The holidays are upon us!  I have long loved feasting my eyes on all the latest holiday fashions - from beading to sequins, satin to velvet, and accessories to match.  I love luxe looks, festive frocks, and anything super shiny.  Often times, this is when I stock up on those special, shimmery pieces I want in my wardrobe year round - be they fancy or casual.

Simply Be recently reached out to me and sent me the Joanna Hope Beaded Maxi Dress.  I was unsure about how it would look on me, as it is a style and look I haven't tried before.  I was out of my comfort zone, but I ended up feeling like a shimmering goddess.




I'm really excited to share this review, not only because the dress is stunning, but because I also adore these sunset photos I took in the dress.  Despite it being a windy and chilly 45 degrees, the sunset was gorgeous and provided amazing scenery for my shoot.


The Joanna Hope Beaded Maxi Dress (regular $257.49 and on sale for $108.99) is made of a stretch mesh fabric with dazzling pewter beads and sequins.  The nude-colored lining is just slightly shorter in length and provides a clean backdrop for the beads to shine.  I was really drawn to this dress because the design of the beads reminds me of tree branches.  As you may know, I am obsessed with photographing trees and just adore the imperfectly perfect branches silhouetted against the sky.  The back has criss-cross straps and a zipper closure.


I am wearing the dress in a UK 26, which equals a US 22.  When I ordered the dress, I was on the US website so I thought the sizing was US.  I wanted to size up (I would normally wear a US 24) because some of the reviews talked about the style being too clingy.  Lucky for me, the US 22 is a spot on fit. A smaller size would have been a bit more fitted in the tummy.  A larger size would have been too large in the bust.  There was ample room for my tummy and hips in the US 22, though I am wearing a mid-thigh piece of shapewear that goes up to right under my bra.  This just helped smooth my upper tummy roll and allow the dress to lay as I wanted it to.  I didn't need the shapewear for it to fit, I just preferred to smooth things out a bit.  The body of the dress was not clingy in the slightest.  I'm also wearing a strapless bra because the thin straps of the dress would not conceal bra straps.  I was worried the back of the dress would be a little low and my strapless bra would show, but that was not the case.  There are also partial pieces of elastic towards the back of the armpit that allow for a close fit.  I never felt insecure or exposed to the elements.

The Joanna has a good weight to it.  When I first got the package, I was surprised at how heavy the dress felt with the weight of the beads.  However, it is really comfortable to wear.  I didn't feel weighed down by it, nor did I have any issues moving in it.  It didn't feel heavy on my body.  In fact, this dress made me feel like a curvy, shimmery diva.  In true diva fashion, I even wore it to the grocery store after my photoshoot.  I got lots of compliments and complimentary stares. The dress is a stunner.  At 54 inches long, the mesh layer stopped right above my feet.  For reference, I am 5'9".


The waist of the dress sits above my natural waist with the bloused effect of the upper portion.  It was never something I had to fuss with or worry about.  The construction of this dress is really well done.  Likewise, I did not have any issues with beads falling off.  Initially, there were a few beads and sequins in the packaging that had come off and I expected a mild trail of sparkles as I moved around.  But the fallout was incredibly minimal.  There are not any loose threads on the dress, and everything looks perfectly intact.

I'm new to Simply Be.  I've known about them for a while but, being unsure of the fit, I never chanced it and purchased from them.  After taking this dress for a spin, I would absolutely order from them with confidence.  They do offer free shipping on purchases of $50 or more and free returns, which is always a plus in my book.  No matter your style, Simply Be offers lots of great dresses to choose from!


I paired the dress with a grey faux fur scarf that mimicked the pewter color of the beads.  I was attempting to keep myself a little more warm in the cold, but still wanted that luxurious texture.  The fur scarf also helps to add to my shoulder and bust area to help balance out my pear shape.  I don't have any simple nude heels, so I wore a very simple ankle-strap black heel with the dress.  I'm on the lookout for a new set of neutral accessories that keep me warm, pair well with the dress, and still allow the dress to be the center of attention.