If you’re looking for a spring/summer occasionwear dress, you’re guaranteed to turn heads in this gorgeous Marks & Spencer maxi gown
There’s something in the air this time of year. Maybe it’s the smell of blossom, the promise of warmer evenings, or the fact that your calendar is suddenly filled with ‘Save the Dates’ and mysterious countryside postcodes you’ve never heard of. Yes, it’s officially occasionwear season. From weddings to garden parties to that one friend who insists on throwing a ‘casual’ birthday party, the demand for something floaty and photograph-friendly is very real.
And wouldn’t you know it, M&S has just dropped a dress that’s practically begging to be worn with a glass of Prosecco in hand. Enter: the Floral Halterneck Maxi Tiered Dress, a new-in number that looks like it’s stepped straight out of the pages of an Italian romance novel—think sun-dappled piazzas, whispered declarations of love, and the soft rustle of silk as you turn dramatically on a cobbled street.
First of all, the silhouette is a winner. The halterneck style is classic and flattering, drawing attention to the shoulders and neckline in a way that’s subtly sultry without trying too hard. The cinched waist gives a gentle nod to old-school glamour, while the tiered maxi skirt brings movement, drama and just the right amount of swish. To us, it feels like a dress Monica Bellucci would have worn in her heyday.
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Then there’s the print. The floral pattern is bold without being brash. The bodice is also ruched for a flattering shape, while ruffled tiers throughout the maxi-length skirt add romantic drama. Wear this and the compliments will be flowing faster than the Champagne, we guarantee it!
If you’re anything like us, you’re already mentally pairing it with your go-to block heels, a strappy clutch and a just-back-from-Amalfi glow (real or faux, who cares?) It’s the kind of dress that doesn’t need much styling because it is the main event. Though, a slick of red lipstick wouldn’t go amiss if you’re going full-on Italian heroine.
What’s more, this Floral Halterneck Maxi Dress is proving to be very popular. The brand notes it as a ‘popular’ buy, which honestly doesn’t surprise us one bit. A versatile show-stopper like this, from a high street hero like M&S, was never going to hang around for long. However, if the £119 price tag is a little steep for you, we also love this romantic Long Floral Print Dress from Mango, £89.99, which has a similar print and shape.
