Are Rebecca Vallance Dresses Worth It?

Rebecca Vallance sits in the space between contemporary and designer, and that is exactly where the question gets asked most often. The dresses cost more than a high street occasion piece and less than a European luxury house. Whether that is worth it depends on what you are actually paying for, so here is a straight account of the construction, the fabrics and the fit, including the parts that are less flattering.

What you are paying for

Three things, mostly. The first is construction. Almost every dress in the range is fully lined, and the lining is a separate fabric rather than a fused facing. The Venus Mini Dress carries two separate linings. That is why these dresses hold a shape on the body rather than hanging off it.

The second is detailing that has to be made rather than printed. The Venus family carries a custom diamante embellished bow. The Glimmer Gown is all-over glass sequin, not a sequin print. The Jacquie group is finished with a contrast braid trim applied along every edge, which is a slow finish to apply.

The third is a consistent block. Because the house cuts the same style across gown, midi and mini lengths, a size that works in one usually works in the others. That is worth more than it sounds if you buy from the brand repeatedly.

What you are not paying for

This is not a natural-fibre collection. Much of the eveningwear is a polyester and acetate blend, and several tailored pieces are recycled polyester. The Venus Gown is 58% polyester and 42% acetate.

That is a deliberate choice rather than a corner cut. The blend gives a mikado-like body that holds a sculpted bow and photographs without creasing. Silk of the same weight would do neither as reliably, and it would cost a great deal more. Still, if natural fibre is your measure of value, the eveningwear will not meet it.

The exceptions are worth knowing. The Dauphine group is a 53% virgin wool herringbone blend, and the Jacquie group is a cotton-blend boucle. Those are the pieces to look at if you want a natural fibre content.

How the sizing actually behaves

Rebecca Vallance states that its pieces fit true to size, and that statement is printed on every product in the current collection. The brand cuts to Australian sizing, which runs the same as UK sizing, so an AU 10 is a UK 10.

One honest caveat. Some third-party reviewers report that the more fitted styles run close through the bodice, and suggest sizing up on those. The brand’s own guidance does not say this, and we follow the brand. If you are between sizes and looking at a strapless piece, order the larger size. The same holds for the corset styles. Our Rebecca Vallance size guide has the full measurement chart.

Which pieces justify the spend

The gowns are the strongest value in the range, because that is where the construction budget goes. The Noire Long Sleeve Gown and the Mariya Gown are the two that get worn most, simply because a floor-length dress in a plain colour has a long life.

The tailoring is the quiet winner. The Dauphine Blazer in herringbone wool blend will outlast any occasion dress in the collection, and it is not bought as an occasion piece at all.

The pieces that need the most thought are the heavily embellished minis. They are beautiful and they are single-occasion. If you want repeat wear, buy the length rather than the surface.

Who it suits

Rebecca Vallance suits someone with a calendar of occasions rather than one event. The collection rewards buying into it, because the sizing is consistent and the style families extend into sets. If you need one dress for one wedding and will not wear the label again, a rental may serve you better.

See the full collection on the Rebecca Vallance brand page, compare the label against its peers in brands like Rebecca Vallance, and read the background in who is Rebecca Vallance. For help choosing a piece, see which Rebecca Vallance dress to buy and our guide to Rebecca Vallance tailoring and separates.

Frequently asked questions

Are Rebecca Vallance dresses worth the money?

For repeat occasion wear, yes. The dresses are fully lined with separate lining fabrics, the embellishment is applied rather than printed, and the sizing block is consistent across styles. For a single event with no plan to wear the label again, rental may be better value.

What are Rebecca Vallance dresses made from?

Most of the eveningwear is a polyester and acetate blend, chosen for its structured mikado-like body. Several tailored pieces are recycled polyester. The exceptions are the Dauphine group, a 53% virgin wool herringbone blend, and the Jacquie group, a cotton-blend boucle.

Is Rebecca Vallance a luxury brand?

It sits between contemporary and designer rather than in luxury proper. The construction quality and finishing are designer level, while the fabrics are largely engineered blends rather than natural fibres. It is stocked by Net-a-Porter, Mytheresa and Neiman Marcus.

Do Rebecca Vallance dresses run small?

The brand states its pieces fit true to size and prints that guidance on every product. Some third-party reviewers report that the more fitted styles run close through the bodice. If you are between sizes on a strapless piece, order the larger size. The same holds for the corset styles.