Ibex Indie Cross Back Dress

Ibex's Indie Cross Back merino wool dress is the best thing I’ve ever worn in sweltering temperatures.

Yes, I said wool. Strange as it may sound, this lightweight wool dress keeps me feeling just as cool as my cotton frocks, with the added bonus of improved breathability and faster drying fabric.

If you haven't already heard, wool is a super fiber that insulates in cold weather and does a great job of regulating body temperature in hot weather. Those are big bonuses in my book.

I love wearing dresses in the summer. They deliver instant, no-hassle cuteness. I don't have to coordinate tops and bottoms, just make one decision and I'm out the door. The Ibex Indie Cross Back Dress makes getting dressed a breeze because it has a built-in shelf bra. I don't have to waste time looking for a bra with straps that will mesh with my dress straps. I love that.

But back to the fabric.... Not all of my cute summer dresses are great at handling the heat. Every once in a while—like at an outdoor wedding I attended a few weeks ago—the temperature gets so steamy that my sweat soaks through my dress fabric and creates unattractive splotches. Most embarrassing. The Ibex Indie Cross Back Dress virtually eliminates this problem: The lightweight wool does a fantastic job of wicking moisture away from my skin, so sweat evaporates rather than puddles on the fabric. The dress always looks dry, and just as important, I always feel dry while wearing it.

At an outdoor Grace Potter concert, held in the late afternoon when the sun can really beat you down, I felt surprisingly fresh. On a beach vacation on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, I felt free and easy in my Indie Cross Back Dress. It was the perfect evening attire and the strappy back showed off my tan. The dress is great for travel because the wool jersey fabric emerged from my suitcase looking smooth and tidy—no wrinkles. Also, wool is naturally odor-resistant, so I can wear the dress several times in between washings.

The Indie Cross Back Dress may look simple on the hanger, but I'm happy to admit that it looks smashing on me. The drape is sexy but not revealing, and the A-line cut is flattering to my “athletic” thighs. I’ve never found it the slightest bit itchy. This is super-soft wool that feels more like a roughed-up cotton T-shirt than an old-school scratchy hiking sock.

The Indie Cross Back Dress is available in sizes XS-L. Colors: Black, Mid Violet.

Fabric: 18.5 micron New Zealand Merino jersey; 195 g/m2

Bottom Line: A flattering, look-pretty dress made of performance wool that keeps me cool and dry on hot days.--K.B. (June 2011)

BUY ONLINE: $110, click to shop.On sale now.

Manufacturer: www.ibexwear.com

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