Okay, first off, I APOLOGIZE for that title. I couldn't help myself. You see, this year marks a special occasion for me...my 25 year high school reunion is coming up soon. It makes me a bit nostalgic. The memories flood back...football games, dances, proms...ah, good times! Anyway, you must realize, an event of this magnitude requires the perfect attire. When I saw the Mullholland Tank Dress by ForPlay, I thought that perhaps this might be just the thing.

The Basics

Everyone knows that the Little Black Dress™ is the epitome of style. It has become a staple of women's wardrobes for a reason. This has been the case since the 1920s (see the great slideshow A Short History of the Little Black Dress), and it is just as true in 2012. A little black dress, whether elaborate or simple, oozes sophistication. It says, "Yes, I am a confidant woman. You are welcome to gaze upon me." The LBD holds a special place in the hearts - and closets - of women for just this reason. With this in mind, I chose the Mullholland Tank Dress in the hopes that this would be the little black dress for my upcoming special day.

The Mullholland Tank Dress is little, black, and a dress, of course. That much is obvious from the start. What makes this dress stand out from others available on EdenFantasys is the ruched details that present themselves over the full length of the garment. In simple terms, "ruched" means "pleated," and this dress has pleats galore from the shoulders to the bottom hemline of its short skirt. This sleeveless dress also features a deeply plunging v-neckline in front, and a deeper plunge in the back. No other embellishments are added to this dress, and none are needed.

The fabric used for the dress consists of polyester (92%) and spandex (8%). I think there must be a special place in heaven reserved for the person who invented spandex for the use in clothing. Did you realize that the word "spandex" is an anagram of the word "expands"? That is just what the material allows the fabric to do. It will mold to your curves (for good or ill) in such a way that simple polyester on its own would not allow.

Sizing and Measurements

Eden offers this dress in a variety of sizes, ranging from XS to XL.



I am usually a size 12/14 in clothing, with measurements of 42-34-40, and I wear a size 38D bra. According to the ForPlay size chart, I could be either a large or an XL for clothing size, cup size, and hips. For weight, I fluctuate between large and XL, but for bust and waist, the size chart suggests that even an XL may be too small. I chose to throw caution to the wind and buy the XL.

The dress is 35" long from shoulder to the hem of the skirt. The neckline has a 10 1/2" drop, with the back plunging a little bit deeper - 12" from the shoulder to the bottom of the "V." The inside of the dress has four 20" strips of elastic running vertically from under the bustline to the bottom of the skirt. This is what allows for the ruched look of the skirt, as the pleats are gathered and attached to the elastic. On the bodice of the dress, it is the stitching that allows for the pleating.

Packaging, Care Instructions, and Storage

The Mullholland Tank Dress was delivered to me in a light, plastic bag - the kind you would typically be given at the dry cleaners, except this one was emblazoned with the ForPlay logo. The dress was on a plain, white, plastic hanger inside the bag. A ForPlay tag was attached to the dress.



The care instructions suggest either dry cleaning this dress or hand washing it. Personally, I would be tempted to wash it inside out, on a delicate cycle, in cold water, and then hang to dry. The way this dress is designed, you will never have to worry about ironing! This makes it a great dress for traveling.

To store, simply hang the dress in your closet.

As I said before, this dress is going to hug your curves, wherever they may be. This is great in the bust, where the two layers of material allow for some degree of modesty if you choose to wear this without a bra. You know what I mean, ladies - no nips showing through. For me, that is a very important feature of this dress. Unfortunately, perhaps, it hugs other curves, too. In my case, I am talking about my least favorite feature - my tummy. Still, the dress is incredibly comfortable, and I have no fear of my breasts falling out, no matter what I am doing. These are good things, and as important as the whole nipple issue.

This is how it looks on me without a bra or any other shapewear.



As you can see in the side view, there is definite tummy bulge, but I still look pretty good, if I do say so myself. It's worth giving a try with some shapewear...



Fabulous! Check out the shadows created by the ruched bodice - those are amusing too.

There is a small problem of the straps showing occasionally, so it would probably be better to wear black underneath, so the colors will correspond. Also, the material is one layer aside from the cups, and it stretches to be very thin...and sheer. I strongly suggest that your shapewear NOT have a pattern. Solids would be best, and you will probably want at least a half slip for the skirt as well.



The skirt does ride up a bit as well. This may not be as much of an issue with a slip underneath (I will let you know in the follow up review), or if you decide to wear the dress as a shirt instead!



I have not fully decided if the Mullholland Tank Dress will be the one I wear to my reunion, but it is the front runner so far. For fit, comfort, and style, I am giving it five stars.

I am weeks away from my reunion, and this is one of the dresses I am considering for the event. The other is the Stepping out LBD. This one is probably my favorite because it does give me that "I'm sexy, and I know it" kind of feel. Still, I am not certain I should be flashing so much bosom (although, it is kind of silly to hide it).

Check out both dresses, and let me know which one you think I should wear!