AFRM Dresses: Sizing, Fit and Best Buys

I have a weakness for clothes that come with a little pep talk, and AFRM does it literally. Before 2017 the label was called Arrive Clothing, and the relaunch was built around self-empowerment, right down to a handwritten positive message tucked in with each order. I like that the message belongs to the clothes and is not just a slogan on a website. It gives a printed dress a reason to feel personal instead of merely loud.

 

Camille Bergher is the person behind it. She spent more than 30 years at Topson Downs in the Los Angeles area, then launched AFRM there, and the name comes from the word affirmation. That long career shows in how comfortable the label is with trends. It takes current color, prints and proportions and pins one simple idea to them: getting dressed can be a small way to meet the day with more confidence.

AFRM dresses usually let color or print set the mood before anything else. The Christina Dress and the Didi Maxi Dress both put pattern at the center, the Mirza Dress makes a brighter entrance, and the Shailene Dress takes the same print-minded attitude into a darker palette. I would let those surfaces do the talking and keep shoes and jewelry quiet.

 

For dinner, the Cadiz Dress and the Paola Dress look ready to go out, while the Romy Dress and the Hazel Midi Dress are the calmer pair. The label's confidence shows most when the outfit does not compete with the dress. My test is to try the dress with the shoes before deciding anything else, since these names do not promise one shared shape. What I would skip is a loud print on a night when the rest of the outfit already has a focal point.

Tops are the easy way to try AFRM's print language in a smaller dose. The Barry Top is the painterly one, the Doris Top is its darker counterpoint, and the Zadie Tee and the Pasquina Top head in two completely different directions. I would pair the patterned ones with plain denim or a simple skirt and let the color sit close to the face.

 

Picture her heading out for coffee in the Zadie Tee and relaxed trousers, then keeping the same top on for an unplanned stop later. That everyday flexibility is a nice counterweight to the party-minded dresses. I would skip stacking a second busy print next to the face, because a top like this wants its own space.

Shorts are where the playful side of the label turns up in a daytime proportion. The High Rise Ultra Hot Short and the Sheyla Shorts in denim give two different textures, the Wren Short is the grounded color choice, and the Justina Short brings a sharper line. Together they make a case for treating shorts as a real outfit, not a filler between dresses.

 

Picture her on a warm afternoon in the Justina Short, a plain tank and flat sandals, with the stripe doing just enough. I would keep a roomy shirt nearby for when the weather turns. And the word short covers a lot of ground, so I would hold a pair up against one already in my drawer before deciding.

The last stretch of the edit gives AFRM's busier pieces something to lean on. The Ronny Pant and the Tatiana Fold Over Pant bring two different ideas of waist and leg, and the Vanya Burnout Velvet Skirt adds a softer, more evening texture. I would use the darker pants as a quiet base for a vivid top, then switch to the skirt when the plan turns into dinner.

 

In my fashion dreams she walks from an afternoon out into a casual night in wide-leg jeans, changing only her shoes and bag. The Aranya Halter Neck Top & Martina Semi Sheer Mini Skirt is the one piece here that comes as a pair, and I would let it stand alone. Everything else works best when the print feels chosen and the rest of the outfit gives it room.

What keeps me interested in AFRM is how direct it is. The clothes take a position, and the founding idea asks the wearer to own it.

 

I would choose a print because it feels like me, not because it looks good in a quick glance, and then let the rest of the outfit stay quiet. Although I will admit a good pep talk is hard to resist.