Review: Steady Clothing dresses

I’ve wanted to try Steady’s retro-inspired, made-in-the-USA “Vintage Classics” designs for a while now, so I jumped at the chance when a rep for this Southern California institution contacted me about taking some samples for a spin. I chose the Vicky dress in charcoal, the Sparrow Lush dress in red, and the Velvet Diva dress in black, all in 1x for my 42-32-48″ frame.

I’ll start with my favorite first: the Velvet Diva. This dress reminds me a lot of the Pinup Couture Erin, but there are several differences. The Velvet Diva’s straps are slimmer than the Erin’s, making them less like cap sleeves, and the neckline on the back is more scooped than straight. The Velvet Diva also comes in a comfy stretch velvet (black and ruby colors), which is a unique twist. This one’s easy to wear and looks good on curvy bodies, so I’m sure I’ll get a lot of use out of it! The 1x was the perfect size in every way.

I’ve wanted the Steady Lush dress for months, and it didn’t disappoint me. I chose the red colorway, which is pretty if more on the burgundy side than I expected. The lightweight knit jersey fabric makes this dress ideal for warmer weather. The sparrow embroidery on the shoulders turns what is otherwise a very contemporary, casual style into something a little more rockabilly. If you’re not a red person, the dress is also available in black, teal, and burgundy. The 1x fits a bit big in the waist, but just right in the bust.

The Vicky dress is a fun strapless party dress in a silvery (“charcoal”) stretch taffeta (it comes in maroon, too). The 1x was a good fit over a longline strapless bra and black crinoline, but could just as easily be worn with nothing underneath with little cost to the look. The boned sweetheart bodice has a cute pleated tulle ruffle and black velvet ribbon running along the neckline. The full skirt is overlain with a layer of black tulle for extra texture and volume, coming just below the knee (I’m 5’8″ plus). This one’s on sale now, too, if you’re in need of something cute and fancy for a night out. The 1x was just the right size for me. It runs on the snug side, which makes sense given the stretch factor.

I liked the items I tried and will turn to Steady in the future for more retro-inspired designs! Since Steady now manufactures everything up through size 2X, almost any girl wearing up to a misses XXL should be accommodated.