Hot Squash Black Maxi Dress

I have started wearing maxi dresses.  This is uncharted territory for me, so I have been experimenting with a few different brands, while I continue my search in the background for the perfect vintage maxi dress (that I am yet to find in my size and for my height).  Hot Squash is a brand that specialises in creating technology-based clothes from fabrics with special properties, such as keeping you warm, cool, crease-free etc.  They have two sales a year, and the markdowns are pretty spectacular.  This last month I missed out on their sleeveless maxi that was reduced from £95 down to £1.  Their website always has a melt down at sale time, but last year I was lucky enough to snag this black maxi dress from their 'cool' collection for a tenner, when the full price I think was around £145.  I wore it during our stay at Bluestone the other week.

Dress: Hot Squash

Sunglasses: Gift

Shoes: Monsoon, years ago

I've worn the dress several times now, and it washes ok, but the fabric does crease a little more than I expected it to.  I've worn the dress in winter as well as in warmer temperatures and haven't particularly noticed any climate-control properties.

The one thing that annoys me on this dress is the keyhole neckline.  The neckline is lined a little on the inside (I think sewers call it 'interfacing') with the same jersey-type fabric, and this isn't stiff enough.  The keyhole sometimes gets pulled out of shape to the side, and sometimes the little bit of fabric on the inside pops up and shows through the keyhole.  On a £145 dress that just would not be good enough.

It's not a bad length on me, considering I'm quite tall (5'9"), but I wouldn't wear it with skyscraper heels as then it would be just a tad too short I think.

So, it is worth the money?  Not at full price, I'm sorry to say.  I know I got a bargain with it, but I wouldn't say this dress has any more design or construction skill than one from Phase Eight or similar high street shops, where they'd probably retail it for half the price.

They've sold out of the black version of this dress but the short sleeve coral version is still available, alas still at the full price of £125.

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