One of the best things about summer, to me, is being able to wear floaty summer dresses. Give me a strappy sundress on a hot day and I will be relieved and happy. In England, of course, you often have to have a cardigan to hand in case the sun comes with a breeze, or just disappears later in the day entirely. But even considering that, a sundress day is a happy day, and this Chiara dress is ready to please.

Dress: Chiara dress gifted by Hell Bunny (Discount code Amymay20!% for 20% off all orders)
Cardigan: Short sleeve cropped cardigan by MAK (Affiliate code yemak-amymay for 40% off)
Shoes: Tan Martinique Wedges gifted by Hotter Shoes (A/L)
Bag: Collapsible bamboo bag from eBay (A/L)
Bangles: Red heavy carve bangles by Splendette

This dress is such a light and easy wear that I’ve already worn it three times since i received it a couple weeks ago. The frill detail on the bust is feminine and fun, while the adjustable spaghetti shoulder straps mean you can alter the fit to suit your body shape. There’s a fixed tie detail on the top of the shoulder straps that is sewn into place. It doesn’t form an unsightly bulge when you wear a cardigan over this dress, but that detail could be easily removed with a stitch picker if you really wanted to.

The skirt is pleated but not overly full, so while it would take a slim volume petticoat if you couldn’t bear to go without one it looks lovely worn alone, as I have done in these pictures (I know, gasp! I almost never go sans-petticoat.) It’s a slightly shorter length than most of my other Hell Bunny pieces, 24.5 inches long in the skirt, hitting me just at the knee rather than slightly below it. Said skirt also has pockets, so I’m thrilled, as ever, to be able to stash my essentials in my skirt when I pop out rather than having to take a bag as a necessity.

The print, cream vintage leaves and hibiscus flowers on a black background, feels summery in a more understated way than most tropical prints do, foregoing bright colours in favour of a monochrome palette that gives black-lovers a rare chance to get tropical without sacrificing their favourite colour. If you like this Chiara print but sun dresses aren’t your style, Hell Bunny also have a jumpsuit and a short sleeve button down shirt ready to tempt you.

I asked for this dress in my usual Hell bunny 2XL/18 and it’s a relaxed, comfortable fit. The waist flat measures 40 inches with no stretch, while the bust flat measures 46.5 inches. The shoulder straps can be shortened by 2 inches from their full length by adjusting the sliders, and the dress closes with a concealed back zip topped with a hook and eye. It’s machine washable.

The Chiara dress (and the rest of the Chiara range) is available in sizes XS-4X  Discount code Amymay20!% will get you 20% off all orders at hellbunny.com including sale, and can be used as many times as you like. Hell Bunny ship worldwide and have independent stockists all over the globe.

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Disclaimer: The dress featured in this review was gifted to me by Hell Bunny in exchange for an honest review. The shoes were previously gifted to me by Hotter for a past review. The use of my MAK affiliate code will generate me a small commission from your order. Items marked with (A/L) are Affiliate Links. All opinions expressed are truthful and my own, with no input from any of the companies listed or any other individuals. 

COVID-19 NOTE: These pictures were taken in the safety of my garden, thus abiding by the strict social distancing rules currently in place to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Please stay home, and when necessary to leave the house for work or necessities remember to keep at least 6 ft away from any persons you may encounter.