Monsoon Polly Print dress review

Polly Print Dress from Monsoon: £69

This is a great dress. It's a size 14* which fits me brilliantly, despite the Monsoon size guide suggesting I need to measure 38/31/40 (Bust/Waist/Hips).  I actually measure 37/34/40.  But there is enough room in this dress for my larger waist.  

It's not very obvious on this picture, but the material wraps over at the waist and gathers at the left hip.  There is a fold of material that hangs, beautifully disguising my mummy belly!

The material is soft and silky to the touch, but is surprisingly 100% polyester, so it's washable, which is always a bonus!  It's also fully lined.

I absolutely recommend this dress from Monsoon, but there is a caveat.  

Don't wear it whilst out anywhere with children.  If you have to lean forward, which you do often with young children as they are naturally at a lower height than you, you will find that the sleeves dig into your arm at the front.

I have had dresses before that do this.  They are fine when stood or sat straight.  The sleeves even look roomy.  But somehow, the second you try and put your arms out in front of you, the sleeves dig in.  

I wore this dress to take my daughters to see the live show of 'Dora the Explorer' and wished I hadn't. By the time I got home I was hugely irritated by the sleeves digging in everytime I leant down to get something out of our bag which was on the floor by my feet.

Having said all that, I have been to work in the dress and didn't notice the sleeve issue at all!

In short... it's a child-free dress.

*The measurements are for the UK size 14 (EURO 42 or US 10)