Ella Bella

Sunny and saccharine, the Ella dress by PUG is the quintessence of summer - long island iced teas and rose gardens personified! When I first saw previews of it on PinUp Girl Clothing’s Instagram, I wasn’t completely enamored with it. Maybe because it was a peek at the Summer collection and it was still snowing in May here, so Summer just seemed like a familiar fable at that time. Once the snow melted and trees started to flourish, the Ella was making a presence in the pinup boutiques and online communities. Although at first glance it seemed too sugary, there are several details that speak to several of my weaknesses, so I had to get one!

Several years ago as I started to inch away from an all-black wardrobe, yellow was my guilty pleasure and the first step out of my comfort zone. Now it is easily one of my favourite colours to wear, so the yellow Ella was my immediate choice out of the three available colours. This is a true yellow - not eggshell or mustard; just pure primary yellow. 

I also have an obsession with images of red roses, so I love that the painted florals on this colourway are red and pink. The bouquets on the pink and blue versions (which will be shown at the end of the post) are more monochromatic and stay within the same spectrum as the dress. They're still super pretty but there's less contrast.

The bodice is accented with a green grosgrain bow, just above the wide waistband. I was apprehensive about the colour selection for the bow at first, but it really makes the dress all the more stunning. 

The gathered, renaissance-style peasant's bodice is another one of my weaknesses. I covet anything that sneaks in a touch of medieval femininity, plus this structure just amps up the curvature in the bosom area no matter what size you are. 97% cotton and 3% spandex, the Ella is quite accommodating in the bust area so this is a flattering feature for many body types. The bodice is also lined. The adjustable straps will suit a varying heights and torso lengths, while the elasticized back maintains a comfortable fit all around. PUG certainly lives up to their slogan "Couture for Every Body"


The skirt is full - there's just tons of glorious fabric in the bottom portion of this dress. I don't find that it's an overly poofy silhouette; it lays flat at hips, then flares out. I like some twirlability in my skirts, but I don’t like to look like an upside down spinning teacup either. The Ella has the right amount of fullness for me, a carousel of gorgeousness. It is quite long, though. I am 5'8" and the hem falls mid-calf for me.

I am wearing my usual medium and it is true to size. As usual for PinUp Girl Clothing, the construction and quality is superior, and is made ethically in the USA. This is a perfect summer dress, but because of the lining and just the abundance of skirt, it can be too heavy for those 30C days! I'd even take this dress into the first weeks of Autumn with a little cardigan when it cools down in the evening. 

Last but not least, the feature that turned this dress from a 'want' to a 'need' was the POCKETS. Yes...deep, deep concealed slit pockets that can fit your lipstick, cell phone (I have  a Samsung Galaxy that nestles in nice and cozy), keys, cards, tissues, etc. - seriously, all the essentials. With my hand completely in, it will fit up to 3 inches above my wrist. I don't worry about losing anything.

I've compiled images from PinUp Girl Clothing's website to show you the dress on the mannequin, model, and a close-up swatch of the fabric. Some ladies have the Sleeping Beauty-esque debate between pink and blue, but I really don't blame those who end up getting all the colours (I wish I could do that with all my dresses!).