Lindybop Sale Dresses

How far are you willing to keep giving companies a chance if you've not had particularly successful purchases from them in the past?  I have had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Lindybop.  Over the years I've had some lovely Lindybop dresses that fit well, such as the Audrey dress in pink martini print, but I've also had some shockers that I've sent back.  I thought I'd give Lindybop one more try, as they had a huge sale on over the recent bank holiday weekend.  I know, I know.  I can't resist trying to get a bargain!!

I placed my order on the Friday before the bank holiday and received my parcel a week later.  There weren't the usual dispatch updates that I am used to, it just said 'Payment received' in my online account and then the parcel turned up without that status having changed.  I ordered a total of 7 items, including 6 dresses and 1 pair of trousers, thinking that I would probably be sending back at least half of them judging from my past experiences.  On opening the parcel it seemed something was missing - indeed, the trousers weren't there!  I searched for some kind of explanatory note, but there was none.  So, at the time of publishing this, I've emailed customer services to find out if I am to expect a refund on the trousers or if they're being posted out separately.

Here's how I got on with the dresses.  For reference, I wear a Lindybop size 12, and am 5'9" tall.  Click each name to see if each dress is still in stock on the Lindybop website.

Ethel
I was keen to try this dress, as it's part of Lindybop's 'Made in Britain' range.  I had a dress this colour years ago but it wasn't a great fit, so I have been looking for another coral dress to replace it.  I wasn't sure I was going to like the fabric of this one (it has little raised dots on it) but putting it on I can see it hangs fairly well.  I like the fit around the bodice, and the length is good, being below my knees.  It is a very easy dress to wear too, it just pulls on.  A keeper.




Lana
Hands down, my favourite dress out of my purchases!  It's more of an occasion dress, being made in a satin type fabric.  The length is even longer on me than Ethel, wonderful!  It also has pockets, and I love the print.  The sash that came with it, however, was pretty useless.  A size too big, so no waist-cinching benefit, and it also seems too wide for the dress anyway.  I didn't bother photographing it.  The only other negative is the fabric the bodice is lined in isn't great, but there's not too much of it so I can cope with it.  Anyway, welcome to my wardrobe Lana!  I can promise you lots of cocktails...



Leena
Sigh.  This dress was a huge disappointment.  Firstly, the fit on this dress is completely different to the others.  It is obviously much shorter in the length of the torso and the skirt, so would suit a petite lady better.  I also wasn't keen on the fabric of this one, it felt a bit inferior.  I'm sorry Leena, back you go to Lindybop (where you're currently out of stock, so if anyone is after you in a size 12 then they'd better keep watch on the website for when you come back in!).



Colette
Promising to be more of an early '60s style, Colette was a pleasant surprise.  The proportions are correct on me, and the fabric is a nice cotton, and it's lined in cotton also.  The self-fabric belt is a nice touch, but it doesn't have a buckle or holes so it just keeps expanding as you wear it!  That will require attending to, perhaps with some press studs.  Colette is the kind of dress that I could wear to work as well dress up a bit, so I'm hoping it will earn its keep.



Audrey
I was hesitant with this one.  I have the Audrey in the pink martini print, and love it, but I also tried the blue velvet version, which was a shapeless mess.  This one is incredibly light, it's a summer weight dress, whereas my pink martini one is quite a thick cotton and best for cooler seasons.  The fabric is slightly crinkled, which again I didn't think I'd like, but the fit is good and it's just such a classic shape and print that I can see this being a well-worn addition to my wardrobe, that will again transition from work to play.



Joy
The fit of this one is the least perfect, as the waist is just a tad too high.  But I love the colour, the collar, those patch pockets, and the nice cotton fabric.  The bodice in this one is also lined in something a bit polyesterish and may find itself cut out at some point, but overall this again is a work/play dress that can be worn regularly.



I am really pleased overall, Lindybop have risen in my estimation once more (let's hope it stays that way and they sort my missing trouser issue out though!).

Have you returned to any brands that have disappointed you in the past?  Or are those bridges burnt?!