Loose fit, lightweight, long cotton dress, with long sleeves & with pockets?

[MyrtlethePurpleTurtle]

First time asking a question in Style & Beauty. And may be TMI but here goes...

As the heading indicates, I'm looking for a dress with the following features:
a) loose fit
b) lightweight
c) cotton (not linen!)
d) ankle length/midi
e) pockets!
(and not see through in strong sunlight).

Not so much concerned about being beautiful or stylish but something that meets the above criteria and which doesn't require alterations.

Reason for looking for this type of dress is I'll shortly be returning to a country in Central Asia which was sweltering in April/May of this year and will be even hotter in July 🤦‍♀️ . And where women dress fairly conservatively - even Western visitors. Though plenty of colourful dresses and fabrics were being born - no need to stick to black or plain fabrics!

Note:
i) I'm 'petite / a shortie - 5'1" So 'regular' long dresses will trail the ground!
ii) I'm a size 8 - 10 but with boobs - basically, a Bravissimo woman rather than with an athletic build
iii) as an older woman, something that looks floaty and willowy on someone out of their teens can look dowdy and night dress like on me. But hell, if I have to look like a Victorian maiden aunt in a voluminous nightdress, then so be it!

I normally shop at Fatface/Seasalt/White Stuff but I didn't find anything suitable there. I did order and try on this Seasalt dress which on the face of it ticked all my requirements - ie loose, lightweight(ish), cotton, long, pockets and in a petite fit. However, when I tried it on in various sizes, it managed to be both hugely voluminous whilst tight around the bust and armpits 🤷‍♀️ - I give the link to show what didn't work!

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/windblown-tiered-v-neck-above-ankle-dress?cm_mmc=AWIN--referral--affiliate--affiliate&utmsource=AWIN&utmmedium=referral&utmid=78888%7CSkimlinks%7Cwww.mumsnet.com&svcampaignid=78888&svtax1=affiliate&svtax2=928475%7C936177&svtax3=Skimlinks&svtax4=mumsnet.com&svaffiliateid=78888&awc=75481780586064c4ab962d8ee12a5c185a47514bd45edf

https://www.seasaltcornwall.com/windblown-tiered-v-neck-above-ankle-dress

Thanks in advance for any pointers!

PS When I was last in the country I'll be returning to, I did look round the markets etc to buy a dress locally but pretty much invariably they were in synthetic fabrics, often quite heavy.

Edited to say: not sure if the Seasalt link works - but maybe it doesn't much matter as it was too illustrate what doesn't work!

Agree with the one hundred stars pinch pleat dresses - they are cotton and very light and floaty with pockets also (though if you put eg your phone in one, it weighs it down a bit but I do it anyway). I’ve got one in a “suzani” pattern from last year; I wear it loose to float around in the summer but I add a wide belt at work and it looks a little smarter though still a bit eclectic auntie (luckily I like the eclectic auntie vibe!).

https://onehundredstars.co.uk/products/boho-garden-grey-pinch-pleat-dress
Im a well busted 18 (or 20 in some shops) and the M/L is fine on me.

I love the shape of other dresses on the site but most of them aren’t cotton - they’re still great for summer wear in general but for definite hot country weather during the day, I’d go with these ones.

Or this. https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9100193054-saint-tropez-summer-dress

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9084738091-baukjen-100-organic-cotton-long-multicoloured-dress-with-pockets

The Vinted links might also give you some brands to check out.

This isn’t cotton but would tick most of your boxes - not sure if the neckline would be problematic.

https://www.sugarhillbrighton.com/products/della-shirred-midi-dress-navy-heart-tile

This one has a better neckline:

www.sugarhillbrighton.com/products/yasmin-midi-smock-dress-black-teal-twilight-gingham

Another place to look is H&M - they have a great selection of cotton prints in blouses and dresses each summer. I bought this recently: https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/productpage.1329749001.html

It’s not cotton, it’s viscose type stuff, but it feels like cotton material if you see what I mean?
This particular dress is gorgeous fabric, but beware it is very oversized - a large is very generous on 18-20 me - and the neckline is a bit weird so I took 15 mins to alter it. It has a sort of metal bent bit to hold the wide v at the front so I made a tiny cut and pulled it out, then sewed the front up to make it a slightly less deep v (I am in no way good at sewing or anything like that, it was v easy and safety pins would do it nearly as well!).

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9037991508-boden-dress-size-uk-8

Accessorise might have a few. But M&S have a few with short sleeves.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/9079265304-boden-amy-floral-long-sleeve-cotton-midi-shirtdress

I could keep going, but you get the idea, some great quality bargains.

