I Just Tried on Reformation’s Best Selling Balia Dress: Here’s My Thoughts

The first heatwave of the year is here, giving us a taste of the over-20-degree temperatures that summer has in store for us. In this summer mood, all I want to wear is the Reformation Balia Linen dress.

I’ll admit, I’m pretty hard to please when it comes to dresses. Whilst there are those who can be spotted in a refined frock all year round, I began introducing dresses back into my capsule wardrobe just a few years ago. With just a few styles in my collection, it means I’m harder to impress than most, and any new addition has to be the perfect fit, easy to style and have an innate elegance that transcends moving trends. I know, it’s a big ask, but Reformation’s dress ticks all the boxes with ease.

Coming from a brand that is known for excellent dresses, including one I wore recently (and still can’t stop thinking about), for our guide to wedding guest dressing, I naturally had high hopes. Even so, this dress surpassed them.

The silhouette of the dress is what first drew me to it. The V-shape waistline, the scoop neckline and the fuller skirt create an incredibly chic silhouette, primed for both everyday and dressier occasions. With warmer days ahead, it’s worth noting the 100% linen fabrication of the dress, which is lightweight and yet far from see-through. Each aspect has been carefully considered for the wearer, with the straps discreetly secured with buttons in the back, which also have extra holes to allow you to adjust for the perfect fit. The back of the bodice is smocked, so whilst the front looks neatly corseted, there’s plenty of stretch to keep things comfortable. And yes, it even has pockets.

For the warmest days, this is exactly how I’ll style it: with minimalist sandals and a basket bag. But even if the temperatures do dip, a classic cardigan and ballet flats can take over from bare arms and flip-flops. Trust me, once you try this dress on, you’ll be restyling it constantly just to wear it over and over again.