Off the Rack ~ Trashy Diva Roundup

I’ve done a few reviews of dresses from Trashy Diva in the past. But since my last review, I’ve collected lots more pieces from this company. So this week I’m doing a comprehensive review of all the different cuts I’ve tried, with a focus on how boob-friendly they each are.

Let’s start with my measurements. I’m 5’6” with a looooong torso and short legs. My figure is 37”-29”-41” and I’m between sizes for bras, at 28G/GG – 30FF/G. In the photos below, I’m wearing a Freya Ada in 28G in all the pictures taken in the white hallway, or the Freya Deco Strapless in 30FF with the halter-neck dresses. All the other pictures were taken a while ago, so I’ve no idea what bra I was wearing!

These are in no particular order, except that dresses for which I’ve already done a full review are at the end of the list.

1. Maria
Print name: Peacock
Fabric: Medium-weight rayon
Size: 8
Side zipper, non-functional buttons up the front, pockets

I would say this dress has plenty of room for boobs, but it’s not cut in such a way that is as fitted to a big bust as some other designs. There are under-bust darts, but the overall shape from the bust apex to the waist is still more of a ski-slope rather than curving under the bust. However, thankfully it does not pull the waist seam up and create a faux pregnancy belly.

Boob-score: B+

2. Loop dress
Print name: Geisha Fans
Fabric: Stretch cotton sateen
Size: 6
Side zipper, fan-back skirt, no pockets

My measurements actually match the 8 in this dress, but I bought it used for a really good price, so I took a chance on the 6 since it has stretch. Size 6 is supposed to fit up to 27” waist and up to 38” bust, but the waist is only the tiniest bit snug and the bust is noticeably small even though it should be ample enough. Usually the size chart is spot-on, but I definitely don’t think so this time. It pretty much works out in my favor, since the waist feels good. And even though it’s squishing my boobs a little, the multiple darts make it hug my figure just beautifully. I think an 8 would have been “perfect,” but I kinda like having a snugger fit for a change.

Boob-score: A

3. Hepburn Jumpsuit
Fabric: Medium-weight rayon
Size: 8
Back zipper, pockets

This is easily my favorite Trashy Diva piece that I own! This is the item that changed my previously very staunch anti-jumpsuit rule (anti-any clothing that requires undressing to pee, really). Unfortunately, it was long since sold out by the time I discovered it. Luckily, someone in my Trashy Diva Facebook swap/sell group listed one for sale and I was able to buy it for about the same price I would have at retail, minus the shipping!

Aside from being a really unique and incredibly comfortable article of clothing, I’m happy to report that the torso is actually long enough on me! Yet because the pants are so loose, it hides the crotch location, so I think it would still work on petite gals as well. The legs are quite long, though, so some hemming might be necessary. I’m wearing the same 3.5-inch heels here as the other photos, and my feet are still completely hidden. As for the bust, well I think that speaks for itself. The waistband is completely under my bust, and there’s plenty of room for boobies thanks to the gathering, without excess cleavage. Definitely the best-fitting TD I’ve tried so far.

Boob-score: A+

4. Sadie Ruffles
Print name: Slap & Tickle
Fabric: Lightweight rayon
Size: 8
Side zipper, matching belt, non-functional buttons up the front, no pockets

This is a new dress to me, though it’s an old print. I just got it used from another Facebook group. The Sadie has floppy short sleeves, and comes in a variety of skirt shapes. I really love the original Sadie, which has a draped tulip skirt, but the asymmetrical ruffles here are pretty fun too. They’re only on the front, and the back looks like a plain A-line shape. Unfortunately, the belt is way small. I have to wear it on the loosest setting. It just doesn’t match the dress’s actual waist.

Aside from that, though, it’s a lovely fit on a full bust. I was expecting it to have the ski slope shape of the Maria, but this one curves under the bust pretty well, as you can really see in the third photo. I’m not sure why it fits so differently than the Maria considering they have such similar top structure and even the same dart placement, but I’ll take it! Also take note of the fact that I’m wearing a loud printed bra and dark colored underwear, but you can’t see them through the dress even though the fabric is lightly colored and very lightweight.

Boob-score: A

5. Sandy Mini
Fabric: Medium-weight rayon
Size: 8
Side zipper, embroidered daisies on the waistband, pockets

At first glance, the Sandy seems to have a similar structure to the Hepburn. But it crosses over in back exactly the same as the front, whereas the Hepburn is a flat, non-crossover V with a zipper in back. Sandy also crosses the left side over top, while Hepburn crosses the right side over, and Sandy has a slightly deeper cut. You can actually see a tiny bit of bra gore peeking out, so this cut requires a true plunge bra.

