Your words do more than rate a dress. Based on 10,081 verified reviews, The Confidence Report 2026 reveals just how much your voice matters to the women who come after you.
Over the past decade, 6,815 women have shared 10,081 verified stories about confidence, fit and plus-size occasionwear. Together, they form one of the largest collections of verified customer insight we've seen published by a UK plus-size occasionwear brand.
At Scarlett & Jo, we recently published The Confidence Report 2026 — an in-depth analysis of 10,081 verified customer reviews from 6,815 women, spanning ten years of plus-size occasionwear. The findings reinforced what years of conversations with our customers had already suggested: when women share honest experiences, they help other women shop with greater confidence.
The Scarlett & Jo Confidence Report 2026 analyses 10,081 verified customer reviews from 6,815 women, drawn from Scarlett & Jo's verified customer review data. Browse the underlying review source.
Designer Gifi Fields launched Scarlett & Jo independently in 2015 after recognising that too many plus-size women were compromising on fit and confidence. The findings of the Confidence Report validated that the philosophy and technology behind every Scarlett & Jo collection were right all along.
Why This Research Matters
We didn't ask women to fill in a survey. We didn't prompt them. We simply listened to what they chose to say — 10,081 times, over ten years. And what they said was remarkable.
“Women weren’t simply reviewing dresses. They were helping complete strangers feel confident enough to attend the biggest moments of their lives.”
What 10,081 women told us
Behind every number is a woman who took a moment to help another woman feel more confident.
- 10,081 verified reviews analysed.
- 6,815 women contributed.
- Once women found the right dress, positive emotions overwhelmingly replaced the worries that often come before buying occasionwear.
- 46% of reviews described feeling beautiful, gorgeous, lovely or stunning.
- Again and again, women told us the same thing: when the fit was right, confidence followed.
Methodology: The Confidence Report analyses 10,081 verified customer reviews submitted by 6,815 women and collected through review platform Loox between August 2016 and May 2026.
The Emotional Impact of a Review on Women's Fashion
Shopping for plus-size women's clothing can be an emotional journey. Many women approach it with a mix of excitement and anxiety, wondering if a dress will truly fit their body, flatter their shape, and make them feel beautiful. This is where your product review becomes invaluable.
According to recent consumer research, 93% of customers read online reviews before making a purchase [1]. Other studies by BrightLocal [3], Baymard [4], and the Spiegel Research Center [5] echo this, demonstrating that reviews from real people are often more trusted than product descriptions alone. But beyond the statistics lies a deeper psychological truth: women look for validation from those who share their body shape, concerns, and lifestyle. When a shopper reads that a dress smoothed over a tummy, supported a fuller bust without gaping, or provided all-day comfort at a wedding, her anxiety diminishes.
Our Confidence Report revealed that nearly half of all reviews (46%) included positive emotional language such as "beautiful," "gorgeous," "lovely," or "stunning." By sharing these feelings, you are passing that emotional reassurance onto someone else. You are telling her, "I felt beautiful in this, and you will too."
What Makes a Good Product Review?
A helpful review goes beyond a simple star rating. It paints a picture of the product in real life, setting accurate expectations for future buyers. If you want to leave a review that truly helps another woman shopping for plus-size dresses UK, consider including these elements:
| Key Element | Why It Matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Body Shape & Sizing | Helps shoppers with similar proportions gauge how the dress will fit them. | "I am an apple shape, usually a size 20, and this plus-size dress defined my waist perfectly without clinging." |
| Occasion Context | Shows the dress in action and confirms its appropriateness for specific events. | "I wore this as a plus-size wedding guest dress in July — the fabric was breathable and comfortable all day." |
| Fit & Comfort Details | Validates the brand's claims and reassures buyers about specific features like stretch or support. | "The POWERFIT® mesh really works. I didn't even need to wear shapewear underneath." |
| Emotional Response | Connects with the shopper's desire to feel good in the garment. | "I received so many compliments and felt incredibly confident the entire evening." |
The Do's and Don'ts of Leaving a Review
Writing a review does not have to be a daunting task. Here are a few simple guidelines to keep in mind when sharing your thoughts on your latest Scarlett & Jo purchase:
- Be specific — mention the MagicBand®, wrap neckline, or fabric drape.
