Boden’s ‘bright and cheerful’ cotton dress is perfect for summer

I don’t know about you, but when summer hits, I’m more interested in getting outside than faffing about figuring out what to wear. That’s why, for me, hot-weather style is all about dresses. However, finding a dress that works for every eventuality (and doesn’t make you overheat or feel overdressed) can be surprisingly tricky. Plus, with the sun shining, it’s the perfect time to inject some colour into your wardrobe. 

That’s why one Boden cotton midi dress caught my eye, having been described by shoppers as “bright and cheerful” in reviews. 

On first impression, the dress looks loose and airy enough not to cling, bright without being shouty, and the cut seemed extremely flattering.

Now, as part of the summer sale, the Violet cotton midi has been reduced from its usual full price of £136 to just £81.60 – a 50% discount.

The print is a fetching, multi-coloured paisley, which immediately caught my eye—and Boden shoppers love it, too.

“Pattern and colours are bold but not overwhelming,” said one five-star customer review. “Almost an Indian block print feel, which is beautiful. The detail is exquisite, like the elastic back to the waistband and the loop picot lace trim around the neckline.”

A second shopper described the dress as: “Crisp cotton, bright and cheerful, flattering fit.”

Made from 100% cotton, this dress is likely to be a godsend in the heat: cool, airy, and it’s machine washable. Shoppers have also complimented the quality of the dress, with one previous customer writing: “Beautifully made, excellent quality.” If the multi-colours are a little much for you, the dress also comes in three other floral patterns. 

I also really love the silhouette of this dress, a style I often lean towards. I like the subtly defined waist and A-line skirt that nips in to highlight the waist, and hide hips (my personal bugbear). I also liked the hemline, the midi-length hits between knee and calf, making it ideal to wear with both flats and heels.

It’s the sort of dress you could wear for almost all occasions: casual weekends, on holiday, at an event, or smart working days. It’s currently available in sizes four to 18 (Boden does stock up to size 22 but is currently sold out). The dress also comes in tall, regular and petite. 

Not everyone who has purchased the dress has found the shape to suit them. One review said, “The dress was an excellent quality, very well made, and a nice style, but it did not suit me.”