Marks and Spencer shoppers are 'falling in love' with a 'lovely and cool' sun dress that is perfect for the British summer or taking on holiday abroad. Those who have tried the budget-friendly number insist that it is 'fabulous' and can be worn on its own or under a jacket when the temperature dips.

The high street retailer's Pure Cotton Square Neck Midi Shirred Dress comes in at £39.50 and has a handy feature which has got fashion fans talking about, as the Mirror reports. The stylish yet comfortable piece, which is made from cooling cotton with stretchy shirring, only launched online but has already racked up a number of five-star reviews from happy shoppers.

In fact, it was originally only available in green but the retailer launched black and pink versions of the dress after customers begged for more colours. We've got no doubt that this dress, which is currently the second bestseller at M&S online, is going to be be snapped up fast.

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Made in a regular fit, the shirred bodice hugs curves to create a flattering shape, but is stretchy so doesn’t feel restrictive and also makes it ideal for those with a larger bust. Meanwhile, the breezy midi-length skirt is lightweight and not-clingy, making it a dream to wear if you struggle in the heat.

And if cool, comfortable, stylish and affordable wasn’t enough - not to mention super easy to throw on with minimal effort - it’s even got pockets, giving you somewhere to keep your sunglasses, lip balm or phone while enjoying the sunshine.

In just over a month, the dress has amassed a 4.8 star rating from shoppers who hailed it as ‘ideal for summer holidays’. One said: “Beautiful colour and perfect size sits well when on love the side pockets.”

The Pure Cotton Square Neck Midi Shirred Dress comes in at less than £40 at Marks and Spencer
The Pure Cotton Square Neck Midi Shirred Dress comes in at less than £40 at Marks and Spencer

Another added: “This is a lovely, cool cotton, summer dress. It’s a stunning shade of green and looks great. It was perfect for my holiday abroad and will be nice to wear here when the sun finally comes out. I ordered in the long fitting which was an excellent fit for tall me. I recommend this dress.”

“I bought the lovely green dress in my normal size 10 Regular (5ft 3ins) and it sits just above my ankles,” penned a third. “Very Comfortable and cool, ideal for summer holidays. I like a dress with wider straps and these are perfect as the elastic ensure they don't slip off. I would suggest ironing this while damp. The best thing of all is " it has pockets". Might even consider buying the pink version.”

Others have even suggested that it could be styled year-round, pairing the dress with a jacket or jumper and a pair of boots. They commented: “Fabulous dress fits true to size great length and looks good with a jacket, jumper over the top. Now I just need the sun to wear it as a summer dress."

The green colourway is proving popular
The green colourway is proving popular

However, some people struggled with the sizing. One said: “Bought for holiday colour, style etc as expected but a bit too large, straps not positioned right. Taken it back to exchange for a size less.”

The dress is available in regular sizes 6-24 in each of the shades, but it’s only the green version that has petite and long options in addition. That means shorter or taller fashion lovers may find the length a little trickier with the black and pink styles.

You really can’t go wrong with this style of dress, which seemingly flatters people of all ages, sizes and styles. Elsewhere, Nobody’s Child has this £75 Black Shirred Dionne Midi Dress, while this one at John Lewis boasts pretty broderie detailing and comes in at £47.20 in the sale. But if it’s the shopper-loved M&S dress you fancy getting your hands on, you can buy it here for under £40.