I’ve been around the block when it comes to trying women’s outdoor clothing brands or workwear. I’ve always had a hard time finding clothes that fit me well. I’m not ashamed to admit (because there is simply no hiding it) that I have love handles! This makes finding bottoms, dresses, overalls, jumpsuits, and even wetsuits, that fit me well, quite difficult.
Aside from finding good fits, the function has to be there too. I’ve tried numerous pants or shorts that are supposed to be for “doing the thing” that have zero stretch or fit 1.5 knuckles into the pockets. I spent my high school days having my dad sew the crotch of my jeans until there was no more fixing to be had. Okay, so enough of me talking about my ill-fitting clothing experience. I just wanted to give you all a little background on things I’ve struggled with my whole adult life to put into perspective what I look for in clothing. This brings me to the main subject, Dovetail Workwear!
A Fresh(ley) Outlook
I found Dovetail in 2019 but didn’t make my first purchase until May 2020. I was dreaming of the Freshley Overalls for months before I finally took the plunge. Overalls and one pieces were probably the hardest things for me to find in a size I felt comfortable in. Aside from ski bibs, I hadn’t been able to find a comfortable pair of overalls in my adult life.
I had spent two summers working on a commercial fishing boat with my trusty pair of Carhartt bibs, but they were heavy and did not move with me well. I always had to hike them up so I could move quickly around the boat because there was no stretch to them at all. The legs were too baggy and when you got sweaty in them, man did they feel heavier and stickier.
I took so much time to finally order Dovetail because I wasn’t doing any kind of manual labor at the time. I wasn’t sure if they were necessary for me in other words. But, Dovetail’s mission resonated with me and I really wanted to give this brand a go.
I’ve been a size 10-12 for years, so I went off that, knowing full well that because of my body shape, I’m often a 14 in any kind of one-piece outfit. I was worried that sizing up would make the legs too baggy which is something I have experienced in many other pants, so I stuck with a 12 for my first order of the Freshley Overalls.
They fit like a glove! Maybe too much though, in the sense that I preferred a bit more room around my belly so I had more space for looser-fitting shirts. I like my pants long so I ordered a 34” inseam (I’m 5’8″). With a boot on, these are the perfect length and don’t drag. When wearing them casually with a pair of vans or a lower heel, I cuff them and they look super cute that way too!
Let’s get to function. These bad boys girls come with 15 pockets…you did not read that wrong. one-five pockets! The two front pant pockets are big enough for your whole hand, not just a couple of knuckles. There are four pockets in the bib alone! The Freshley Overalls contain what Dovetail calls “stretch sauce”. They are made to move with you in other words. They also are made with a crotch gusset which means no more blowouts! Knee slots are also a feature so you can slide in knee pads. These overalls literally answered every wish I ever had for a pair.
After about a year, I decided it was time for another pair and I went up to a size 14. This time I tried the Saddle Brown Canvas. They naturally were a little baggier in the thighs, but not so much to make me feel frumpy or like I’d only wear them to work in. This pair felt so good that I re-ordered the Heathered Black Denim in a 14. These became my “casual” pair, the Saddle Brown was dubbed my “work” pair, and the original pair became shorts. Since my homemade pair of shorteralls, Dovetail actually came out with some themselves! (I would stick with those over making your own.) Check them out here.
Dovetail Overall Fit & Fabric
I work in a retail store, which actually started carrying Dovetail too (sidenote: I like to think that was influenced because of my undying affection for them). With this new partnership, I was gifted yet another pair of Freshley Overalls from a sales rep. This pair was a size 14 in the Grey Canvas. This brings me to a note in the material. I now owned 3 different materials and each one fits slightly differently.
The Saddle Brown and Heathered Black Denim are considered midweight and the Grey Canvas is heavyweight. Personally, the Saddle Brown feels the lightest of all to me and fits just slightly looser (very nuanced). However, the Grey Canvas in a 14 fit me like the first pair in a size 12 I had. I chalked that up to the heavier fabric, but to me, that meant paying attention to the fabric specifically when ordering.
It may seem like I have enough overalls but next winter I am definitely adding a pair of Thermal Denim to the lineup, as well as the brand new Drop Seat Overalls! A drop seat has been a must in my snow bibs for years, and honestly, until recently I didn’t even think about the possibility of that feature for any other pair. Then ta-da, Dovetail answers the call again (so you can too 😉)!
