23 Linen Dresses to Keep You Effortlessly Cool (and On-Trend) All Summer

editor@purewow.com (PureWow)
·9 min read

Everyone just seems to be in a brighter mood come summertime. The only downside to the season is that it often comes with sweltering temperatures. It's always a power struggle between looking cute and looking like you just ran a marathon, (glowy skin is in. Sweaty skin? Not so much). Fortunately, a stylish solution to that dilemma comes in the form of the miracle material known as linen. Linen is heralded as the go-to fabric for hot weather-wear due to its unmatched breathability, durability, absorbency and sustainability. We can sing its praises all season long, but instead, we rounded up some of the most sophisticated linen dresses for women that are guaranteed to keep you effortlessly cool and transport you to your summer fantasy-world.

The Best Linen Dresses for Women at a Glance

RELATED: How to Dress for Summer 2021 When All You’ve Been Wearing Are Sweatpants

1. Sleeper Bosporus Loungewear Dress

Most Versatile Linen Dress

This relaxed navy frock is 100 percent linen and 100 percent elegant. You have the option to wear the rouched neckline off-the-shoulder for a slouchier look, or on the shoulders for more coverage. It's designed as loungewear, but throw on a belt and some mules and this dress will look just as at home at a waterfront dinner as it does, well, in your home.

Buy It ($250)

2. Jenni Kayne Summer Dress

Best Linen Dress for the Beach

There's a reason this Jenni Kayne garment is named the "summer dress"—can’t you just imagine frolicking along the shoreline, sand between your toes, salt in your hair while donning this cotton/linen blend? That said, there’s also no shame in running errands in it. Who said you couldn’t bring summer to Walgreen’s?

Buy It ($325)

3. Boden Relaxed Linen Tiered Dress

Best Linen Dress with Pockets

This 100 percent linen dress has fluted sleeves and a tiered skirt that keeps it simple yet far from boring. But most importantly, did we mention the pockets? We live for an effortless and functional ‘fit. We’ll take it in every color, please.

Buy It ($150)

4. Tuckernuck Champagne Collier Dress

Best A-Line Linen Dress

Wear this A-Line dress with white trim and mother of pearl buttons to your girlfriend’s rich family yacht party or your neighbor’s low-key ice cream social. And at either venue, onlookers will mutter, “très chic!” The design is inspired by the rolling vineyards of Provence, France. No wonder they call the color “Champagne,” since “khaki” or “beige” just wouldn’t do it justice.

Buy It ($198)

5. Boden Embroidered Mini Dress

Best Embroidered Linen Dress

It’s all in the details when it comes to this linen dress from Boden. The scalloped V-neckline, side-seam pockets and geometric embroidery make this shift one you can wear to a dinner party or a romantic walk on the beach.

Buy It ($210)

6. Tuckernuck Florencia One Shoulder Dress

Best One Shoulder Linen Dress

Who knew linen could be sultry? The ruffled one-shoulder silhouette with slits on either side means you can channel your inner Stevie Nicks in this breezy, sophisticated number and still stay cool on those hot summer nights.

Buy It ($148)

7. Reformation Bridgton Dress

Best Off-the-Shoulder Linen Dress

You'll look like the finest of porcelain tea sets in this midi dress from Reformation. It's got puffed sleeves, a fitted bodice and a side slit that hits just the right balance of sexy meets elegant. But the sexiest part? It’s sustainably made, too.

Buy It ($248)

8. Reformation Linda Linen Dress

Best Linen Mini Dress

Sometimes, less is more. See: This lightweight mini halter romp. It comes in a rich chocolately hue that we can't get enough of, but if you're looking for something more fun, it's also available in picnic-inspired plaid or tropical floral.

Buy It ($218)

9. Anthropologie Pilcro Flutter Sleeve Dress

Best Flutter Sleeve Linen Dress

Jane Austen but make it modern. That’s what this cotton/linen blend midi is giving with its romantic bodice and whimsical details like dainty brass buttons and butterfly wings. Our favorite detail, however, is the intricate crisscross back design.

Buy It $160; $100

10. Anthropologie Aureta Studio Maxi Dress

Best Linen Maxi Dress

The only thing more elegant than a boatneck maxi dress is one that comes in linen. Don this dress and transform into Holly Golightly. With a cross-over back, fitted bodice and pockets, it's fancy and functional.

