The summer has finally hit Finland and it’s not all good – degrees can go as high as +28 C which is very unusual for Finnish weather. I live on the coast so I’m pretty used to cool and damp air meaning hot weather can be a pain in the arse. I spend two hours each day in a bus to commute which is not fun with no air-conditioning whatsoever. One day at work we got a big package from Poland; some refills from Urkye. I jumped at the chance to try out their famous Tuba dress and as I got it on, it stayed on.
To me Urkye seems like a pretty decent choice for those looking for practical basic clothing in delightful colours and modest price point. Of course I got mine with a fair discount, but even full price the dress would have cost about 40 € here in Finland, so not bad for a dress. We had four colours of the Tuba – red, black, pink and petrol green – but as a lover of a good red dress I decided to try the red one in size 36 o/oo.
The Design: My first thoughts about Tuba were that it was a little plain and nothing too special to spend my money on. That was when I hadn’t tried it on, just seen it on other people and on internet. What changed my mind then? I suddenly realised how practical and versatile Tuba actually is. Even though it’s a very basic style with no embellishments, I really like how it can be worn almost anywhere and be dressed both up and down. Ever since I brought the dress back home a few days ago, I have been wearing it non-stop and even had a nap in it.
The way I style the dress is a more vintage pin-up – I usually wear it with a scarf on my head and some red lipstick and a pair of ballet flats. The neckline is very open and needs something low-cut beneath it (I’m wearing my Gossard “Lola” in the pictures). However, the soft cotton material is so clingy in the mid section of the dress I’m actually not wearing panties at all in the pictures. So you be warned – it’s almost guaranteed you will get a VPL. Otherwise I love the way the dress hugs my curves and flares a bit towards the hem. It’s truly a classic shape to wear everywhere from work to after-work drinks.
The Fit: I opted for the 36 o/oo but as a 30GG I’m between the sizes o/oo and oo/ooo according to the Urkye size chart. I asked my boss which size would be better for me and she suggested the smaller to try on first. Her advice was spot on and I think the dress gives me just the right amount of coverage, ie. covers my bra but leaves tons of cleavage on sight. I usually wear a UK dress size 10 which is about the same as EU size 36 so I would say the sizes run quite true to size.
As I started wearing the dress I noticed my bras always try to peek out a bit from the neckline but I’m quite okay with that. I actually feel it’s kinda my right to show off my bra a bit – they are all so beautiful and never to be seen otherwise! I think I could have gone up to size oo/ooo but feel like this is exactly the coverage level I want. The seam going under my boobs tacks beautifully to my ribcage and doesn’t lift up because of my boobs. The overall fit of the dress is pretty clingy but looks great even without any shapewear (unlike my MiP pencil dress!)
(Compulsory Miley pic, sorry)
Comfort: The dress is so comfy on! I love it how the materials have been so well-thought out – the dress is a stretchy cotton blend allowing you to move easily and feel comfortable at all times. As I told you, I have napped in this dress and also gone a few hours completely braless wearing it (would not recommend to anyone above GG-cup though..). It’s a thin fabric meaning it’s pretty comfy in hot weather as well.
I would gladly recommend the Urkye “Tuba” to anyone who needs a pretty basic dress eg. for work or just hanging out. I would also wear it for casual drinks or dates so it’s really versatile in addition to being extremely flattering. You can get your Tuba at Urkye’s website which ships internationally. If you happen to live in Finland, Lumingerie has a few Tuba dresses in different colours so you can snatch yours up quickly and easily.
Two cakes on a plate 
Your sizing comparison with the Tuba and your description of fit preferences are very helpful. This dress looks very versatile! It’s refreshing to have regular sleeves for a change (vs. cap sleeves).