This week, I’m reviewing an old Miss Candyfloss dress called the “Portia Teal.” Though this print is long since sold out, this style is released every spring/summer in different fabrics and prints. Currently, there is one at full price and one in the sale section.

Note that there is a similar dress style to this one that has cross-back straps. I’ve read that the cross-back version is not as boob-friendly. The main difference affecting the bust fit is that the dress I’m reviewing has pleats at the shoulder and the underbust seam, which allows it to expand quite a lot. But the cross-back one only has pleats at the underbust seam. Additionally, the cross-back straps limit your bra choice, but my solid-back one allows me to wear a regular bra.

My measurements in these photos are 38”-29”-43” and height 5’6”. I usually wear UK 28GG/30G, but here I’m wearing the Bravissimo Satine bra in 28H because I find it to run small and wide in the cups. The dress is a size medium.

This neckline requires at least a moderately plunging bra. My Satine bra is just right, and its straps line up perfectly, though the cups come up a little high in the underarms and stick out a bit. But this jade-colored Satine matches the fabric so well that I didn’t really care. The visible cleavage is just skirting what I’m comfortable with, but since there’s still room to spare in the bust cups, you could certainly add a couple stitches to bring the center together a bit higher up without sacrificing the fit.

With my super-long torso, the bodice is, miraculously, long enough on me to actually hit my real waist! So petite or short-waisted gals may want to avoid this particular dress (though there are similar styles made from MCF’s usual polyester/viscose/spandex blend that are not as long-waisted…look for another review soon!).

In addition to having the bust pleats, there are also darts on the cups that further aid in the excellent contouring—and check out that underbust seam actually sitting under the bust!

The fabric is 100% cotton with no stretch, but has some give on the diagonal. It’s super lightweight, perfect for summer. Yet the bust, front waistband, straps, and upper shoulders are all self-lined, so the bodice maintains its structure very well. Note that this fabric does wrinkle pretty badly, though—it’s one of my few dresses that I don’t store in vacuum bags during my fall/winter closet flip so as to avoid spending hours ironing and steaming it come spring.

Finally, I have a photo and a little mini-video to show you just how lightweight and breezy the fabric is. This dress was really a saving grace on the 90+ day that Darlene and I met up!