Lovehoney Plus Size Long Sleeve Red Mini Dress

Arrived on time in an anonymous, padded envelope as part of Lovehoney’s sex toy testing. For size reference, I usually take a UK 16 underwear but 18 jeans (clothes sizing is weird), I'm 5ft 8 with 36G chest.

The dress arrived in a standard Lovehoney cardboard sleeve that is used for many hosiery items. I've expressed my love for this simple packaging in many a previous review as it's simple, classy and informative with a little diagram of what you're getting on the back so you can tell the arse from the elbow, so to speak.

Since this was a secret tester item I was given limited info on this dress' design. When I first pulled it out the packaging I was sceptical. I'm a young fashion-conscious 21-year-old so usually I'm about strappy black numbers and sleek patterns. The red long sleeve number that was entirely sheer seemed a bit 80s porno for my usual taste but I'm open to new things so I popped this on.

Was very happily surprised. The material hugs my figure but is also comfy to wear and doesn't dig in. It emphasises my curves in a good way. The dress stays above the knee but is long enough to keep my butt in and the neck isn't too low that I'm falling out but not uncomfortably high on me. The sleeves ruch a bit and are a little too long but not massively.The dress makes me feel very sexy and shows off my shape :)

The quality of this dress is high and even thought I'm clumsy I'm certain I wouldn't rip or ladder this dress. You can tell the back from front due to a little label at the back of the neck so no confusion there. Would definitely recommend this.

It always makes me feel very privileged and special when I receive an email telling me I have been selected to test run anything for Lovehoney, even more so when it’s a secret tester. I always carry out my duty with pride and the following review is the result of such a testing.

My parcel arrived exactly on time and in it’s usual plain and secure packaging. All I knew was I should expect a Red - Long Sleeved Mini Dress (Plus Size). Inside my brown box, I found a tastefully designed, purple Lovehoney box containing an ‘Opaque Long Sleeved Mini Dress.’ I was already pretty sure I knew how this was going to look as I already own a couple of Opaque Lovehoney pieces, and I Iove them. When I took this out of its box I was even more convinced this was going to be just my thing. However, once I unwrapped it from its card insert I did find myself a little disappointed.

I can only describe the material as similar to a thickish pair of opaque tights, it has plenty of stretch to it, but maybe not as much support as other similar Lovehoney items. It is a very plain dress, I had been hoping for a little lace maybe around the neck and cuffs, but nothing. I really like the idea of long sleeves as I am very conscious of my ‘bingo wings’, but sometimes fitted sleeves are no good for me as I have pretty chunky upper arms. Feeling a little underwhelmed I tried the dress on.

For comparison's sake, I am a size 16/18, 36C (ish) boobs and stand approx 5’11” tall. The dress fits well, including the sleeves, but as already mentioned the material is not as sturdy as the other Lovehoney Opaque items I already own, I found myself being very conscious of my tummy area. The thickness of the material leaves nothing to the imagination as it becomes pretty see-through as you put it on. Obviously, this is not such an issue as likely to only be worn for bedroom wear, but I could see it being worn as outerwear with a nice bra underneath by someone with much more confidence than myself. The dress does manage to cover my bum when pulled down, but with movement tends to ride up somewhat.

I am usually one of the first to shout from the rooftops when Lovehoney produce a new item, but on this occasion, I think it will be more of a muffled whisper - sorry, but you did ask.

I have rated highly for value for money as obviously I received this free and don't know what the price is.

It says on the packaging that it's opaque, but once it’s over my size 24/26 figure, it's most definitely not opaque, in fact, it's virtually transparent. I reckon you would have to be much smaller for it to wear on you as opaque, and it’s quite snug on me, so anyone bigger than me will find it very tight. Just for your reference, I’m a size 18 on the bottom and 5’ 6” tall.

It has a scoop neck, but nothing more than I would expect on an every day modest top, unless you really pull it down on you front, but I don’t think it would stay that way. The bottom hem is re-enforced, so it hugs my legs under my bum; meaning the figure-hugging look is top to bottom. On a positive note, it will stretch down a little longer than anything else similar that I have tried, which I like; but you can also wear it a little higher up without it going all baggy.

What lets it down for me is that it’s very plain; no lace trim, which I love. If you are not into frills, and lace then this would suit you nicely; it would probably suit guys who like to wear lingerie, but don’t want something too girly, at least for a first try.

If you have a reasonable shape for a plus size woman, this may look okay on you; but otherwise, it’s not awfully figure-flattering. You do have to take care when putting it on and will have to adjust the seams so you don't look and feel all twisted.

My legs are quite slim for my size, so I had this idea of turning it upside down, and wearing as a crotchless body. It worked quite well for me like this and even came up and over my boobs. But it was about as tight in the leg as it could go, so not something that would work for everyone.