As much as I love a wonderfully glam dress, these days I think it excites me more to find a dress that can be worn both truly casually, in all the modern ways that that means to me, right through to a vintage inspired look that can morph with the season and my mood. The Perrie shirtdress by Lindy Bop can do both of those things with ease, and in this navy colourway it’s ready to be rocked year round.

Dress: Dusk Blue Perrie dress gifted by Lindy Bop
Boots: Cognac Cecily boots by JustFab (Referral link for bargain price)
Brooch: Luxulite

I love that shirtdresses feel sort of timeless. There’s a way to style them to evoke almost any era, and of course it’s also easy to let go of the idea of vintage dressing entirely and just do whatever you want. I used to dress vintage-inspired every time I left the house for anything other than work, but after 6 years of setting my hair and carefully applying a winged eye that level of effort just doesn’t feel as fun when all I’m doing is going to the supermarket. So it’s dresses like this Perrie dress that have become a feature of relief in my wardrobe, ready to serve regardless of day and aesthetic. I adore that I can wear fully it vintage styled if I wish but that it also feels totally normal to throw it on with no makeup, a pair of flats and a relaxed air when I just want to pop out into the public world without resorting to sweatpants.

This Perrie dress in particular is a treat for being both sweet and modest, comfortable and put-together. I’ve been stopped in public makeup free with my hair in a messy bun to be told how much a stranger loved this dress, and I think that’s a testament to what a flattering shape it makes when worn. The skirt is flared but not too full, so it will take a medium-slim petticoat for a lovely lift of the legs that just manages to shrink one’s waist in proportion without giving a dramatic impression of a lot of skirt. The full sleeves will coddle those of us who feel self-conscious about our upper arms and remove any worries about certain sleeve lengths cutting off our arms at their most unflattering point. The collar dipping into a shallow V-neck frames the face without threatening bust-exposure, and the faux leather brown belt it comes with further accentuates the waist. And finally, there are pockets!

As it’s made from a medium weight chiffon it’s not necessarily a warm dress, despite the full sleeves, but that lightness means it can be worn comfortably through all seasons. In the colder months it will be easy to add layers both for warmth and style. Personally I quite like owning some lightweight sleeved dresses; it’s easy to account for cold when leaving the house by adding a coat, gloves and scarf, but there’s nothing worse than being stuck in a restaurant or on a mode of transport sweltering because it’s hotter than you expected when you put on your favourite winter dress and you don’t have any layers left to remove.

This dress does have a concealed side zip but the buttons in the bodice are functional so I sized up to make sure I didn’t experience any gaping or straining. It turns out that concern was considered when this dress was designed because between each navy button that faces out on the shirt is a secret, clear button that faces in towards your body, allowing you to fasten an additional, invisible row of buttons that prevent any possible gaps. Sizing up meant I asked for this in the size 20 and it’s a comfortable, roomy fit. The waist flat measures 38 inches with about half an inch of give, while the bust flat measures 48 inches with a touch of give. The skirt is 24.5 inches long and has a lovely movement to it. The sleeves end with a buttoned cuff. They’re 27 inches long from shoulder point to cuff, so that might be an issue for petite ladies. The armholes are 22 inches flat and the upper arm is 17 inches in circumference, a wonderful roomy fit even for my chubby uppers. This dress is machine washable.

The Perrie dress in Dusk Blue Polka Dot comes in UK sizes 8-26, and is also available in 3 other colours/prints.

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[Disclaimer: The dress featured in this review was gifted to me by Lindy Bop in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed by me in all my reviews are my own and wholly truthful, with no input from any companies or any other individuals.]