I’ve been thinking a lot about how to start my RIXO Camellia dress review…
I’ve been deliberating writing about what makes an A+ summer dress.
I’ve been wavering about starting it with a ramble about who’s behind the label.
… but this is the best way to kick off this review:
RIXO has been on my radar for a while. Their prints are incredible and I love a sweet sundress… but I wrote them off as being a little too expensive, a little too long, and a little too London’s-answer-to-Réalisation Par.
I would like to take this moment to take all of those pre-conceived notions back and instead shout this from the rooftop…
THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE DRESSES OF ALL TIME.
RIXO thrives off a super subtle & inherent English 70’s vibe that every Brit has in them and that every non-Brit wants… yes, even the Queen has it. I mean, she has Knighted so many rockstars, no?
The moment I slipped this dress on, I got it. I get why RIXO is more expensive and I completely get how they are different from Réalisation Par…
RIXO SIZING
My Camellia dress is a size SMALL.
When it comes to clothes sizing I am a true UK 8. In ALEXACHUNG’s dresses I take a UK 8 and in Kate Moss x Topshop I take a UK 8 as well. I’m almost always an FR 36 (Rouje reviews for more details) and in Réalisation Par dresses I take an XS or S… and I’m 5’5.75 and weigh between 111-113lbs.
RIXO’s size small fits me perfectly. There are no two ways about. I don’t even know how to describe it better than that; just perfectly.
What looks like a midi-dress on a model turns into an almost maxi dress on my slightly shorter frame. But the side slits help me avoid getting caught up and tripping.
Ohhhhh, the side slits… Let’s talk about them.
The side slits make the dress less Oxford garden party and more Carnaby Street.
The side slits unleash the Camellia’s subtle sexuality.
The side slits make the Camellia dress a non-basic casual cool dream.
PROS & CONS
Pros
–100% silk
–Side slits: These seriously make the dress look unreal on.
–Instant outfit: All you have to do is add your shoes… and maybe a pair of hoops!
–How It Moves When You Walk: You look otherworldly in this dress when you walk in it. It just flows behind you like a superhero’s cape.
–Print: This one was called “red Oriental,” dodgy name, but an amazing design.
Cons
–Price: I’m not at the point in my life where I can regularly spend $400 USD on multiple Camellia dresses.
But, I do understand why RIXO is so expensive. To begin with, exchange rates from the pound. Then there’s the import duties. Then there’s the fact that the dress is lined, has pleats, is quality, and is incredibly well designed/engineered.
When I compare it to other dresses-at-the-$200-price-point‘s quality, it is actually $200 better.
You feel like a 1970’s upper class beach babe who is a cigarette away from becoming a someone’s muse when you wear this dress…
You feel like Bianca Jagger…
… and isn’t that the dream?
RIXO stockists include Net-A-Porter and Shopbop (where you can save 15% on your first order) amongst a few others.
PRO TIPS:
-Save 15% off your first order (and receive free international shipping) if you purchase on Shopbop.
-While their styles and prints are timeless, RIXO clothes go on seasonal sale.
-Not all of their dresses are 100% silk — if fabric composition matters to you, check before you purchase.