This is super, though this brand makes quite long dresses (I’m your height). It would be worth having it taken up though at £20.

https://www.vinted.co.uk/items/6711081306-new-anthropologie-white-embroidery-anglaise-maxi-dress-10

Maison Hotel? https://www.maisonh.com/collections/ss26-dresses

OMG I am obsessed by one hundred stars kimonos….sheer beauty!!!

Another idea to wear over a short sleeved/no sleeved dress. This store also has loose trousers, dresses and long cover ups. Mainly made from reused saris. Available online.

https://www.karmaripon.co.uk/collections/clothing-1/products/repurposed-sari-butterfly-top-uk-8-22

My friend has this and it is lovely. V neck too. https://www.weirdfish.co.uk/p/women/i/dilsha-printed-midi-dress-radical-red-203314

You might find something at Gudrun Sjoden. These designs are meant to be layered - the lacy 'hem' of the dresses shown is actually a longer petticoat.

Due to your height, you probably wouldn't need a petticoat - they're perfectly nice as skirts, but no pocket (though you could wear a tunic with pockets over it). There are also fine cotton tops and various tunics, jackets, pinafores, etc. Lovely colours. Most dresses have pockets.

www.gudrunsjoden.com/en-gb/clothes/dresses?Size=S&ProductMaterial=COTTON&ProductMaterial=MODAL

Also take a look at Heritage Clothings. Very small runs, generally has several cotton numbers with high necks, long sleeves, full lengths, pockets and spectacular prints!

https://www.heritageclothings.com/collections/african-clothing-uk

Wouldn't it make sense to buy one or two outfits here, then stock up on location?

The OP said:
PS When I was last in the country I'll be returning to, l did look round the markets etc to buy a dress locally but pretty much invariably they were in synthetic fabrics, often quite heavy.

Oof, thanks. Missed that.

There are a heck of a lot of Indian cotton dresses, many long & baggy, on Etsy, Ebay, Amazon and Shein. Quality's extremely variable, ime. Cotton can turn out not to be cotton, or such a loose weave that it shrinks to doll-size as soon as it touches water.

Some can be pleasantly surprising, though! One (ecologically dubious) approach could be to order lots as they are cheap ... This is where old-fashioned markets were so useful. I miss the sarongs, floaty tops and boho skirts you could always find: much more difficult online if current fashion doesn't play along.

Have a look at Roman.

Joe Brown's has a lot of long summer dresses in cotton and viscose.
Advantages:

• Petite sizes!
• Great colours.

Disadvantages:

• Coverage - you'd need to wear a top under/over them;
• They don't say which have pockets, you have to scour the photos.

Everything I've ever had from them is so well made, it lasts forever. www.joebrowns.co.uk/womens-clothing/womens-dresses/womens-summer-dresses

Kit and Kaboodal?

Penny Cotton Dress Mocha – Kit and Kaboodal https://share.google/f04zvvZs4wd6vOJrs

There are other colours

Good call - I keep seeing this one around (probably because I keep clicking on it to look…)

https://www.roman.co.uk/floral-print-border-maxi-dress-14688708

The empire waist version of these kaftans has sleeves that go halfway down the forearm. You can add pockets as an option from the colour drop-down at checkout. Review says the lighter colours can be diaphanous so choose a darker one. Comes in different lengths.
https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/216341442/butterfly-sleeves-empire-waist-striped

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/silkandmoore-cotton-kaftan-review/

White Stuff definitely has dresses that fit this criteria. You can find them if you Google ‘White Company tiered dress’. Sometimes sold via other shops or on Vinted.

www.johnlewis.com/white-stuff-bex-maxi-dress-multi/p115255866

https://www.marksandspencer.com/pure-cotton-floral-midi-tiered-dress/p/clp23068296?extid=af_Comparison+Shopping+Service+%28CSS%29_Shareight+%28Octer%29+CSS_----AWIN-ms--_-863943&sv_campaign_id=863943&sv_tax1=affiliate&sv_tax3=Shareight+%28Octer%29+CSS&sv_tax4=0&sv_affiliate_id=863943&sv1=affiliate&sv_campaign_id=863943&awc=1402_1780810841_747916b3c27cfeedc686a1fc279bcf76

https://www.johnlewis.com/white-stuff-tabitha-floral-tiered-dress-mid/p114541182?size=16&s_ppc=2dx_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20151164127&gbraid=0AAAAAD2el1wYDAWpSnSTwA-Ip6rTyxAcO&gclid=Cj0KCQjwio_RBhDMARIsAJPveNPPHHiwhFYkmcurOalm9myHZC2C2uskFE--cGk6D70-XLM3TS2burMaAu1oEALw_wcB

Unfolded have some nice ones but they do take a while to deliver as made to order