I'll begin by saying that I may try this dress again in a smaller size. As often happens with "sport/athletic" inspired clothing companies, I find Ex Officio to cut its clothing a bit on the straight side. I have a classic hourglass figure with large bust/hips and relatively narrow waist.

I bought this dress in a Large, per the size charts. (I visited the manufacturer's website to confirm size charts, too!)

The fit is very attractive on an hourglass figure, and would probably also serve to "cheat" a curvier figure for someone more boyish in shape. It is a nicely styled dress that plays up a lady's feminine shape.

Because my hips are my largest measurement, I kept the size Large, which fits perfectly below the waist. The shaping at the waist is also comfortable yet clearly defines that I have a nice, narrow waist. My fit issue is at the bust. Though I am blessed in this area, the armholes gap a little bit here, which I don't like. It doesn't cause it to be uncomfortable, and I USUALLY opt to cover my arms with a cardigan or something, so I opted to keep it and wore the dress on a recent trip. I am going to ask my mother (who can sew) and perhaps even a professional tailor if the armholes can be taken in, because I like this dress enough to pay for the alterations. The fabric is conforming enough to the body that there is no unsightly lump underneath a covering (lightweight) cardigan.

I opted for the Slate color, hoping it was as taupe-y grey as it appeared on my computer monitor. Alas, it is just plain grey, but not a bad shade. I just don't like black and I refuse to design my travel wardrobe around a color I don't enjoy every day. This grey goes well enough with my travel pieces even though my neutrals are generally more taupe/brown.

This fabric feels so decadently comfortable, it is like wearing pajamas. I really like the way it feels! Because I wanted a really good test before taking a very extensive trip this summer, I chose to wear this dress for a two hour car ride to a recent destination, and then out to dinner at a nice restaurant with people who'd invited my husband up for a professional speaking engagement. I figured I would definitely see if the fabric was comfortable enough to sit in for hours (YES!), if it would wrinkle offensively (NO!) and if I felt up-to-snuff at a fine dining establishment (YES.) Obviously, accessories make the travel dress, and I dressed it up with heels and a silky cardigan for dinner. Worn alone, this dress is simple enough in design that it wouldn't look overdone for daytime or even the beach.

I've only washed it once, and am now waiting to see how long it takes to air dry on a hanger, but it is drying at a comparable speed to the other travel wardrobe items I washed today, so that bodes well for being easy care on extended (wash in the hotel sink) trips.

There is a hidden pocket on the right side seam with a secure zipper, which is a fantastic feature. I think it is too small for a passport, but definitely large enough to hold a credit card or hotel key. The pocket is a mesh fabric, so no tell-tale lump shows under the dress.

The back hemline is longer than the front, which I wouldn't choose, since it looks like a mistake to me, but I believe it is an intentional design element. It isn't glaring, but I notice it when I look at my side-view in a mirror.