The Basics
The Dreamgirl Pleated Babydoll Set in Plum is mainly composed of a semi-sheer, pleated chiffon and a stretch mesh. The babydoll features slim straps with a chiffon front segment and an adjustable stretch back segment; triangle cups made of double-layered stretch mesh with an overlay of pleated chiffon, which covers the center two-thirds to three-quarters of each cup; small black satin ribbon bows--one at the top of each cup, and one between the cups; small chiffon ruffles along the underside of the triangle cups; an empire-style waist with an elasticized back; and a free-flowing skirt done in a single layer of the pleated chiffon. (Due to the three layers of fabric at the cups and the nearly-opaque chiffon skirt, the more adventurous among us could wear this piece in public as a babydoll-style top.) The set is completed by a string thong panty in a single layer of matching stretch mesh, with a (presumably) cotton gusset.





The Fabric
The pleated chiffon on this babydoll is 100% polyester. It is slightly sheer and has a somewhat rough texture, though it isn't itchy or uncomfortable against the skin. The stretch mesh is made of 90% polyester and 10% spandex, and is also slightly sheer - more so in the panty, where there is only one layer of it - but unlike the chiffon, the mesh is quite soft, and almost silky-feeling. The lining panel in the panty looks and feels like jersey-knit cotton, though its content is not listed on the garment tag. The set is manufactured in China, and the care instructions recommend hand-washing in cold water and line-drying. If you don't happen to have a clothesline in your back yard, you can hang this item on a soft hanger in your bathroom to dry.

The Fit
I ordered this set in a Medium, based on Dreamgirl's size chart, which says Medium should fit:

Clothing sizes 6 - 10
Cup sizes B - C
Bust measurements 34" - 36"
Waist measurements 26" - 28"
Hip measurements 36" - 38"
Weights of 120 - 140 pounds

Technically, my measurements fit into those for the Large size on their chart: I wear a size 34C bra, with a 37" bust, 28" waist, and 40" hips, and I weigh closer to 145 pounds (at 5'5"). However, as my clothing size is 6-8, or Small - Medium, I went with the Medium. The sizing seemed to be correct, as far as the fit of the elasticized empire waist and the thong panty. However, the babydoll did not have a good fit for me, primarily because of the shape and assymetry of the cups.





The actual measurements of the Medium set are:

Babydoll - empire waist stretches from 26" to 36"; center front length is 16"; cup length (base to strap) is 7"; cup width along base is 6.5" on the left, 7.5" on the right; sheer segment of strap measures 8" on the left, 7.5" on right; stretch segment of strap (unstretched) measures from a minimum of 5.75" to a maximum of 11".

Panty - waist measures from 25" to 42"; rise measures approximately 7.5".

As you might imagine, the extra inch of width in the right cup caused it to have a considerable amount of extra fabric on the outer side of my right breast. If both cups had been 6.5" wide at the base, the fit would have been okay. The shape of the cups, though, was also odd: they fit too tightly up the center and too loosely on the sides, and this shape resulted in a flattening effect in the middle of the cup, with loose fabric in the center and on the sides.

What I Like:
- The color of this set is a really luscious deep plum, which I think would complement most skin tones and could be worn any time of the year. This classy color adds elegance to the set and gives it a more sensual look, whereas its pleated babydoll style could look very playful and girlish in a pale color.
- The stretch mesh used in the cups and the panty is very soft, fine, good-quality fabric with a lot of stretch, and is double-layered in the cups for added support and durability.
- The panty is a comfortable string thong style, rather than the typical basic g-string, and is sized to match the babydoll instead of being "one size."
- The elasticized back on the empire waist and the free-flowing skirt make the babydoll very comfortable and forgiving.
- The pleating and the overlay on the cups are unique style touches that add individuality to this set.

What I Don't Like:
- The vertical pleating is not parallel to the seams at the sides; this gives the babydoll a rumpled-looking outline when worn.
- Because of the way the pleated chiffon is sewn to the empire waistband, the pleats tend to collect together at the center in front, which looks odd and defeats the sheerness of the fabric.
- The cups are unevenly sized, with one bigger than the other, and have a flattening shape that does not flatter average cup sizes.
- The pleated chiffon is more matte, less sheer, and less silky than it looks in the product images.

I reluctantly made the decision to return this set for several reasons, but mainly because I'm not skilled enough to correct its construction issues. It does, however, have a number of good points, and it's possible that the flaws on the babydoll I received are the exception, and not the rule.

After trying it on a few more times to make sure I really didn't like it, I went ahead and returned this babydoll. I would really have loved this style in a thinner, slinkier, more sheer fabric, as it appears in the official photo--it had some great details, but the overall execution fit me poorly and was unflattering.