Loose cotton dress for tropics

[GlitteringUnicorn]

Hi
I am about to spend a few weeks in the tropics- it will be very hot with high humidity.
I am trying to find cool, loose, floaty and lightweight dresses. Ideally will pack easily, dry easily and not plain (as they show every mark). Definitely not thick cotton/jersey and must cover my arms.
This is the best I have found

www.aspiga.com/products/emma-cotton-dress-shell-navy-white

But £90 seems quite excessive and I will need to buy 4-5 of this sort of thing.

Has anyone seen anything similar please? (And there won't be any opportunity to buy something out there before someone suggests that!)
Thank you

You need linen and embrace the crumple

I would embrace the kaftan.

Op I'd use Vinted for something like this. Loads of nice cotton dresses on there and much cheaper which is perfect for a holiday.

And you probably don't want sleeves or maxi length. When I go to climates similar to where you're going, I look for 100% cotton or linen, sleeveless, and just above the knee. It's the only way to keep anything on!!!

Thanks for sharing comments so far
Linen- yes an option but often plain and I definitely need a pattern
Vinted- have spent hours on and not come up with much and would like the option to return!
I definitely need arms and knees covered for cultural reasons.

White Stuff is usually good for natural fibres, patterns and sleeves.

I don't agree that sleeves and longer skirt length would be a problem. I've had to work in a tropical climate, and sleeves and knee coverage are expected in the office. I'm no hotter with loose sleeves and long skirts than I am in shorter things. The fabric actually helps to wick away moisture when it's humid.

M&S have v neck short sleeve linen dresses

M&S have loads of pure cotton midi/maxi dresses with long sleeves at the moment. You could also buy a sleeveless dress & wear a linen shirt over it which would cover your arms up?

A cotton and silk mix works well in humidity. Linen would be my second choice, followed by a light seersucker dress.

Monsoon has one or two like this.

I find viscose to be very cool to wear and lightweight to pack... does crease a bit but usually drops out especially in humidity.

Something like this maybe? www.vinted.co.uk/items/4727778537-ladies-dress-one-size-orange-colour-with-print 

Missed the bit about covering arms but a loose shirt over the top could work?

You need a thin cotton loose garment with long sleeves. I'd look on ebay, possibly for 'beach cover up' or 'kaftan'. Avoid anything new from China - I ordered something cotton-linen blend and it was a polyester-cotton blend that was mainly polyester.
Linen would be good.

I think seersucker is cooling, and has the advantage of not getting crumpled.

I live in this type of climate.

Uniqlo Airism dresses https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/airism-cotton-short-sleeved-t-shirt-dress-464784.html. - In fact anything from the Airism range works well, I swear by their underwear for the humidity. But they are plain so maybe not if you want a pattern

For patterns, this company originated out of Singapore but now sells from UK too https://uk.white-ginger.com/collections/clothing . A lot of Rayon but trust me it works well in that climate.

Last shot, I'd say John Lewis sales, I was back in the UK a couple of weeks back and they had loads reduced. I suspect due to the rainy summer in the UK!

Joe browns has some nice looking floaty patterned dresses some are cotton.

https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/summer-fun-floral-dress-wf031

https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/beautiful-cotton-broderie-dress-wf038

This one says natural fabrics

https://www.joebrowns.co.uk/salinas-summer-dress-wf041

Apricot has this one and some plain linen dresses.

https://www.apricotonline.co.uk/rose-cotton-milkmaid-midaxi-dress/Gads2069us-Blue.html

I love Beyond Nine, though it is expensive - but great quality and beautiful. This one fits your request: https://beyondnine.co.uk/collections/dresses/products/winnie-blush-stripe-linen-dress#

What about these 100% cotton voile dresses in Primark? Light cotton and £16.

That’s lovely

Aspiga is lovely though

I'm not sure you are aware but 'the tropics' is a colonial term and dismissive of the region you are lucky enough to visit. Imagine someone from 'the tropics' reading this and seeing their country delegate to uncomfortable weather their colonisers faced.

https://www.broraonline.com/uk/cotton-gingham-patchwork-dress-navy-cherry-red-dd2422kf2465?utm_source=criteo&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=skye_campaign_acquisition&utm_id=skye_acquistion&cto_pld=wYYOgsyeAADE0YiGreGsfg

They have a few cotton dresses for under £100 or some pricier silk ones.
https://www.broraonline.com/uk/cotton-gingham-chelsea-collar-dress-navy-dd2388fl2424

I’d go to Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s and stock up: lots of cotton frocks

It's my home