Awesome, lightweight, perfect for heat

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

XS

Height

5` 3"

Weight

114 lbs

I bought this in an XS, and it fit perfectly. The drawstring took a bit of finagling to get sorted out, but it's super forgiving. The material is incredibly lightweight and does great in hot, humid circumstances. It dries ridiculously fast, and packs down into practically nothing. It does get a little staticky at times. I like that it has sun protection built in. The only things I don't absolutely love about it are a.) because it's so lightweight, anything I put in the pockets drags it down a bit. The pockets fit my phone easily, but the dress will sag unless I actively work at it. And b.) because I got it in a light color, I had to make sure my underthings were appropriately colored, which is more of an mild inconvenience than an actual problem. It's really well made; all of the seaming is beautiful and sturdy. I've washed it a bunch of times and it still looks like I just got it. I look forward to wearing it for many years.

Amanda T.

Perfect for travel & all activities

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

Runs large

Size Bought

XS

Height

5` 3"

Weight

120 lbs

This dress is AMAZING. Super light weight, dries easily, & super cute. Absolutely love it. Whether you're golfing, hiking, or going out to dinner, it's perfect. I'm 5'3

Caroline M.

Great for travel & hot weather

Size Bought

XS

Height

5` 4"

Weight

115 lbs

Agree with other reviewer who mentioned the difficulty of finding the drawstring AND how is it supposed to stay put? There's no clasp or toggle. 5'4" 115 lbs got an xs and it fits fine with the drawstring tightened, otherwise it would look dumpy . Orange is a little sheer.

L G.

Great dress

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

M

Height

5` 5"

Weight

155 lbs

Bought this and the Cala dress, and it seems like it's the same great material. Would buy all the colors if I could afford it! This is casual, lightweight, quick dry, and perfect for travelling in warm temperatures.

starryskies

Lightweight, lovely, but...

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

Runs large

Size Bought

Small

Height

5` 3"

Weight

120 lbs

I just received the Contenta dress in Auracle (orange). I'm 5'3" with a 26-inch waist, 35-inch hips, and 32c bust - and I have broad shoulders and a muscular build. I'm often either an XS or an S - and given the reviews about the armholes being tight, I sized up. The fit in the Small is fine, though the drawcord (which isn't particularly easy to find and doesn't include a toggle for easy adjusting on the fly) does require some play in order to make the dress really work for me. I probably could size down to an XS, but again - the armholes... especially the pic of the XS in a previous review makes me hesitate (plus, I want to wear the dress NOW!, so...) One thing worth noting - the orange is very sheer. I'll have to wear white or oatmeal-colored undies, which is a bummer because I don't really keep that color in my collection much. All of this said, it's a great dress, very flattering, and I'm sure I'll wear it all summer long. It might become impossibly see through if I get caught in a monsoon, but c'est la vie. :) All of this said, the dress is lovely - and I'm sure I'll get a ton of wear from it.

Mary R.

Can't wait for summer!

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

M

Height

5` 8"

Weight

140 lbs

I bought this dress for an upcoming warm weather vacation! Just from trying it on, I can tell that the material is super lightweight and moisture wicking. This is such a practical piece to have in your wardrobe.

Lindsay Clark

#1 Favorite Dress

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

large

Height

5` 4"

The Arc'teryx Contenta dress is one of the most flattering, most comfortable dresses I've ever put on and I am head over heels in love with this dress. I need one in every color and will most definitely be getting new ones every year as long as they make them. It has a wonderfully stretchy fabric with a gathered waist that easily makes me look 5-10 pounds lighter. I love the pockets and the length is perfect. I wear this to work, hiking, SUPing, to the lake - basically I wear it everywhere and would wear it every day if I could. It really reminds me of a tennis dress with all of the stretch and the pockets. I am normally a large in dresses and the large in this one fits me perfect. I could go on and on about how much I love this dress and think it is the best thing ever, but if you are interested in it, I definitely recommend you try it!

Ashleigh McClary

Easy!

Size Bought

small

Height

5` 6"

Weight

120 lbs

I purchased this to throw on after biking... walking around the city, picnics, etc. It's super light weight and will work perfectly to cover up my padded bike shorts! I am between a S and XS- 5'6", 120 lbs. Had to return the XS as it is very small through the armholes even though I have a 32" bustline. The adjustable waist is helpful to keep it looking slim.

Leslie H.

My go to dress in the summer

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

This is my favorite dress when the weather is hot. I have it in multiple colors. The pockets are great, the fabric is great, and it packs well. It's great that you can cinch the waist or leave it longer. I generally wear a size 6 and the medium fit well.

Megan M.

Not a flattering fit

Familiarity:

I returned this product before using it

Fit:

True to size

Loved the orange color, however it fits a bit boxy and potato sack like. Returned.

Valor McNeely

Wife bought it for a casual beach dress

Wife finds it just ok. She bought it for a casual resort dress to wear down to the beach etc. the material feels a bit strange and not the most flattering fit. Serves a purpose but only ok.

Jonathan Armitage

Contenta Dress

Love this dress. I'm not one to wear technical apparel casually, but this dress checks everything off my list I would want for a perfect summer dress. It's super lightweight, I can throw it on over a bathing suit to wear kayaking or surfing - or I can throw it on with a cute bra top and fun sandals and wear it around town. I'm usually in between a medium and a large, and I usually go with Large in Arc'teryx because it is a more technical fit. The medium probably would have worked too, but I like that it fits a little baggy. The dress isn't too short, and the adjustable waistband let you tailor it to your liking - overall - great piece!

Marga

Love it!

Familiarity:

I gave it as a gift but have feedback to share

Fit:

True to size

Bought this dress in Clematis and absolutely love it. The fabric is lightweight, wicks quickly, and the pockets are perfect!

