'Wow, Matalan are getting it so right with dresses right now. Cool, flowy, flattering and with pockets - I've bought it in 4 colours.'
Bethan Shufflebotham Senior Shopping Writer
15:19, 27 Jul 2026
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When temperatures soar into the high twenties, it can be difficult to dress in a way that’s cool and comfortable without compromising on style. But fashion fans preparing for the next stint of warm weather have been snapping up a heatwave-ready dress from Matalan hailed as ‘perfect for work on hot days’.
The Trapeze Maxi Dress is a light, breezy number that lends itself wonderfully to scorching temperatures. It comes in nine colours and prints including rust, olive green, black and leopard print, and usually costs an affordable £22.
But, new TopCashback members who sign up for a free account and spend £15 or more can claim a £15 sign-up bonus, alongside cashback on their Matalan order. That brings the effective cost down to £5.17 when using free Click & Collect. Existing TopCashback members can also save, paying £20.17 after cashback.
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The bestselling floaty frock comes in sizes 8-28, making it an easy summer staple for a wide range of shoppers. It’s relaxed enough for everyday wear, with pockets for added practicality, but it’s chic enough to dress up with heels, a clutch and jewellery for dinner or drinks, too.
In the warm weather, many seek light, loose styles that scarcely touch the skin, often sleeveless to allow armpits some breathability. As an alternative, ASOS has this ASOS DESIGN V neck sleeveless column maxi dress in navy for £48. However, it only has a 2.7 star rating with one shopper mentioning that it’s ‘quite crinkly’ and not bra-friendly due to the racerback design.
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New TopCashback users can get £15 cashback when they spend more than £15.
At Nobody’s Child, the Green Striped Cynthia Maxi Dress is a playful, patterned trapeze dress currently on sale for £50, down from £99. It has a scoop neck and adjustable spaghetti straps, with functional pockets, but again, the open back makes it trickier to wear a bra.
Matalan’s sleeveless trapeze silhouette is bra-friendly and has earned glowing reviews from customers, many of which say it’s ‘such a flattering dress’. One shopper said: "Bought this and wow what an amazing dress. The fit, length and fabric are all great and the price is unbeatable."
One loved it so much that they’ve snapped it up in several colours, commenting: “Wow, Matalan are getting it so right with dresses right now. This dress is absolutely fabulous. Cool, flowy, flattering and with pockets. I adore how this dress feels, looks, moves and I've bought it in 4 colours. I can't wait to take these dresses on holiday. Dress them up or down with accessories, you won't regret getting this.”
It works for a range of settings too, be it an office setting or holiday. One wrote: “Bought this dress and it's perfect for work on hot days. Kept me cool. Looks great with a belt too.” While another added: “I bought this to take on holiday and it travelled well, not creased at all. I bought it in brown and I'm thinking of getting a red one too. Love it. Looks elegant (and doesn't show my lumps and bumps).”
While the majority of reviews are positive, a handful of shoppers did note a couple of drawbacks. One customer said: "The button and hole on the back for me is fiddly especially with my acrylics on.”
Another noted that theirs ‘shrunk’ slightly in the wash, but was generally pleased with their purchase, commenting: “This is a flattering style especially for the larger lady. I did buy a larger size and was so pleased. I bought the animal print which was so comfortable to wear that I also bought a black one. I felt the animal print shrank slightly when washed but on a plus side it didn't need ironing. Have yet to wash the black dress. Daughter in law commented on my lovely dress. So pleased with my purchases I might just buy the red one.”
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