- Include your size and body shape — the most sought-after detail by other shoppers.
- Share photos if you're comfortable — seeing a dress on a real body is incredibly powerful.
- Talk about the event — context helps others visualise the dress in their own lives.
- Mention how it made you feel — emotional honesty is what truly inspires confidence.
- Just leave a star rating — stars lack the nuance that truly assists other shoppers.
- Focus only on delivery or service — product reviews should focus on the garment itself.
- Shy away from constructive feedback — honest reviews build trust for everyone.
- Be vague — "nice dress" helps no one; "flattering on a size 18 pear shape" helps everyone.
- Wait too long — fresh impressions, especially after wearing the dress, are the most vivid.
Our Top 3 Rated Dresses — As Chosen by You
The proof is in the reviews. Based on our analysis of thousands of verified customer reviews, these three dresses have consistently inspired the most confidence, the most compliments, and the most five-star ratings.
Isabelle Winter Pink Print Float Sleeve Maxi Dress
"It was like looking in a sweet shop! I was originally going to buy just one but ended up with two — both are absolutely gorgeous."
Shop This Dress
Isabelle Orange Pink Yellow Print Float Sleeve Maxi Dress
"Such a beautiful dress in stunning bright colours — the clever waist band helps to flatter your shape. I feel feminine and relaxed in this gorgeous dress."
Shop This Dress
Verity Wine Ikat Print Maxi Gown
"Fits like a glove. Wearing it to a wedding in San Francisco with a shawl! So many compliments already from the photos."
Shop This Dress
Your Voice Matters
At Scarlett & Jo, we engineer our dresses for fit, comfort, and confidence, using proprietary technologies like Advanced Fit Technology® to solve the structural problems that have long plagued plus-size fashion. But the true measure of our success is not in the design studio; it is in your lived experiences.
Every time you leave a review, you are contributing to a community of women supporting women. You are helping someone else bridge the confidence gap — turning her uncertainty into excitement, her hesitation into a moment of joy. Our Style Guides and Size Guide are here to help you find your perfect dress, and our customer reviews page is where you can read thousands of real women's stories — or add your own.
So, the next time you slip on a Scarlett & Jo dress and feel that rush of confidence, take a moment to share it. Your words might be exactly what another woman needs to read before she says "yes" to the dress — and to herself. Learn more in The Confidence Report 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Scarlett & Jo Confidence Report 2026?
The Scarlett & Jo Confidence Report 2026 is an analysis of 10,081 verified customer reviews from 6,815 women submitted over ten years. It examines what plus-size women say about occasionwear, with key findings on fit, emotional confidence, occasion shopping behaviour, and brand loyalty.
Why do customer reviews matter for plus-size fashion?
Customer reviews help plus-size women make confident purchasing decisions by providing honest, detailed feedback from women with similar body shapes and sizing. Research shows that 93% of shoppers read reviews before buying, and reviews from real women are often more trusted than product descriptions alone.
What makes a good review for a plus-size dress?
A helpful review for a plus-size dress includes your body shape and usual size, the occasion you wore it to, specific details about fit and comfort (such as whether the waist support worked or the bust fit correctly), and how the dress made you feel. Photos are also highly valued by other shoppers.
Which Scarlett & Jo dresses have the most reviews?
Based on verified Loox review data, the Isabelle Winter Pink Print Float Sleeve Maxi Dress (134 reviews, 4.77★), the Verity Wine Ikat Print Maxi Gown (121 reviews, 4.70★), and the Isabelle Orange Pink Yellow Print Float Sleeve Maxi Dress (107 reviews, 4.84★) are among the most-reviewed and highest-rated dresses in the Scarlett & Jo collection.
References
[1] Dixa. "3 Statistics That Show How Customer Reviews Influence Consumers." dixa.com
[2] Scarlett & Jo. "The Confidence Report 2026." scarlettandjo.com
[3] BrightLocal. "Local Consumer Review Survey." brightlocal.com
[4] Baymard Institute. "Product Reviews UX." baymard.com
[5] Spiegel Research Center. "How Online Reviews Influence Sales." spiegel.medill.northwestern.edu