Andrew Hale

Go-To Summer and Travel Dress

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

small

Height

5` 7"

Weight

130 lbs

My husband got me this dress for an upcoming trip and I am in love. The silhouette is extremely flattering, a tank dress with a drop waist and the ability to cinch the dress to accentuate your waist and shorten the length. The fabric is silky and soft feeling but will also pack well and is moisture wicking and easy to clean. The perfect multi-purpose dress - a night out, a lounge by the pool, a stroll on the beach, a trek through Europe...a traveler's best friend. I am 5'7, 130 pounds with an athletic build and usually take a small or medium. The small in this dress fits perfectly.

Peter Eischeid

Arc'teryx LBD

Familiarity:

I've used it several times

Fit:

True to size

On a quest for a LBD (little black dress) I would have never began my search with Arc'teryx, but lo and behold, I sure found it! This dress is adorable, and so comfortable. The fabric is technical, but silky. The drawstring waist also allows you adjust the fit to get whatever look you are trying to achieve. <br ></article><br />I bought this dress after a trip to the desert, where I was wanting something that was technical and easy to wear camping, but cute as well so that that if I wanted to venture into civilization after a few days in the woods, I would be able to without looking like I was homeless. <br /><br />This dress totally serves that purpose. I would also honestly say, since it's so silky and soft, you could pair it with a pair of heels and wear it to a dinner party as well, and no one would ever guess it was the same dress you were wearing out on the river a few weeks before.<br /><br />Bravo arc'teryx for making a versatile, kill it all, LBD. <br />

Marga

Great travel dress

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

XS

Height

5` 2"

Weight

115 lbs

Really excited to take this dress on my summer travel adventures. It packs down quite small, seems pretty wrinkle- and dirt-resistant, and the material feels luxe/classy for a performance/wicking fabric. It also will be easy enough to dress up or down. I started out with the S and ended up sizing down to an XS for a better fit up top and lengthwise, without the dress becoming too snug (I'm 34A/26/36).

Kat

Great dress!

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

medium

Height

5` 10"

Weight

155 lbs

This dress is so cute and stylish, while also having great performance - two things I find usually to be at odds with each other. I got the raku color, which is a gorgeous deep purple. I'm 5'10, about 155 lbs, and the medium fits great, although is pretty short if you're tall like me. I doubtfully will ever wear this without leggings underneath, unless it was just as a cover up over a bathing suit. But it dries quickly, looks great, and the material feels great on the skin, too. Highly recommend it!

Betsy C.

Easy & Breezy!

Familiarity:

I've put it through the wringer

Fit:

True to size

Size Bought

Extra Small

Height

5` 5"

Weight

110 lbs

Size Ref: 5' 4.75", between 108-112, ~34A, generally wear a size 0/XS in dresses. I have this dress in a size XS. I've used this dress for running errands around town, traveling, hiking and camping, and even for fancy nights out—in fact, the fabric looks richer than that of any other 'little black dress' I own. FIT: This dress fits in a unique way compared to typical dresses one finds at run-of-the-mill stores at the mall. It has a kind of modern 'drop waist' fit that actually stays where you want it when you tighten the drawstring, and it’s long enough to wear it at your natural waist on a hot day (for me, I wear yoga shorts or leggings underneath when I wear it that high and my fingertips hit the end of the skirt). I have about a +1 ape index and when I wear it closer to my the top of my hips, it's about 3 inches from my fingertips, so there's pretty good coverage (and I'm picky about coverage). With regard to the top of the dress, the fit in the chest is very comfortable for me (I have a smaller cup size) and the neckline is quite pretty. If you go out for a big lunch or dinner in this dress, the stylish draping hides a full tummy without looking baggy. Finally, I think the fit of this dress is especially flattering for athletic builds—sometimes dresses from mainstream clothing brands accentuate muscles in unflattering ways, and this dress doesn’t hide them, but rather nicely complements them. PERFORMANCE: The performance of this fabric and dress with regard to temperature regulation is exquisite. Even in the bright Colorado sun, this dress is so breezy that I have never been uncomfortable temperature-wise. In a way, it's so breezy you feel like you’re only in your underwear in big gusts! Plus, it dries super quickly; it's probably the fastest-drying garment I own. The drawstring is flawless and the metal pieces that guide the string feel and look sturdy. As for the pockets, well, these guys deserve their own section. POCKETS: Incredible pockets. I love putting my hands in pockets, especially in a dress that has 'em. The two hand pockets are great in this--perfect placement, nice and deep, and even quite stylish themselves with their geometric seaming. The Arc'teryx logo shimmers proudly in a subtle position on the left hand pocket. Also on the left side is, what I think, the best feature of this dress: a zip stash. It fits both my wallet and phone--perfect for those who don't like carrying a purse! CONS: Unfortunately, the arm holes are quite restricting on me when I reach my arms forward. The small was a little too big everywhere else, so I thought I'd bite the bullet on a little discomfort. I do notice this restriction when I hike and am moving my arms a lot when I'm going downhill, but other than that it doesn't bother me too much (but I'd give it a 4.5 stars if I could for this quality). See pic for the oddly small sleeve(less) opening. Another related problem I’ve noticed is that if you’re hiking and taking very big strides, you can really tell that the fabric needs some stretch in the bottom half; as it is, this garment has very little stretch--you can also definitely notice this quality when you put the dress on and take it off.

Jen Teeple

Great summer dress

Familiarity:

I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions

Fit:

True to size

This dress is adorable! Very light weight and comfortable. Perfect for summer. I love the pockets! I am not a dress person and this is something I am very comfortable wearing out and about on a warm day. I am 5'6", 120 and the small fits perfectly.

Chet Manley

Does black dress really come in prior season cut? Or it comes in the same cut as other colors?

Elena M.