The Somerset comes in tons of patterns, but this black floral is my favorite. It's also wildly comfortable and flattering. (Julia Webb/Yahoo)(Julia Webb)
My mom has always had amazing taste, and more often than not, I find myself borrowing pieces from her closet to wear to weddings and other special events. From her wardrobe to her jewelry and accessories, she knows what she likes and what suits her best — and when I see that she's bought the same item more than once, I take notice. When I recently spotted three versions of the same dress — Anthropologie's Somerset Maxi Dress — hanging in her closet, I knew it must be something special.
Read more: 'So flattering': Meet the Anthropologie dress that's an instant compliment magnet
After I borrowed one to wear to dinner, I saw why my mom loves it so much. The V-neck cotton dress features a soft A-line silhouette, a tiered skirt, short sleeves and a smocked waist to give it shape. It's machine-washable and fits true to size, and it even has pockets!
When I asked her why she's such a fan of the Somerset, my mom raved: "I love all of the fabrics and patterns the dress comes in — they're colorful and unique. That's really what first drew me to the dresses. So even though they're the same design, they feel totally different. They're also super comfortable and even have pockets. The length is great, and I love that you can dress them up or down. I've worn mine to garden parties, evenings out, work events and on vacation — they're one of the most versatile styles in my closet."
She also noted that while the Somerset comes in solid colors, she prefers the all-over patterns as they help the smocking at the waist blend in instead of becoming the focal point of the dress.
Anthropologie has released the in-demand design in mini, jumpsuit, strapless and romper silhouettes, as well as fabrics like eyelet and linen. Sizing is a cinch because most iterations of the Somerset come in petite and plus.
My mom isn't the only fan. Yahoo Shopping Writer Ellie Conley owns the Somerset in satin (sadly, it's no longer available). She explained, "I actually bought my Somerset dress after I saw another woman wearing it at a press event. She was the founder of a really cool jewelry brand, and while I loved her designs, I couldn't stop thinking about her dress. I think I ordered it in the Uber on the way home. The dress makes me feel effortlessly put together, yet it's super comfortable. I've worn it dressed up with heels, with a denim jacket and flat sandals and with a leather jacket and flats. It's so versatile, I know I'll continue to wear it for years to come."
The dress has earned hundreds of stellar customer reviews, too. "I think this is a MAGIC DRESS," said one gobsmacked buyer. "This dress somehow made me look about 30 pounds thinner. No kidding. It hides my menopause belly. The proportions are just right for me: The neckline is not too low. The sleeves are not too short. The length is just right. It just fits."
"I don't think the photos of this dress do it justice, but once I tried it on in store, I fell in love!" raved another shopper. "It's flowy and extremely flattering. I do wish it was a tad bit shorter, but the length does lend itself to being versatile for winter or spring/summer. It's adorable paired with boots!"
While the dress is on the pricier side (the cotton maxi is $168), if you wear it as much as my mom does, the cost per wear ends up being incredibly reasonable. If you've been searching for that Goldilocks-like dress that can be worn to pretty much any event, season after season, give the Somerset a shot.