Buy It ($248)

11. Anthropologie Faithful Cut-Out Midi Dress

Best Linen Dress with Cutouts

The cut out trend is still in full force, and we're projecting this skin bearing style to only grow more popular in the summertime. This linen midi with rayon lining combines a halter neckline, sexy cutout details and a playful print to keep you cool and chic all season long.

Buy It $339;($180)

12. Hatch Collection Jenna Dress

Best Linen Maternity Dress

Thankfully Hatch got the memo that we’re done with ugly maternity fashion—thank you Rihanna. This tencel/linen blend is comfortable, stylish and you don’t have to pack it away postpartum—it’s nursing-friendly too thanks to its button-down front. Plus, we love that for summer you can wear it as is or come cooler days, you can layer with a tee or turtleneck.

Buy It ($248)

13. Tory Burch Silk Chiffon Linen Burlap Dress

Best Wedding Guest Linen Dress

With a lavender silk bodice, chocolate knit waistband and billowing linen skirt—this frock plays with color, fabric and texture to bring you a multi-colored daydream that would make a fab choice for that wedding you have coming up in August.

Buy It ($1198)

14. BrunnaCo Arya Safari Dress

Best Linen Shirt Dress

Shirt dresses are made for summertime, and linen shirt dresses make this classic silhouette even more appropriate for those hot summer days filled with back-to-back meetings. Hand-sewn by local artisans in Bali, this number also includes a linen belt which adds some shape.

Buy It ($150)

15. Lilly Pulitzer Florin V-Neck Dress

Best V-Neck Linen Dress

For some reason, linen dresses and V-necklines go together like iced tea and lemonade, and this dress is living proof of that. It comes in a preppy pink color, it's sleeveless and 100 percent linen—it's the closest you can get to feeling like you're wearing nothing, while looking like a million bucks.

Buy It ($198)

16. Hill House The Lily Dress

Best Printed Linen Dress

The Lily dress is like ice-cold sorbet in dress form. We love its super classic silhouette and detachable belt that you can add or subtract depending on how you’re feeling that day. But our favorite part? The pattern options. Pick from prints like a cheery, retro kaleidoscopic, a romantic floral garden or an English rose on blue skies.

Buy It ($195)

17. Anthropologie Hope for Flowers Tiered Mini Dress

Best Tiered Linen Dress

With its flirty mini length, three tiers and an empire waistline, this vibrant ensemble is like a wearable watercolor painting—if a painting could show off your legs as well as this one does.

Buy It ($253)

18. Hill House The Ellie Nap Dress

Best Smocked Linen Dress

Fashion editor Abby Hepworth says that “A true nap dress is made from soft, lightweight fabrics, isn’t form-fitting or restrictive and can be worn both for lazy afternoon dozing on the couch or to pick up groceries without fear of embarrassment.” And if anybody knows how to make a nap dress, it’s Hill House—the brand literally trademarked the term. And this striped linen dress in lilac hits all the marks.

Buy It ($150)

19. Reformation Marcella Linen Dress

Best Linen Strapless Dress

Fitted with a straight-edge strapless neckline and side slit, make a statement wearing this frock on a boat, rooftop bar, Diddy’s white party, or anywhere, really.

Buy It ($248)

20. Reformation Irwin Dress

Best Open-Back Linen Dress

Reformation's Irwin mini dress comes with quarter-length puffed sleeves, a crew neckline and slight ruching in the front. The pièce de résistance, however, is the open back with an adjustable tie to cinch the waist. Business in the front, party in the back, baby.

Buy It ($228)

21. Onīrik Monet Dress

Best Collared Linen Dress

This dress is bias-cut, which means it's designed to stretch ever-so-slightly to mold to your body. It's 100 percent linen with a portrait collar to frame your face—hence the aptly-named “Monet”. This one's got super roomy pockets, too, with a drop waist and hidden shell buttons.

Buy It ($258)

22. Tuckernuck Leighton Mini Dress

Best Sleeveless Linen Dress

This linen/poly blend mini just might become your favorite dress this summer. It has a sophisticated mandarin collar, woven-raffia buttons and invisible side pockets. Pair this with a classy clutch and gold statement earrings, and we’re ready for luncheon at your mother-in-law’s.

Buy It ($228)

23. Michael Stars Delilah Shift Dress

Best Linen Shift Dress

Designed for warm days, this dress is breathable, lightweight and crafted from 100 percent linen fabric. So there you have it: it is possible to look like you have your life together even when temps rise toward 100 degrees F. Your hair, that’s another story.

Buy It ($128)

RELATED: I’m Outfitting My Entire Life in Linen and No One Can Stop Me

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