‘I bought Damson Madder’s viral dress on sale and received so many compliments’

Fashion writer Eve Rowlands snapped up the ‘viral’ Mia Midi Dress in Damson Madder’s summer sale for 24% less and it’s one of her favourite summer purchases

When Damson Madder’s sale launched earlier in the summer, slashing up to 60% off some of its best-selling clothes and accessories, there was only one thing on my wishlist, something I’d been yearning after for some time. That was its viral Mia dress in pink, which had been reduced from £90 to £68 and was the ‘IT’ dress of last summer (as Grazia confirmed).

With its subtle striped pattern and bright pink hue that contrasted its black and white lines, it was a frock perfect for summer as well as the plethora of social events I had on the horizon. And it’s safe to say it lived up to its reputation as not only a flattering dress, but a dress for all occasions. Let me tell you why it’s one of my favourite summer purchases.

Firstly, it is unbelievably comfortable thanks to its shirred bodice that covers the entire top half, from bust to hips as the dress as a drop waist. Mia’s striped design also gives the illusion of a slim, elongated silhouette, so there’s not so much of a need to worry about eating a big meal and looking bloated.

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Plus, because it’s made with stretchy material, there won’t be that discomfort often felt in tight dresses post-dinner. Designed with a maxi, full-length skirt, it also delivers ample swish for dancing – an imperative detail for a wedding.

But perhaps one of my favourite elements is the multi-way strap – which comes with the signature DM embroidered at the end. While it is mostly worn as a bandeau dress (from a brief social media search), it comes with two straps attached to the side, which can be tied at the front across the bust, at the back in a bow, or as a halter neck. Each way delivering a unique look.

While I’ve mostly worn it as a bandeau style, I’m waiting for the sunshine to return to crack out the halterneck style. For those wanting a bit more support, Nobody’s Child has recently launched a version of its best-selling Starlight dress that is decorated in pink and red stripes. Its puff sleeves and cinched-in waist are elegant and flattering and make for a great wedding guest dress.

For shoppers who don’t mind the lack of shirring but want a halterneck option, I love this diagonal striped OMNES dress which features orange stripes on a hot pink background. Costing £85, the Elsie Striped Dress in Pink and Orange comes in sizes four to 16, sadly, 18 and 20 are out of stock.

Having taken the Damson Madder dress out for a spin at a recent wedding, I can confirm it ticks all the boxes needed to be wedding guest appropriate. It dresses up well, can be danced in, is comfortable enough to indulge in a three-course wedding breakfast, and garners so many compliments.

Oh, and it’s breathable during a heatwave: it kept me cool enough in 30C heat. On the occasions where I did get a little too warm and inevitably sweated, the dress dried rapidly thanks to its 100% organic cotton design.

My advice, however, is to give the dress a wash before taking it for a spin in a heatwave to avoid any potential colour transfer. I say this as the black dye from the dress’ stripes transferred a little onto my legs during a relatively warm portion of said wedding.

That being said, it didn’t affect the look of the dress at all, just my own legs. It was easy enough to get off so it didn’t ruin the purchase for me. Plus, due to the style of the material, the skirt can become creased quickly, although it doesn’t take long to drop out.

Another thing to note is the sizing with the brand can sometimes be a little oversized. I chose my usual size 10, having done some research and while it didn’t swamp me and the dress stayed up with no worry of it falling down, I felt it could have been a little more snug.

This is an issue I have experienced with other Damson Madder clothing, causing me to send my order back. So, be sure to check the sizing chart before your purchase.

Although that being said, this Mia Midi dress exceeded my expectations and made me feel comfortable, confident and cool and I’ll certainly be wearing her at both casual and smart occasions for the foreseeable future. Available in sizes eight to 18 currently (with sizes six, 14 and 20 out of stock – at time of writing), the dress is available from Damson Madder on sale for £68.