You can also see my bra strap making an appearance on the right-hand shoulder. Though there is plenty of room for boobs in this dress and the waistband sits at the correct height, this shoulder configuration tends to slide off my shoulders a lot. I have two other dresses with this front and back cross-over construction, and they do it too. Since I hate to make permanent alterations to my TD, I instead poke a safety pin through the interior shoulder seam allowance, and then close it around my bra strap. Then I can slide my straps back and forth if needed, and once they’re situated, they actually hold the shoulders in place and keep them from sliding off. Someone with broader shoulders also might not have this issue.

Boob-score: A-

6. Amaya
Print name: Chinese Opera
Fabric: Rayon crepe de chine
Size: 8
Side zipper, non-removable fabric tie-belt, pockets

The Amaya has the same front and back cross-over as the Sandy (though it crosses over on the opposite side). However, this time it’s got a much less full skirt, and half-length kimono-esque sleeves. Additionally, the waistband comes up a fraction higher on me, just barely sitting on breast tissue. It once again requires a plunge bra—if you blow up the third photo, you can see just a touch of visible bra gore, and it tends to flap open if you move a lot or bend over. Additionally, these shoulders just absolutely will not stay up on me. I can only wear it with safety pins in the seams as I described above. That being said, as usual there is plenty of volume for boobs, though bigger gals may want to pin the front together or sew in a hook and eye.

Boob-score: B-

7. Annette
Print name: Sci-Fi Rockets
Fabric: Stretch cotton
Size: 8
Side zipper, matching belt, pockets

Since I’ve already done a full-length review of this dress, I’ll keep this brief. Annette is not particularly boob-flattering. In my earlier review, I complained about the ski slope shape and that the sides of the top flared out around the armpit area. The arm holes were also too wide open, and I had visible strapless bra even after I shortened the straps a little. I’ve avoided the Annette cut since purchasing this dress, and in fact just traded another gal on Facebook for a different cut, which is coming up next.

Boob-score: C

8. Rockette
Print name: Sci-Fi Rockets
Fabric: Stretch cotton
Size: 10
Back zipper, matching belt, non-functional buttons up the front, patch pockets

I absolutely adore the Sci-Fi Rockets print, and it’s become a bit of a collector’s item in the last couple years, so there was no way I would ever sell it despite the fit issues. Luckily, there’s always someone on Facebook who wants to trade sizes or cuts in the same fabric. I recently fell in love with the Rockette cut, which I wasn’t quite adventurous enough for when I first purchased the Annette (it was only my second TD order ever!), and pounced when someone wanted to trade theirs for a different cut in a smaller size.

Unfortunately, the 10 really is too big on me. The belt is huge even on the tightest setting (though I can fix that by punching in a few more grommet holes), and the back doesn’t stay up since it’s a halter top. However, I’m glad I got a 10 anyway, because the bust fits great, and the waist is the same diameter as my old Annette for some reason. I’m really pleased that it curves under my bust instead of going straight from apex to waist. And since it’s made of cotton instead of delicate rayon, I’m much more comfortable with the idea of altering it myself. I’m going to add some under-bust darts and will take in the ribs on the side seams if necessary.

Boob-score: B (It’s hard to say objectively, since it’s not my real size and requires alterations, but I’ll estimate it’s one grade up from Annette.)

9. Lena Sarong
Print name: Ruffled Feathers
Fabric: Stretch rayon
Size: 8
Back zipper, stretchy shirred side panels, no pockets

This is the newest addition to my collection. I actually own another Lena dress and two Lena tops because I love this cut so much. It is just so flattering. Though as you can see, it definitely emphasizes the girls! This stretch rayon fabric is a dream to wear, and the stretchy shirred side panels mean you get a customized fit. Some people complain about the halter hurting their neck, but as long as you wear a good strapless bra (like my trusty Freya Deco), then the dress strap doesn’t have to take any of the weight.

I also appreciate that the neck strap opens and closes with buttons, because these straps are always too long on me, but all I have to do to shorten them is unpick the buttons and re-attach them further over. Additionally, some of the older models of this dress have a much thinner strap, but I prefer this wider one since it balances out big boobs and gives a little more coverage on the sides.

Boob-score: A+

10. Goldie
Print name: Crepe Myrtle
Fabric: Lightweight rayon
Size: 8
Back zipper, pockets

Oh, the Goldie. I’m not usually into florals, but this more graphic floral print really spoke to me. And then it went on sale! So I got the one dress that was left in my size, the Goldie. It looks amazing from the front, but it has one huge problem…

This is the back! I couldn’t resist a dress that shows off my back tattoo so well, and I actually did find an okay solution to the bra issue (I do not regularly wear it with this Freya Deco), but it’s just such a hassle! I started by tacking the blousey front part to the straps to hide more side-bra:

Then I wear it with my low-back Le Mystere Soiree Bustier. But a little bit of the bustier still peeks out above the waistband, so I take a black tube top and wear it under my boobs, tucking it into the bra band in back to make sure it doesn’t fall down. It ends up looking fine, but it adds so much extra bulk that the waistband is then borderline too tight. Additionally, the bustier stops right at the bottom of the waistband, so it all squeezes me extra tightly right in my squishiest spot, which is neither comfortable nor flattering. And what’s more, the front dips down so low that my bra is only hidden because the top is so blousey and baggy. I’m actually in the process of trying to trade this dress for another cut in the same print.

