Ultimate summer holiday dress

[LostOrFound]

Travelling around Italy this summer, and need a versatile dress that’s going to stand up to being scrunched in a suitcase, keep me cool when sightseeing and resist gelato-fingered DC.

Any suggestions for what I should be looking for?

I like this dress from Next but don’t know what the viscose/linen mix will be like:

www.next.co.uk/style/st832003/A09494#A09494

I also love this but probably really not practical?

www.asos.com/prd/22802432?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

I have this black summer dress from Joanie (also comes in red I think) and have had several people ask me where I got it! It’s got sleeves and pockets, win win!

joanieclothing.com/sierra-square-neck-tiered-cotton-midaxi-dress-black.html

I know 😂 but they are SO good!

@theotherfossilsister what bra are you supposed to wear with those dresses though. Bra straps showing surely ruins the whole aesthetic.

www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1068743004.html

@WhyPaulMemory how is the sizing in this brand/ dress? tia

I love Paisie dresses, especially two and three-tone ones:

www.paisie.com/collections/dresses

The bow back ones are pretty but not practical for putting a layer on top.

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/ET685/product/details/show.action

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/ET682/product/details/show.action

www.simplybe.co.uk/shop/ET686/product/details/show.action

Maybe not everyone's taste but I saw the red Zara one attached and loved it.

And if you are throwing practicalities out the window (white dress!) The white poplin Zara one looks really comfortable.

The last one is similar to one I wore on lots of holidays about 15 years ago.

All of them are cotton.

I'm definitely not the woman to be advising on S&B but I live in these when it's hot. I must have about 6 now. They're surprisingly flattering if you have lumpy bits. I'm a shortarse so some of mine skim my ankle bones but I don't care. They're cool, look nice with a skimpy/cropped cardi in the evening and a long necklace. Though linen, they aren't too bad for crumpling and the creases tend to fall out if you hang them up.

I got all mine off sellers on ebay (new) and they've gone up in price in the 5 or 6 years since I got my first, but they're cool, flattering and you can get an all-over floral print to hide the ice cream and pasta sauce stains. Search is 'linen balloon dress'. You don't want the ones specifically marketed as XL unless you really are XL - I'm a 16 and the regulars are very ... roomy.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264790502368?hash=item3da6be6be0:g:6xAAAOSwndRfBxU~

I’m back and checking out all the new recommendations.

I got the original ASOS white broderie dress and tried it on today…unfortunately as a PP pointed out but I failed to notice it’s cotton jersey rather than crisp cotton. So not only is it rather heavier than I’d want for hot weather, the overall effect is less “wafting chicly through the vineyards” and more “borrowed my granny’s nightdress”. So back it goes!

I LOVE that bow-backed Boden dress but it looks a bit posh for casual holiday wear (plus would worry about how you wear a bra with it).
From my ASOS order with the disappointing broderie dress is this:

www.asos.com/prd/24134306?acquisitionsource=pasteboard

…other than it has NO POCKETS

Like a previous poster suggested, have you tried Uniqlo? They are my go-to for summer dresses and many have pockets! How about this one?

www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/women-linen-blend-shirring-sleeveless-dress-448087.html

Comes in white and navy too

[quote BitOutOfPractice]@theotherfossilsister what bra are you supposed to wear with those dresses though. Bra straps showing surely ruins the whole aesthetic.[/quote]
I'm a bit flat chested even at twenty two weeks pregnant so don't bother with bras

@theotherfossilsister not an option for me - mid 50s, D cup, not a good look or comfortable either. I bet you look GORGEOUS in it though and congrats on the pregnancy!

This from Zara. I’ve tried it on lots. I’m going to go back for it, it’s so lovwly

Thank you @BitOutOfPractice

I've always longed to be bigger than an A cup xx

@theotherfossilsister

Thank you *@BitOutOfPractice*

I've always longed to be bigger than an A cup xx

We always want what we haven’t got don’t we? Like straight v curly hair.

True, yeah

This is my wish list, all 100% cotton.

www.cosstores.com/en_gbp/women/womenswear/dresses/product.a-line-puff-sleeve-dress-turquoise.1074392002.html

www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/notch-neck-cotton-maxi-dress-navy-exotic-floral/sty-w0778-nvy previous prints of Amelia dress can be found on eBay and the like

Places like the superstore Tesco and sainsburys are good to drop into at this time of year, they do limited runs of dresses like the above at £40 price point, 100% cotton. Usually sold within 2 weeks though.

Reiss have lovely cotton and linen dresss in stock at the moment too.

I like this very much and love an orange dress

https://www.warehousefashion.com/broderie-hem-wide-strap-midi-dress/BWW02028-2.html?color=152

Try Next for their knee length linen shift dresses. They have it in pink with an orange band at the bottom. Would look amazing drifting round Siena... they have other colourways. I quite like the 70s floral. Also, their jumpsuits are nice - shirred elastic bandeau top, wide leg. I am sure they would be really cool in the heat. Bet both would roll up nicely and not look totally creased after unpacking.

I looked at the Next beachwear section. M&S sometimes good. The dresses and trousers etc are generally made of lighter weight fabric. You just need to make sure they're not see through, which is ok on the beach, but crap in Florence.

Found a lovely lightweight, packable dress in zara last year. Light as air cotton, long, tiered, patterned sleeved dress. Indian print. Great on a scorching day.

Got similar in Reserved last year. How about this? www.reserved.com/gb/en/zn159-99x/sukienka-k-sjm

I'm a DD and have recently bought a couple of multiway bras with removable straps from Next that are comfortable and stay up, they also come in multi pack so got a black and nude.

here you go when you read the reviews I'm not alone in being surprised how good they are.

Bon Prix: