodil line, a dress more 40s than my usual 50s fare, so I happily took it as an opportunity to embrace a style I usually overlook.

Dress: Deco Daffodil Jolene dress C/O Trashy Diva
Bag: Vintage
Shoes: Just Be Cosmopolitan in Citrus by Miss L Fire
Bracelets: Primark gold and wooden bangle stack (currently in stores)
Necklace: Similar

This silhouette is totally new to me but I was pleased to see how slimming it is. I shouldn’t have been surprised by that, as wrap dresses are universally acknowledged as a simple, classic and flattering style on most women, accentuating the waist whilst also skimming and slimming elsewhere. They’re both modest and pretty enough that they can serve triple duty as work-wear, evening attire and comfortable casual wear, which is a huge bonus for ladies who love to seek out versatility in their wardrobe pieces.

Whether you want to dress this piece up or down, the styling options are endless. It’s so easy to embrace the duo-chrome navy and white palette to keep things simple, even if you want to layer on delicate or statement accents. The timeless simplicity of the piece also allows you to add splashes of colour to brighten it up, as I opted to do by adding a pair of yellow suede and glitter-threaded transparent heels in a nod to the daffodils in this print.

In terms of sizing, the Trashy Diva team were really useful in helping me to decide what size would be best in this dress. I own two other Trashy Diva pieces, both in their size 14, but this wrap dress is made of a stretch knit material which gives it much more stretch than the chambray and seersucker pieces I already own so they thought I might be able to size down. They sent a TD team member who was my size-doppleganger to try on the dress for me and assured me I could size down into the 12, or even the 10 if I was happy to wear the dress with a camisole under it. I wanted to wear the dress as it was intended, so we decided my typical size 14 was the safest bet. It’s a perfect fit.

There are no zip or button closures on this dress, obviously, as it’s a true wrap dress, and there really is lots of stretch in it, but personally I feel this dress runs true to the size chart when aiming for a comfortable fit with the dress wrapped for full coverage in the bust and overlay of the skirt. The stretch does mean you can size down if you wish but please be aware that does mean the V of the bust will get bigger and bigger the further down you size, making the addition of a camisole beneath necessary rather than optional. So if you want to wear it without any layers below for modesty then I would recommend sizing true to the size chart or sizing down no more than one size for a guaranteed fit.

I found this dress to be really comfortable for a full day’s wear and I can tell it will be a cool, floaty feeling piece to wear on hot summer days. Plus, it’s just so damn easy to throw on, a real on-and-out-the-door kind of dress that looks put together no matter how much effort you truly put into dressing that day. All in all, it makes for a great wardrobe staple piece for all kinds of body shapes and sizes.

The Deco Daffodil Jolene dress costs $165 and comes available in US sizes 0-22. There are 10 pieces in the Deco Daffodil line in total, including separates, head wear and several other dress styles, all available in the same extensive size range as this Jolene dress. Trashy Diva ship internationally and regularly offer free shipping codes or other promotions, so it’s worth following their social media platforms or signing up to their newsletter to be kept in the know.