Boob score: F

11. Trixie
Print name: Big Polka
Fabric: Lightweight rayon
Size: Medium
Back zipper, stretchy shirred side panels, tie-neck halter, no pockets

A Trashy Diva classic! The Trixie is one of their oldest styles. It used to be made with wide straps like my Lena Sarong above, but ironically this time I prefer it with the thin straps. Once again the stretchy shirred panels give it a custom fit. And the detailed bust is oh-so-flattering on big boobs. The only problem is that the floppy nature of the fabric means those details don’t always hold their shape perfectly. You can see in the second photo, for example, that the left-hand side sits at a 90-degree angle in my cleavage, while the right-hand side is at a diagonal, because it flopped over while hanging in my closet and is stuck that way unless I starch it.

I used to own this dress in cotton poplin as well, but I decided I didn’t wear it enough to justify keeping, so I sold it. However, that one did maintain its bust details a little better since it was stiffer fabric, but it also wrinkled really easily and you could see the layers of fabric through one another at the bust, giving it a lumpy look, so I still prefer the rayon.

Boob-score: A

12. Lena
Print name: Green Kimono
Fabric: Rayon crepe de chine
Size: 8
Back zipper, stretchy shirred side panels, no pockets

I only have real-life pictures of this dress because it’s currently at the cleaners after I wore it to a swing dance event on the USS Intrepid, pictured here. It’s again soooo flattering, especially with the contrast-color inner bust panel. It was also amazing for spinning in!

Boob-score: A+

13. Doll Mini
Fabric: Medium-weight rayon
Size: 8
Side zipper, pockets

My very first Trashy Diva piece! Read the full review for much more detail. This is still one of my favorites and I would love more of the Doll cut. It’s similar to the Sandy again, but this one stays up on my shoulders a lot better. Plenty of room for boobs here, and the waistband stays firmly under my bust.

Boob-score: A+

14. Streetcar
Print name: Cherries
Fabric: Rayon
Size: 8
Side zipper, removeable matching neck-tie, matching belt, pockets

The first Trashy Diva I ever paid full price for (a rare happenstance!) is this Cherries Streetcar. It was a re-issue of an old print, so I knew it’d go fast and I bought it outright. You can read my full review here.

The Streetcar is definitely a less boob-friendly option. As usual, there’s enough volume, but it doesn’t curve under my bust, and it’s actually a wee bit small, so that my bigger boob pulls the fabric over to sit crookedly. However, I tried a size up at the time, and it was too big in the waist and across the back. The nice thing about the Streetcar is you can wear the neckline in several different configurations. However, it does require a strapless or T-back bra, or a Rixie clip, to keep your straps hidden.

Boob-score: B-

15. Jenny Short-Sleeve
Fabric: Heavy stretch knit
Size: 6
Side zipper, no pockets

Here’s another one I wrote a full review of. The Jenny is exceedingly comfortable and very boob-friendly thanks to the ingenious construction. There are vertical seams leading from the skirt pleats up to the bust, where it pleats out again. There’s also gathering up on the shoulders that resembles netting, which allows for generous fabric in the bust. It’s also super stretchy. I sized down to a 6 and could have easily worn a 4 if I wanted it clingier.

I did end up selling this dress due to it not getting enough wear, but that’s no reflection on its fit or quality otherwise. It’s highly, highly recommended! It was just a little too conservative for me.

Boob-score: A++

16. Doris
Fabric: Cotton voile
Size: 8
Side zipper, pockets

Finally we come to the last dress, Doris in cotton voile, another that I previously reviewed. The cotton voile is so light and cool for summer. TD currently has one cotton voile offering, and that’s the new Mahjong print collection. They should definitely release more in this amazing fabric!

As for fit, it’s pretty darn good, though I must admit the waistband does not remain under my bust. It’s well above my underwires, but I’m okay with that because the boob room is still pretty generous and very flattering—and you can wear it with a normal bra. Plus I think the dress looks really good on me!

Boob-score: B+

Oh, I just remembered one more that I don’t have any photos of—the Norma Jean dress. And the reason I have no photos is that I got it cheap on eBay, but it didn’t fit right at all, so I re-sold it without ever wearing it out.

It looks deceptively boob-friendly thanks to wide straps and gathering with elastic at the top of the neckline. But it swooped scandalously low to show too much cleavage for comfort. I’m talking visible areola. And the waistband came up way high above my underwires. And this was with sizing up to a 10 from my usual 8. Stay away!

Boob-score: F

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