Cotton dresses to help stay cool

[cleo333]

Hi I’m struggling to find cotton dresses that are cool in hot weather . I’m quite tall 5 7 and don’t really like tight round the waist or shoulders exposed . Any ideas ?

For me it’s a quite true to size fit but feels slightly on the looser side which I think it is intended to be. If I was between 2 sizes I’d probably go for the smaller one.

Anyone else disappointed by the huge number of these dresses that are out of stock? Seems these days you have to buy summer dresses in spring to find them in stock in most sizes.

@DrNo007 ,it is July and we've had warm weather. Of course they have sold.

Might be ok if you are 5’2’ to 5’5’ but M&S don’t really cater for anyone tall in the dress department that doesn’t want a frumpy length.

Try Nobodys Child lots of cotton dresses there, Next Tall (they had a lovely pale blue collared cotton/linen mix dress). John Lewis had these in stock but hardly any sizes in stock https://www.johnlewis.com/and-or-ruby-tile-print-button-through-cotton-midaxi-dress-green/p113333106 and this one https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-vita-abstract-dress-multi/p113027384 both a good length on me at 5’11’. The last dress is definitely much nicer in real life but you can easily afford to size down two or three sizes as the fit is extremely generous with lots of material.

BTW natural fabrics are definitely cooler to wear. But need to be 100% cotton or 100% linen, after this it would be viscose but viscose fabrics are often prone to shrinking and because they are not totally natural they can still sometimes be hot.

I like anything wafty in 100% natural fabrics in the heat.

I’m finding linen trousers a game changer. With dresses your legs rub together and get sweaty but with trousers you’re lovely and dry.

Ive bought 2 pairs from Uniqlo

M&S have paused online ordering due to the hackers.

@greengreyblue ,it's up-and-running now

I’ve just bought this linen dress from Whistles/JL - really lovely print and 100% linen: https://www.whistles.com/product/abstract-blooms-linen-dress-39701.html

Last year I saw a gorgeous emerald green tiered cotton dress with short sleeves on the Yours clothing website. Sadly it was out of stock.
I have been searching since and can’t find anything similar.
Kit & Kaboodal have one in linen but I would prefer cotton

Has exposed shoulders??

@Fannyy , "[I] don’t really like tight round the waist or shoulders exposed . "

I got the perfect dress in seasalt last year so look online in case they still have that shape. Cotton, short sleeves and loose waisted, perfect for holidays too

Seasalt seem to have quite a few but this linen one in plain caught my eye.
Carved Wood Dress - Seasalt Cornwall

I got some nice things from Doen recently, and from Hill House. Many don't have sleeves, but some do.

I bought a pair of Shona wide legged linen trousers from Nobody’s Child with 20% off and got some more on Vinted the sizes are generous so you could size down.They also work for tall so great for OP. I am 5’10-5’11 and they are only just ling enough for me with flats.

The type of cotton makes a huge difference to temperature control. Cotton jersey is thicker and a bit stretchy, hangs well but can be heavy in a heat wave. Cotton lawn or a thin muslin is a game changer - find something that barely touches you, with a loose floaty skirt and no waist and you'll stay cool (check for transparency though, might need a darker colour/pattern)