Tell me about your hot weather day dresses? A few requirements...

[largeprintagathachristie]

It hit 30 degrees in London today - up that by a bazillion degrees for tube journeys - and once again I was wearing The Wrong Thing.

It was an office day, so I saw loads of women of all ages in central London wafting about looking great in loose dresses. It's reminded me that I have a stop off for a few days in Sydney in February '25, in Australia's high summer, and I should be buying a couple of things for that now. My wish list is:

Dresses for all day daywear, and I burn really easily and will be carrying a backback, so nothing backless. Looking to be covered up but cool, sartorially and temperature- wise. Mild cut-outs would be ok.

Likewise some kind of sleeves would be good, even better if they're not puffy but the milkmaid thing seems hard to avoid at the moment

Natural fibres a must.

Let me know if there's anything you can point me towards. I seem to have loads of clothes but nothing that fits the bill, and am aware summer sales are on at the moment.

I live in Asda linen mix shift dresses when hot. No sleeves but think would be ok with a backpack ( I know what you mean as backpack straps can irritate if no sleeves)

I call them my cruise ship chic but boy they do the job in

Use Vinted. You can filter by fabric, size and any brands you like. You can also choose new.

I sometimes add detail like ‘pockets’ to the top search bar.

Once you've set up your search, including ‘most recent’ save your search and keep checking back.

Good tip. I get daunted by Vinted, but as you say, I hear it's all about the filters.

What’s your budget? I’ve found lots of linen and cotton this year at Jigsaw, NRBY, M&S and Boden

I live in Uniqlo tshirt dresses, sleeveless and short sleeved. I am not big on the puffy sleeves look. They wash very well, don't need to be ironed and are cotton.

Probably not very fashionable in the Bavarian mikmaid era.

They are poly cotton but Regatta do UV protection dresses which are comfortable and keep you cool

I also saw this in store the other day, and it looked nice. I don't like florals and patterns though, so may be a bit Chairman Mao for others. https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/product/linen-blend-square-neck-short-sleeved-dress-464771.html?dwvar_464771_size=SMA001&dlsrc=productdetail

I love the brand popsy. I live in their dresses even in Florida heat and I get lots of compliments about them. They aren't expensive either.

Popsy is mostly polyester, no?

These dresses are gorgeous and very flattering! I have it in black and green

Don’t buy English brands for this.

Spanish and Australian brands are far, far better at hot weather wear. So I’d suggest waiting until you get there to shop for Summer clothes.

Completely understand the discovery of Wearing the Wrong Thing. I was on the Tube a couple of years ago, carefully dressed in cotton / linen separates - sweltering - when a woman wafted past me in a silk kaftan and Gucci trainers (that somehow looked exactly the right thing for the day). I questioned all my life choices …

Nobody’s Child.
Their dresses have been good for me this summerWEBSITE

These are all nice - I stalked the madras check one online as I saw someone wearing it and it looked fantastic!

Good reminder, thanks.
I had a recent order of three Nobody's Childs dresses that didn't work out - two were definitely in Bavarian Milkmaid territory which just didn't work on me but the other's a possible if I got the size right.

@CharlotteRumpling @GreenShady
Uniqlo dress looks great, thank you, and I hadn't looked there. I'm quite short, so it looks as if it would be a midi on me, too, which would be good.

I hear you. I remember being in Sydney decades ago in their summer and the women in the hip, inner city suburb I was staying in were all wearing The Right Thing on hot days (sometimes wearing barely anything but they pulled it off).

It's only three nights in Sydney and don't think I'll be near shops.
Onwards to NZ where it will also be high summer. Not sure if the shopping has improved since I was there, again a long time ago.

I have this and a few other similar dresses from the same brand - search for tea dress. They are the only thing I wear when it’s hot. So comfy, cool but covered enough not to worry about sunburn. Can wear with trainers or sandals.

I appreciate it’s not the most fashion forward brand but these dresses really do look better in the flesh and so comfy.

How do you feel cool in polyester @Babychewtoy I dont mean that to sound rude but I can't bear polyester especially on the Tube or buses.

Under £100 would be good. A bit more if it was really the right thing and could wear to work as well.
I sometimes look lustfully at Pink City Prints and would spring for something but at only 5ft2 they mostly swamp me. See also, tiers, generally.

I'll have another look at Boden but think I've missed the boat in terms of some things I like being still available.
Haven't looked at Jigsaw for ages - will take a look - and will take a look at NRBY.

To be honest I was very surprised when I looked and it said it was polyester because it really doesn’t feel like polyester at all - it feels like cotton.
I agree that in general polyester is not good for hot weather.

https://www.uniqlo.com/eu/en/product/ultra-stretch-airism-sleeveless-dress-464785COL55SMA005000.html?gadsource=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqLLi-MLPhwMVmCuDAx3LBTGnEAQYASABEgJIrDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I don't do sleeveless but there is a T-shirt version I think. DD loves them.

I have a lovely one from crew I'm wearing today. It's a few years old so I can't link to it but it's a decent thickness without being hot and just sits nicely on me and keeps me cool without being clingy. I think I got it in the sale for less than £40.

Also very short - length is great on me

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1239394001.html I got this in-store in the sale for less than a tenner. I am happy with it.

In contrast to all the loose dresses suggested- I actually like dresses that are quite fitted round the bust so I don’t have to wear a bra. Hate wearing a bra in the heat.

I also want loose on the hips and legs, unlined, and natural fibres.

I have two ancient H&M dresses that fit the bill and I wear them when it’s baking. Haven’t seen anything there recently though - they’ve had some nice linen dresses but they’re all lined so hotter.