Self-Portrait Lace Midi Dress review: worth it or skip?

What the Self-Portrait Lace Midi Dress does well

The headline: lace midi dress. The details: Fabric: Guipure lace; Length: Midi; Fit: Fitted; Made in: Varies by line. In our list it is the pick for: wedding guest. It usually sells for $450–$600 in the US.

Popular guest dress.

The trade-offs

Good: fair price, pretty. Not so good: polyester lace. Read the skip-if line before you spend: skip it if you want luxury fabric.

What to buy instead

Instead, consider the Diane von Furstenberg Wrap Dress ($400–$550): the original jersey wrap dress. Better if you want a flattering, packable classic.

Instead, consider the Ulla Johnson Printed Dress ($500–$800): printed cotton dress. Better if you want boho at fair price.

Instead, consider the Rebecca Vallance Midi Dress ($600–$900): occasion dress. Better if you want value.

Before you buy

Fabric: silk, wool crepe and good viscose drape and breathe; heavy polyester feels warm and looks cheaper. Lining: a full lining makes a dress hang better and last longer. Alterations: a dress with seam allowance at the side seams and hem can be tailored; many delicate dresses cannot.

Buyer tip

Buy occasion dresses in the end-of-season sales if you can plan ahead; for an event within weeks, check return windows carefully.

Buying in Europe: Italian (IT 38, 40, 42) and French (FR 36, 38, 40) clothing sizes are not the same; IT 40 is about a US 4 and an FR 36. Check each house’s chart, and keep returns in mind when you order from another country.

Luxury prices move in a different rhythm from everyday shopping. The great houses (Chanel, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Rolex) raise prices once or twice a year, often in January and in spring, and almost never discount their icons. Seasonal pieces, colors and many shoes, coats and knitwear drop 30–50% in the end-of-season sales in January and from late June. Watches from brands such as Omega, TAG Heuer, Longines and Breitling, and most fragrance, see the best prices around Prime Day and Black Friday. Judge any deal against the usual price we show.

Buy from the fashion house, an authorized retailer or a reseller that authenticates and guarantees every piece, and keep the receipt, the dust bag, the box and any warranty card: they matter for repairs and for resale. Swiss watches carry a 2- to 5-year international warranty when bought from an authorized dealer, and buyers in the EU and UK also have a legal guarantee of at least two years on new goods.