Cotton Summer Dresses

[A1Sharon]

Hi, we are heading to Majorca for 2 weeks in July, plus, apparently it will be a lovely summer here in UK,.
I want some cotton summer dresses, preferably sleeveless, not high necked.
But apparently there must be a law or something that summer dresses must be made in sweaty material,with belts,and pleats/gathers at the waist and long sleeves?
Has anyone found any?!
TIA.

I feel your pain op. I've been searching for weeks. I need very lightweight, no lining, straps wide enough to accommodate a bra but not mumsy, plain or a nice print, most are beyond awful. Really casual, the Balearics are very laid back. English summer dresses are just too formal and structured. I don't think this dress exists.

Just looked at Mantaray - I like the prices and some of the shapes, but none of the colours/prints. Why are stores so obsessed with bloody blue???

I bought this from Next recently. I am 5'7" and just bought the regular length, but they also do a tall version.

My god, this has been my holy grail every summer for years! YY to lightweight, cotton poplin (rather than jersey), strappy, no lining. Doesn't seem to exist anywhere

I did have a nice cath kidston one a few years ago, lovely thin proper cotton, ticked all the boxes. Too big for me now as I was a stone heavier then, and now looks a bit frumpy.

How is it that shops in Spain/France/Italy just get this totally right for all ages, and UK is abysmal.

I usually find that Debenhams is good for cotton summer dresses.

Emily and Finn dresses are nice

I've given up, I've looked at a couple of patterns, once I've stopped breastfeeding I'm going to get the seamstress in the alterations place in my town to make one up in nice cotton. And get it with the right waist and hem length! I'm 5'11 and even Boden tall not long enough. So annoying. Like this raystitch.co.uk/products/sewing-patterns-and-journals/adult-dressmaking/colette-hazel-sundress.html

I usually find one or two nice summer dresses each year in TK Maxx. This year I got a Yumi one which is 100% cotton and lined and last year a lovely linen one by a designer called Lina Tomei. I do check every couple of weeks though and have an hour of so spare to really go through the racks and try on lots of things. TK Maax only works if you have plenty of time to rummage!

I have some great holiday dresses from Mantary too. Just be aware if you are buying any that the sizing is all over the place. I ordered two of the same dress in the same size but different colours - one was 4 inches shorter than the other.

I may have found a contender

fat face, mantaray

I came to link to the same next dress nickname linked to! It is light, comfy & easy to wear, & a bargain at £22.

(It is quite blue though... I love blue!)

I wear a lot of blue though. It suits me.

I haven't worn the Next dress yet.

What about some of these? East is good for tallish people.

Laska, thanks for the link to Emily and Fin, they have some gorgeous dresses!

Do you or do you have a friend who can sew? I observed elegant ituan ladies a couple of yeats ago in siple sleeveless shift dresses and thry looked lovely.
So I made a toile ( mock up in cheap muslim) to fit my odd short waisted shape and made up a few dresses in stretch cotton. Only takes one metre of fabric so i expensive and loads of choice of fabric.
Alternatively find a local dressmaker to make you a few , it shouldnt be tooexpensive.

Simple not siple