Slit Spaghetti Strap Crossover Bodice Maxi Dress

Thin straps, a long clean line, and a slit up the leg. There is not much more to this dress and there does not need to be. It is the summer evening shape that has worked for decades, and the six colours mean you can have it as a quiet black or as something that actually says hello when you walk in.

It is made from 95% polyester and 5% spandex with no stretch, so the line stays crisp and the fabric falls rather than clings. A zipper handles the closure, which is what allows the bodice to fit properly without any elastic doing the work. It is not lined, so give that a thought with the paler shades. The length runs from 55.9 in on an XS to 57.1 in on a size L, putting it at floor length on most heights, and the range starts at XS which is genuinely useful in a maxi.

Because the straps are so fine, the neckline and shoulders are on show, which is an argument for earrings and against a necklace. A heel suits the length and works with the slit. For daytime, flat sandals and a linen shirt worn open over the top turns the same dress into something you would wear to lunch by the sea. A wrap handles the cooler end of the evening better than a jacket would.

Why you will love it

• Leg slit
• Zipper closure
• 95% polyester, 5% spandex
• No stretch
• Not lined
• Six colours, sizes XS to L

Care

• Machine wash cold. Tumble dry low.