Found! Perfect Shirt Dress + Boden Giveaway!

Today's $25 gift card giveaway is from Boden USA,

a British women and kids clothing and accessories company that makes fantastic items in classic styles and fun colors.
(And men's items, too! Thanks for pointing that out, Tonya & Rosanne!)

As I mentioned here, I've been searching for a classic white shirtdress with long sleeves, in 100% cotton, and a classic shape with a skirt that allows for movement. I already have a very clean-cut classic white shirt dress (kinda like this one), and I wear it a lot in the summer, but thanks to the stiffer fabric, it's got a crisp feel to it that makes it feel a bit dressy, and the skirt is very straight, which limits movement more than I like, so I was searching for something... Just right.

Over the last year or so, Boden has become one of my favorite labels. The detail that goes into their clothing makes me very happy -- a colored ribbon inside the hem, well-placed buttons, zippers that are perfectly hidden and patterns that line up at the seams. Each piece I've purchased has fit very well, and they offer tons of options in tall sizes as well as maternity clothing, and the hemlines on their skirts and dresses tend to be a flattering knee-grazing length that works well with heels or flats. I also love their cute bathing suits, Jackie O. style shirts, cheery raincoats, cotton tunics, and have gotten lots of compliments on their skirts.

Boden's linen Shirt Dress hits every note I want in a perfect white shirt dress (in fact, it's so great that after wearing it in white I ordered a second one in navy). The overall shape is crisp, but the linen keeps it relaxed, which makes this dress as perfect for the office as it is for a stroll on the beach, and as with nearly every Boden style, it is perfect for women at every age.

Here are the details that make this dress perfect:
-It is 100% linen.
-Full-length long sleeves with a button and tab to allow for rolling up on hot days.
-The collar is a classic cut.
-Buttons run nearly the full length of the front of the dress with placement close enough to avoid gaps.
-The buttons themselves are substantial in size, but not so big as to look trendy or cheap.
-Placket detailing has tiny tucks, which means that they lay flat and do not add extra bulk.
-Lots of darting through the waist gives a nice silhouette to the waist.
-Fabric belts are often voluminous, adding bulk and visual weight right at the point that is least flattering, but this one is thin enough to look good.
-But if one wants to replace the matching fabric belt with a leather one for a different look, the belt loops are wide enough to accommodate an average belt, and are placed at a classic height, not too high or too low.
-As the picture shows, the skirt is straight, but in person, it is a slightly relaxed version of straight, which allows for movement and also works well on body types with smaller waists than hips.

Linen dresses, especially in white, often end up being either too light or too heavy in the fabric weight. When they're too light, they become completely sheer, and when they're too heavy, they're too hot for warm summer days, so I was very excited to see that Boden found the perfect balance. In white, this dress is a little on the sheer side, but I find that a short half-slip works perfectly because the placket detail keeps the top from being too sheer.

When it comes to white dresses, I tend to size up a little bit because white is not a forgiving color -- if the dress is tight, everything will show, and the dress will also look more sheer. With that in mind, here's a little help for the sizing: I am a size 10 at Ralph Lauren, an 8 at Gap, and with Boden, I usually wear an 8 regular. In this dress, I went with the 10 regular, and it is just right -- the 8 would certainly have been too tight in the chest for comfort, and would probably also be too tight throughout to be flattering. When I later ordered the navy, I stuck with the 10, so I would probably suggest that someone between sizes should size up a little in this dress, no matter the color.

And here's the great part! Not only is Boden currently offering 30% Off all women and children's clothing, but one lucky winner will win a $25 gift card!
The giveaway is open to everyone with a US-based shipping address, as the gift card is for Boden USA. For a chance to win, please leave a comment below (use the comment icon below, right, and don't forget to leave a name or some way to get in touch!), A winner will be chosen at random on Monday, June 30th (so you have a few days to enter).

Good Luck!

(Updated: The winner has been chosen at random -- thank you to everyone who entered!)



All images from Boden USA