Win a Custom Dress from PIOL (That You Design)

For those of us that fashion forgot

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Much to the dismay of my mom (who has been trying in vain to dress me like a Gap ad since forever), I have had the same aesthetic since I came out of the womb: I like colors and patterns, I like dresses, and I like things that fit snugly on my body. And while my sense of style hasn’t changed much in the past twenty-nine years, my body sure has. As it’s changed, I’ve noticed that the clothing available to me has changed drastically too. The racks of playful dresses in a variety of shapes and colors has been replaced by row after row of sensible black, navy, beige, and grey. It’s like fashion decided that if you’re plus size, or of a certain age, or pregnant, or even if you just want a dress that goes down to your goddamn knees, then you can’t possibly actually care about what you’re wearing. Or worse: that it probably doesn’t matter what you wear. And I, for one, take issue with that assumption.

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So when we had the opportunity to work with PIOL, a company that lets you customize and design made-to-measure dresses, I was excited to give it a test run (spoiler alert: in part because they are giving away a free dress to one lucky APW reader! Read on to find out more.) PIOL gives you all the tools to create a flattering dress (made exactly for your measurements), but then lets you customize it to your heart’s content. The abundance of colors and patterns means you can design something you actually like, and not just whatever fashion thinks you deserve.

At around $525, a PIOL dress is an investment compared to your average day-to-day wear. But when it comes to weddings? It’s actually… kind of a great deal. And it’s definitely a steal for something that’s custom tailored to your body, and then made locally in New York’s garment district. (And since you asked: Yes, PIOL dresses totally come in white.) But having made my own dress now, it’s clear to me that PIOL is for more than just brides who want a dress that cost less than $1,000. I’m thinking: plus size bridesmaids who want something that actually fits and flatters and they really will wear again (and again). Modest brides who still want something stylish (just with sleeves.)

Or… how about your mom (or your partner’s mom)? Because if there is anyone that the fashion industry and the wedding industry has collectively forgotten, it’s moms. (Polling of the APW staff about buying mom’s dresses for weddings produced some grim stories.) But, you know, moms want to look hot for your wedding too, in a dress that fits well, and doesn’t feel like a designer’s afterthought. And it turns out, the retail world doesn’t always… care.

Really, PIOL is for anyone looking for a special occasion dress who has ever had to settle for “I guess this is my best option” and ended up with a dress that was only so-so because… what else are you going to do?

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Here’s a quick rundown of how the process of designing a dress with PIOL works:

  • There are actually 56,000 different customized dress combinations you can make using PIOL. Which is…overwhelming. So PIOL makes things easier by starting off the design process with a few quick questions about your hair color, eye color, and skin tone. From there, they set you up with a customized selection of colors and patterns that are suited specifically to your “color aura” (that’s what they call the color profile specific to your eye, hair and skin colors). Side note: PIOL doesn’t currently have a pink hair option, so I settled for dark brown. But consider my suggestion in the mail!
  • All PIOL dresses start with one of their five basic silhouettes: tailored, sheath, shift, draped, and draped empire. If you’re not sure which silhouette you want, they’ve got tips and advice on how each one fits and what body type each one flatters best.
  • Once you’re in the design room, you can customize your dress with different fabrics, necklines, sleeves, and skirt length. And while the “color aura” aspect is a fun perk of designing with PIOL, it’s the customization options that I was most excited about. Because being able to add a sleeve to a dress at no extra cost is basically the dream I have for everything I own.
  • After your dress is designed, input your measurements and you’re done! PIOL will get started on your dress and have it on your doorstep in three-to-four weeks.

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One of my favorite dresses of all time (the one I eloped in) died a pitiful moth-ridden death in my closet, so I designed an updated version using PIOL. I started with their tailored dress as my base, and then chose a bright pink and navy Ikat pattern, because what else would I choose? And in the process, I had a few breakthrough realizations about clothing and my body:

  • My ass is not the problem. For the longest time, I’ve just accepted that the bottom half of my dresses would be oppressively tight if I wanted any kind of defined waist. Turns out, my ass was not the problem; standard clothing measurements are. When I got my PIOL dress, I wasn’t sure what to make of it, because I didn’t even need Spanx. And it was somehow still flattering without being skintight. This what tailoring does, and I had no idea. (I’m so sorry Stacy and Clinton. I was listening, but not really listening.)
  • Tailored doesn’t mean tight. PIOL dresses are constructed to fit your exact body measurements, but the styles themselves aren’t meant to hug your body necessarily. Which means that any kind of lumps or bumps just…disappear into the dress. (I repeat: no Spanx required.)
  • The magic is in the construction. PIOL dresses are priced from $525–$645, and when mine arrived, I immediately understood why. I’m used to fast fashion items, which wear out in a few uses. (Even my more expensive evening dresses from big department stores have seams that are going loose after a few uses.) But my PIOL dress was made of a sturdy stretch sateen that feels like it can easily stand up against even my abusive relationship with clothing. Bonus: since my PIOL dress was both stretchy and structured, I didn’t have to deal with that awkward thing where my outfit looks great in the mirror, but is super unflattering in photos. Which matters less in real life, but is gold when you’re a VIP at a wedding.
  • You may not get it right the first time. My dress was different in person than I had anticipated when I designed it online (see above note regarding tailored clothing). And while I’m planning on keeping mine, PIOL understands that you might not be used to designing your own dresses from scratch. Which is why they offer a full refund on all dresses (just don’t snip the tags.) All returned dresses are donated to nonprofits for women who need help with employment.

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Not everyone needs made-to-measure dresses in their closets. But for those of us who have been forgotten by fashion, or just want something that feels like a treat, well… sometimes it’s worth a little extra to get something that fits your body and your personality, exactly as it is, without apology (or shapewear).

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This post was sponsored by PIOL. Thanks PIOL for helping making the APW mission possible!

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