5 PureWow Editors Give Their Honest Thoughts on Anthropologie’s Best-Selling Tobie Dress

Three of our testers have owned their Tobie dresses for at least six months (some for even longer) and wear them on the regular throughout the year. One even owns the dress in two different styles. I and one other tester have tried the dress on in stores more than once, but have yet to make the splurge. And yet all agree, this dress truly does live up to the hype.

How Does the Tobie Dress Fit Petites?

All five of us wear completely different sizes, but the fact that the Tobie dress comes in sizes XXS to XL as well as petite lengths and plus sizes (1X to 3X), means everyone can find exactly what they need, no tailoring required. For Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint, who is 5’1” tall, and Senior Editor Dana Dickey, who is 5’3”, the petite sizing was a surprise hit given the voluminous sleeves and roomy skirt.

As Quint notes, “[The Tobie shirtdress] seems like the type of structured, dramatic silhouette you'd have to be 5’9” to pull off. But since it comes in petite sizing, it doesn't overwhelm my small frame and actually hits where it's supposed to—right at the ankle.” And Dickey agrees, the proportions of the petite version are spot on. After trying out the minidress version she reported, “A dress like this one is always tricky for petites, because the volume can be overwhelming on a small frame and the length needs to hit mid-thigh so that it doesn’t appear that the dress is wearing you. [In this case] the proportions are exactly right, and this cotton-blend dress looks as crisp as you’ll want to appear on hot days.”

Editorial Assistant Courtney Mason and Director of Audience Development Mary Rogers both appreciate that the bust and hips have ample room and don’t pose the same risk of gaping buttons, like too many other shirt dresses. Mason currently owns the classic midi style in mini black-and-white stripes (the very same print as Quint, in fact), but has been tempted to add a second version to her collection, the fit is just that good. “If I love an item enough, I will purchase it in another color—in this case, another print,” she says. “This dress provides more than enough room around the bust and hip area, and with the right accessories, can be transformed for any occasion. It truly is the perfect shirt dress, and I'm not exaggerating.”

Rogers adds, “I'm six months postpartum and few things have been making me feel cute, but this dress was the first to make me feel more like my old self. The cinched waist is perfect for giving a flattering hourglass figure. Having a fuller chest, I appreciate the additional buttons—some button-down closures I worry about popping open, but this is not a problem here.” In fact, Rogers owns both the classic midi length and the minidress version, though at 5’7” she does wish the mini was just a smidge longer.

As for me, I recently tried on the Tobie in a gorgeous brown plaid with dainty studs scattered across the fabric and immediately fell head-over-heals in love with the cut. It made me feel polished and put together, giving me a fabulous figure without feeling constricting. It’s the kind of dress I can envision myself wearing for so many different occasions—as Mason noted, it’s incredibly easy to dress up or down to fit your needs. Quint considers the Tobie a go-to any time she wants to look professional without trying too hard. “I rely on it as a professional, but never stodgy, staple that I can dress up with heels or down with sneakers or moto boots.”

Of course, your print of choice will also dictate the wearability of your Tobie dress. For instance, the solid black version can easily be done up with some heels, sparkly jewelry and a sleek clutch for a cocktail party, while the raspberry plaid feels better suited for weekend jaunts to the farmers’ market.

Most of our testers said they prefer to wear their dresses with casual sneakers or loafers, especially for the mini length. But one mildly frustrating concern with the Tobie dress is the exaggerated sleeves. While Quint and Rogers both like to layer a denim or leather jacket over top come fall and winter, not just any ol’ topper will do. The flared sleeve, while wonderfully elegant, doesn’t fit well under slimmer jackets or most cardigan sweaters. However, if you’ve got a roomier barn jacket or something with more of an oversized silhouette, it should layer much more nicely.