{"product_id":"beachy-wedding-dress-cruise-designer-chiara-maxi","title":"Madras Check Cotton Maxi Dress — Chiara","description":"\u003ch3\u003eSandhya's note\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eChiara is built from Amalfi coast inspired \u003cstrong\u003eMadras checks\u003c\/strong\u003e — the handwoven cotton check that takes its name from Madras, now Chennai, where it has been woven for generations. Coral, red, navy and green run through it on a white ground, and I cut it into \u003cstrong\u003easymmetric panels\u003c\/strong\u003e so the checks change direction across the skirt rather than running straight down. The neckline and the diagonal seam are finished with artisanal micro tassel fringe, knotted by hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt is a floor-length maxi on fine straps, sleeveless, with a loose bohemian fit that skims rather than grips. One of a kind — this is not a print I have repeated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThe details\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e100% cotton, lightweight and breathable\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSleeveless, fine shoulder straps, square neckline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAsymmetric panelled skirt in contrasting Madras checks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand-knotted micro tassel fringe at the neckline and seam\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLoose bohemian fit — this style fits true to size\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModel is 5 foot 9 and wearing a size Small\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSizes XS to XXL · $328\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhere to wear it\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is a hot-weather dress first. Beach holidays, resort days, cruise mornings, long lunches by the water. Cotton and a loose cut are the two things that actually matter at thirty degrees, and this has both. With flat sandals and a straw hat it is daytime; with gold earrings and a heel it moves to a beach wedding or a dinner on a terrace. The checks photograph well against sand and sea, which is where it was shot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFabric and care\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePure cotton, which breathes and softens with every wash instead of wearing thin. Machine or hand wash inside out on cold, delicate cycle, and hang dry — tumble drying is what shrinks cotton and dulls a check. Press on the reverse. Be gentle with the tassel fringe; it is the slowest part of the dress to make and the first thing that will show rough handling.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFit and sizing\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eTrue to size, and the loose cut gives room through the body. If you fall between two sizes, take the smaller one — there is no fitted waist to accommodate. Check the \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/size-chart\"\u003esize chart\u003c\/a\u003e before ordering, and note that the model is 5 foot 9: on a shorter frame this will pool slightly at the floor, which many people like but is worth knowing. Any style can be \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/custom-made\"\u003emade to your measurements\u003c\/a\u003e for $50 to $100 above retail, including hem length.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eReturns and more\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNon-custom and unaltered dresses are returnable within 10 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFree US shipping on orders over $250 · Afterpay available\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShips from Scottsdale, Arizona within 1 to 3 business days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuestions? Contact labelsandhyagarg@gmail.com\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is Madras check?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMadras is a lightweight handwoven cotton check that originated in Madras, now Chennai, in southern India. It is traditionally woven in bright, slightly irregular plaids and it is one of the coolest cottons you can wear in heat, which is why it has been a resort and summer fabric for over a century. The small irregularities in the check are the mark of a handwoven cloth, not a flaw.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this dress good for a beach wedding?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes, as a guest. It is floor length, it moves in wind, and cotton will not stick to you in humidity the way a synthetic will. Pair it with flat or block-heeled sandals rather than a stiletto, since beach and garden ceremonies mean soft ground. Avoid it if the dress code is formal or black tie — this is a relaxed, bohemian shape.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it run true to size?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The fit is loose and bohemian with no fitted waist, so it is forgiving across a range of bodies. If you are between two sizes, take the smaller one. Measure your bust and compare it to the size chart rather than going by the letter, since sizing varies between brands.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat shoes and accessories work with it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFlat leather sandals and a straw hat for daytime, which is how it is styled in the photographs. For evening, a block heel, gold hoops and a small clutch. Keep jewellery simple — the tassel fringe and the check are already doing the work, and layered necklaces will fight the neckline.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I wash it at home?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. Machine or hand wash inside out in cold water on a delicate cycle, then hang dry. Do not tumble dry, which shrinks cotton and flattens the colour in the check. Washing inside out protects the tassel fringe, and pressing on the reverse keeps the cotton crisp without glazing it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sandhya Garg","offers":[{"title":"XS (Sizes 00-0)","offer_id":13463699128362,"sku":"SAAM0019","price":328.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"S (Sizes 2-4)","offer_id":13463699161130,"sku":"SAAM0020","price":328.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"M (Sizes 6-8)","offer_id":13463699193898,"sku":"SAAM0021","price":328.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"L (Sizes 10-12)","offer_id":13463699226666,"sku":"SAAM0022","price":328.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"XL (Sizes 14-16)","offer_id":13463699259434,"sku":"SAAM0023","price":328.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"XXL (Sizes 18-20)","offer_id":68210297536733,"sku":"SAAM0024","price":328.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2737\/6718\/files\/Chiara-madras-checks-maxi-dress-woman.jpg?v=1792213153","url":"https:\/\/sandhyagarg.com\/products\/beachy-wedding-dress-cruise-designer-chiara-maxi","provider":"Sandhya Garg","version":"1.0","type":"link"}