If you’re still on the search for your heatwave sartorial sidekick, I declare the hunt over: I’ve found the most flattering dress on the high street right now, ticking every summer dressing box.
If you’re looking for something chic, timeless, easy-to-wear but crucially looks like you’ve made a ton of effort, (which, of course you are!), then you’re in good hands. The dress in question is a cotton tiered maxi (though I’d argue it’s a midaxi, as your ankles will be on show if you’re over 5’6) and has a sweet mini gingham check print. La Redoute, the French high street label that nails grown-up summer dresses each year, is behind it.
There are always a few dress styles of the summer that are so universally flattering that they cause a furore – never forget Zara spotted dress-gate – and the savviest shoppers get their hands on them early, wearing them all summer long and sporting them smugly once they inevitably sell out. I predict this dress to be one of them. Here’s why:
It’s the perfect shape
I’ve been waxing lyrical all week about the wafty silhouettes to consider when the weather’s warm, and this tiered shape is ideal. On those boiling hot days like today where you just can’t bear to have any material touching your skin, something that flares away from the body, but doesn’t drown your frame is a must. The dress is made from cotton so it’s slightly sturdier in structure. That means it’s ideal for the office or environments where a smarter heatwave option is needed.
Dress it down:
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The print is timeless
Since our shopping aim is always to get good bang for our buck, then it’s good sense to buy pieces that you know you can wear for years to come, right? It’s for that reason a summer dress with a neon palm tree print isn’t a forever buy, and the reason why this checked number will stand the test of time.
Gingham is a classic summer print: it’s back in the shops every year and for good reason. It offers an interesting detail without looking outré and overwhelming which makes it perfect for every day. The subdued black and white print helps, too: where a pastel version might look dated if you pull out in a few years, this simple colourway is forever chic.
Dress it up:
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It’s a great price
If I had £1 for every time I’ve spotted a great dress on a stylish woman on the tube or in a magazine then realised it was out of budget, I’d probably be able to buy that dress in question. So how nice is it when something chic that’ll update your wardrobe for the new season and see you through the hottest days of the year comes in at under £70?
Thanks to the flattering, fluid shape and modest length, it’s easy to dress it up or down, so cost-per-wear-wise, it’s an easy win.
On that note, I recommend you move quickly – it’s already selling out, and I may or may not have just bought it…
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