Customer Reviews Columbia Chill River™ Printed Dress

I purchased two of these dresses in the black rubbed color. I washed them before wearing and after, however, I developed a severe skin reaction to the fabric and dye used, requiring medical treatment. Sustainable fabrics and dyes are what fashion currently advocates and in the past I have purchased and successfully worn many garments from Columbia. I submit this review for others and plan to be more discerning in the future when purchasing clothing made of syntheic fibers.

I’m a huge fan of hiking dresses, Colombia Freeze dresses and now this Chill River dress. Very comfortable and flattering. They are made of that bathing suit material which I really like because the colors stay bright and the dress will not stretch out or cling to you after wears it for a long time. I wear this style of dress all summer long and take them on vacation. This dress is the first hiking dress I own that has pockets.

I was in the market for a new dress because I haven't bought a new dress in a long time and I wanted one for a wedding I was attending. It was going to be on the more casual side for big, nicer weddings, so I knew a springy/summery simple dress would be perfect, nothing too fancy, and I wanted it to be comfortable in case it was a hot day (ceremony & reception outdoors). So I looked at a bunch of dresses under $50 in my size and settled on this one. Although the model in the main pic looks a bit manish, and honestly might be because I know they are using male models for women's clothes sometimes now and the fact they cut off the head in the main pic makes it seem even more likely, the dress is feminine and nice. It's a very simple basic dress and won't really be a head-turner but it gets the job done. It is VERY comfortable and I love that I could wear a normal bra without having to think about my bra straps or back of bra showing like is the issue with so many dresses (and when you actually have boobs and can't go braless). I like that it has pockets and was one of the reasons I bought it. It is my first dress with pockets. The pockets work well for your hands, and small, light items. The material is almost swimsuit material but feels thicker. It is very nice and comfortable. I do not wear dresses often, not more than a few times a year, but honestly I could see just wearing this dress casually on a regular basis rather than shorts or jeans in the summer. It truly is a great basic summery dress. It can also be dressed-up or down depending on what you accessorize with it (jewelry, purse, shoes, jacket), or how you do your hair/make-up. I am 5'7", D cup, 141 lbs. and got a medium which was the right size. I only put 4 stars (rather than 5) for style because although I think it's a great dress and is pretty perfect for me, some may say it's a bit boring. If you like flashy, fancy clothes, you probably won't be a big fan of this. If you like simple, basic, but quality pieces, and don't like to be flashy, then you will like it.

Soft silky fabric which flows nicely. Simple and classic shift style with a feminine flair

Very comfortable, cut well over the shoulders, and I loved that there were small pockets.

Comfortable, light weight well made summer dress. Fit true to size.

This dress is fun and functional. I love how lightweight and flattering it is. This is true to size and fits well.

Love this dress! Great for work or travel! Flattering style that can dress up or down. Hand wash wrinkle free. Add accessories and it goes effortlessly to dinner.

Best dress for warm temps! The fabric is light, cool, launders well, and packs like a dream! This is my 4th Chill River dress. You can dress them up for graduations, weddings, etc. or they are casual enough for the Farmer's Market. And the best part - they have POCKETS! Not those weird pockets on the side seam that can make you look wide or pockets so small they are useless. These pockets are perfect!

Perfect dress to pack for the summer. Easy to wash and dry. Doesn't take up too much space in you carry on.

I own this dress in a variety of colors/prints and I wear them all the time. It's a definite must-have for travel as it does not wrinkle, and a couple of them can easily fit in your carry-on. It doesn't matter where you go, this dress will work for almost any adventure. If you will be doing a lot of walking, you can wear it with sneakers. If you're going to Vegas you can wear it with nice sandals or wedges for dinner and a show. Also, this dress is so affordable that you can buy a couple of them without breaking the bank. If it is on sale, buy three or four - you won't regret it!

I have 3 of these dresses and I love them! They are my go to dress for travelling as I can use them as a bathing suit coverup, a walk about dress, and a night out dress! I can't tell you how many compliments I get from random strangers every time I wear one!

I love this dress cut. I have other Columbia dresses and this is my favorite style.

I have this dress in black and wear it all the time. Love the blue too. I wear them over bathing suit and out to dinner (with jewelry). It has been so hot this summer, it is the only thing that keeps me cool for daily use - and evenings too! It is a flattering cut - I get compliments on the dresses all the time.

Beautiful color! I'm a little over 5'9" and the length was exactly as pictured! Perfect fit

I just love this dress. I had to buy another one because my 25 year old daughter looks so great in the first one. The color is stunning. The pockets so useful.

The original dress I bought ran small. I will have to return it. This one fits better.

Can't say enough about this dress. Completely comfortable, love the fabric, love the length, style is flattering for my "healthy" "robust" figure, the color and design of fabric pattern is attractive and it has POCKETS: Extremely lightweight fabric so it isn't bulky.

I normally wear a Large in dresses because of bust size. I got a large in the Columbia Freezer model dress. It was SO tight on the top. But there were no XL in the colors I wanted. So I ordered this Columbia Chill in an XL. It's huge! This is typical of Columbia--size variations. So I'll order a Large. Sighhhhh.

Fits true to size. I'm 5'7" and 145#. Ordered a medium and fits perfect. Did buy some boy short underwear as the material was a bit thinner than I expected. Made me a bit less self conscious. Overall a great dress and plan to wear for vacation in Italy.

Wanted to love this... it was just what I was looking for, draped nicely, had POCKETS (yay), but the arm openings fell way too low, showing the upper edge of my bra, and the arm opening trim bowed out oddly under the arm, left side more than right. For reference, I'm 5'6", weigh 137 lb. My only complaint is with the finish of the arm openings. Sadly, it's going back.

The armpits stick out in a weird way and I just couldn't get this dress to look OK because of that. On the plus side, the fabric is very soft and comfortable, and the pockets lay nicely and are plenty deep.

I read through all the reviews and decided to order this. I'm short (5'1") and 36DD, so I determined that size L would be best. Well, it fit in the bust, but as others have noted, the armholes are too big and taking them in would have caused the bust to pull. I've had other dresses in similar material, but slightly heavier weight. This material feels a bit too flimsy and clings to my midsection - not the best look, especially since I got it in the solid black. So back this goes.

I am a big fan of Columbia clothing. Two of my favorite dresses are Columbia but this dress was not up to par. The fabric was thin, the arm openings were too large, and there was loose, saggy fabric at the neckline. I loved the print, the pockets, and the fit below the waist - all of which would have made this a great go anywhere dress. I am a size small and ordered a small.

Love it, Had to return for a Medium. Small would work but I wanted a looser fit. Pockets are a plus!