Long sleeved linen dresses that don’t fit like sacks

[McLarenette]

Hello Style Mavens, I’m possibly looking for the impossible.

I love the idea of a long sleeved linen dress to keep cool in the heat and frankly to mean less chance of burning because I missed a spot when putting sunscreen on. I think I’ve even made my piece with it inevitably creasing to buggery.

However, I’m also 5 foot 7 and 9st 10 with a 34G bust which means unstructured dresses tend hang from my boobs as if from a big shelf and make me look a lot bigger than I am.

Has anyone with a similar shape found a linen long sleeved dress that works for them? I looked at Poetry who looked like they had possibilities but I’m wary of how many Trustpilot reviews now mention the clothes not holding their colour .

I'd be super interested if anyone has any suggestions. I am 5'6, weigh a little bit less, but have a 32 F bust so need things to have some type of fit otherwise the ensuing look is giving bin bag. I also have a sun allergy (polymorphic light eruption) so need to cover up as much as possible as SPF is only so effective. I hate the summer because finding suitable clothing is so hard. My poor kids (2 and 4) end up stuck inside with me far too much

Seasalt?

I'd say get one with a belt as then you can pull it in, ruff it out where you need op. I've got a gorgeous one from primark would you believe(!) that everyone compliments, but it doesn't have long sleeves I'm afraid.

https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1255732002.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=mk_gb|ln_eng|pl_google|ct_fm|bu_ladies|kt_gen|bg_performance|cs_fmax|adt_all|sp_med|pi_gbg06anu3aa214&utm_term=&hier_id=go_cmp-21336737492_adg-_ad-__dev-m_ext-_prd-en-1255732002004_sig-Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mCkoBrbVjqSxxl6zbJOJ5-ZJ6jKF6nVBE8VhnzRR112WIf7Res8cfwaAoRaEALw_wcB&utm_source=Google&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21330519522&gclid=Cj0KCQjwnovFBhDnARIsAO4V7mCkoBrbVjqSxxl6zbJOJ5-ZJ6jKF6nVBE8VhnzRR112WIf7Res8cfwaAoRaEALw_wcB

I know it's from the maternity range (and I hope you aren't offended by this) but this one is lovely. I'm a size 8, and have bought stuff from their maternity range before (not pregnant!) just because I like it!

Would this not work? Obviously you could unbutton as far as necessary but the pleats at the back would give extra room at the front, particularly if you sized up:

https://communityclothing.co.uk/collections/womens-dresses-jumpsuits/products/womens-collarless-shirt-dress-truffle-linen

Filtering by material and sleeve length at JL produces plenty of results. Celtic and co. options mostly have elbow length sleeves, but they do have a shirt dress with full length sleeves.

It might work but one of the reasons I mentioned my huge rack is that it often means that dresses with buttons down the front gap at the bust unless going up a size, in which case, hello tent city.

Obviously if someone is saying they have roughly my shape and owned the dress and it wasn’t an issue in that area, that’s different.

@Pinktruffle I feel your pain - I have an auto immune reaction to light which makes me bleed into my skin and have to cover up completely. This year one of my successes has been wearing broderie anglais (today a pink Mint Velvet blouse with big sleeves, but I also have a black maxi dress and a long sleeved white shirt) which I wear a specialist SPF protection nude coloured long sleeve top under (Coolibar or Solbari) and then it looks all floaty and cool but gives me full protection. They do sleeves and shrug things (I wear the shrugs under clothing that is too short sleeved to meet the individual sleeves) which mean you can adapt normal stuff very easily and their spf clothing is very light and cool to wear
I like Hush dresses with long sleeves and a ruched elastic waist though they aren't linen.

You need something a bit fitted, bust darts is what you want.

This is part linen:

https://www.outdoorandcountry.co.uk/womens-barbour-suri-midi-dress.html

That’s beautiful! I have bought it. I will report back how it looks, thank you :)

Thank you for sharing. Do the underlayers like Coolibar not make you overheat? I've looked at them before but I feel like it's yet another layer and will make me sweat even more and just wholly uncomfortable.
Your situation sounds worse than mine but just fucking awful isn't it? Going outside in the warm weather is something most people just take for granted but it's always an ordeal for me. I don't want my kids to miss out so I make myself take them out sometimes but I definitely favour staying in when most people are out enjoying themselves. I'll probably never get to take my kids to a beach and it's something most people do without thinking

@Pinktrufflethey aren’t sweaty at all, in fact they wick sweat away from your skin so make it more comfortable. I wear a long sleeve uv rash vest and leggings on the beach (and my Aussie full protection hat with neck flap) and I swear it’s no hotter than a swimsuit especially if you are in and out of the water.
It is a pita, but it doesn’t stop me doing anything. Coolibar and Solbari both often have good discounts so it’s worth waiting for one and trying out some sleeves as they really open up your clothing options

I've bought some boden linen kaftany type things for when I'm away (they are too garish to wear at home) and put a belt on them. They are a little fitted so aren't too billowing - might be worth a look. This kind of thing
https://www.boden.com/products/v-neck-tiered-cotton-kaftan-ivory-tropical-bonanza

If you don't mind spending a bit more, son de flor has lovely wrap styles, sorry I can't link, on a train.

This is lovely. You can probably find a similar version in EU. https://www.girlswithgems.com/products/sneaky-link-lefka-midi-dress-chocolate

Thank you! I will take a look and try something out. I hate not being able to get out and do the things I want with the kids

Hmmn, I bought the Barbour dress but I’m unsure. On the one hand, the material feels lovely on and it definitely meets the brief.

However, I still think it looks kind of booby in a bad way and I don’t love way the belt has to sit just right or you can see it’s riding up because of the seam between the bodice and skirt?

I think that looks really good on you! I like it.

I think it looks really good too, although I can see what you mean by the belt. Can you either somehow attach the belt a bit more so it’s not slipping, or what does it look like without the belt?

I don’t think it works beltless - it becomes a sack, plus even if you cut the belt loops off, I think you could tell there’s supposed to be a belt there, if you see what I mean.

Can you tie the belt behind? Or replace with a chunkier leather belt.

You can tie the belt behind, but it just makes things worse because the line separating the bodice from the skirt peeps into view even more easily, whereas in front or off to the side, the bow hides it a bit.

I can’t really wear big belts because it then looks like my boobs somehow sit right on the belt and/or end at my hips :( This was such a blow to discover when this look was all the rage about 15 (more?) years ago!

However, I do appreciate the ideas, thank you.

I can't understand why anyone wears linen. It looks like a horrible creased sack within 5 minutes of wearing. I find cotton much better.

I agree with a PP about a leather belt instead of the cloth one, cloth belts always look rubbish on me. Doesn’t need to be a chunky one, I have this Mint Velvet one in every colour and it’s fantastic as the multiple holes mean you can adjust to sit in exactly the right place.

Aspiga might also be worth a look, great quality and I think all natural fabrics