Branching Out
Anyhow, now that I had bought 3 pairs of Freshley Overalls, I decided it was time to branch out and try a top and a pair of pants. I read tons of reviews about the Maven Slim in Heathered Black Denim before purchasing. Many of those stated to size up 1-2 sizes…maybe even more! I honestly don’t remember if I started with a 12 or 14, in any case, those DID NOT work. I sent them back for a 16.
They fit great through the legs but the waist was still tight. Like…standing room only tight. I considered sending them back for an 18…but I let societal thoughts and numbers get in my head and felt shame for needing to order a size 18. Yet, here I was with a pair of 14’s, 12’s, and in other brands size 10 pants!
I know I shouldn’t put any weight on the number. The more important part is they freaking fit and feel good. But, when a size 18 is the largest these pants come in, I worried about what to do if those didn’t work. I’m at the literal end of the road. I have yet to try a pair of Maven Slim pants in another material, but I do intend to!
Functionally, the Maven Slim are just as amazing as the Freshley Overalls. They have many similar features like knee slots, a hip slot, and 10 pockets! The slim fit also makes them very cute cuffed with some vans.
D.I.Y. or D.I.All with these Pants
The Christa DIY pants are probably the most comfortable pair of denim pants I’ve ever owned. You might even confuse them with sweatpants with their EZWaist™. The EZWaist™ is a wide elastic band with a drawstring for adjusting. Think of it like this, the top half says party, the bottom says business.
With 7 pockets, double-layered knees, and a hammer loop the Christa DIY is ready to do it all. Comfort, function, and good looking, what more could you ask for? I went with a size 10/12 in these. The 8/10 did fit and I almost went in that direction, as I worried if the 10/12 stretched out during wear, they would be too big. Happy to report they stay in place well with the drawstring!
Don’t Forget the Top
Okay, let’s get to the tops. I went with the simple V-Neck Tee in white. I like my shirts like my pants, long, and because of these DDD’s…that takes a few inches off any shirt length. So, for me personally, this tee wasn’t quite long enough to wear without my Freshley Overalls. I have to say the same about the ¾ Logo Work Shirt. This shirt also was a little too snug for my liking. However, I love the styles, the fit just didn’t work for me!
The Kent Chore Coat is nearly a tie with the Freshley Overalls for my favorite piece. This amazing coat has pockets big enough to fit a pint of ice cream (I know this personally from going grocery shopping without a bag and instead filling all my pockets instead). This has been my go-to winter chore coat. A little background, I live in a fifth wheel in Truckee, CA at 7,300’ feet and this winter has been the 3rd snowiest winter on record with over 650” of snow!
The Kent Chore Coat is so warm and long! My only gripe with this jacket is the sleeve length. I could use at least one more inch, preferably two, on the sleeves. Especially, when shoveling snow or doing anything with a lot of arm movement in the cold. On most cold winter days, I don’t need anything under it besides my base layer. Sometimes that is simply a tee shirt. When it’s not dumping snow, this has been my go-to coat from shoveling feet of snow to emptying the tanks of my fifth wheel, to taking the dogs for a stroll.
InVested
I have to say, I have been known to not be a fan of vests. But it’s all about the style and function! There was just something about the Old School Work Vest I couldn’t resist!
Honestly, I think it was the nostalgia from my childhood and my dad living in his work vest. What can I say? Like father like daughter. The Old School Work Vest is cozy and boasts 8 pockets! I don’t know about you, but I’m obsessed with pockets. Maybe it’s because as women we were denied functional pockets for so many years that now we can’t get enough. Or, I just have a little OCD and need a particular place for everything.
Layering up with this vest won’t leave you feeling bulky or exposed. The length and cut make the fit great, not like you cut holes in a potato sack and threw it over your head.
It’s All Relative
I want you all to remember that this is strictly my opinion and personal taste! Women’s clothing is soo relative. Every one of our bodies is incredibly different and literally changes throughout each month. My goal here was to give you an honest first-hand account of using and trying multiple items in different fabrics from one brand. I encourage you to do the same!
I hope this is helpful for you and that you find some Dovetail Workwear that works for you! Being an ambassador for Dovetail Workwear, I do get a monetary kickback when any purchase is made from the links within this review. If you do use one of these links to purchase, or code: teakayeoh, you will get $10 off your order!
Check out my podcast to learn about more amazing women’s brands! www.tarinituppodcast.com