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The Best Linen Dresses To Wear Now

Embrace effortless warm-weather styling with one-and-done linen dresses you’ll wear on repeat

Words Colleen RossFashion editor Millie Parry
Fashion

Airy linen is the ultimate summer fabric – there’s something in its natural texture that lends a whimsical sensibility to clothing, making it both inherently elegant and beautifully cool on warm days. This season, designers embraced linen’s relaxed-meets-structured quality by creating slip-on-slip-off dresses with effortless appeal, perfect for both vacation and easy city days.

  • TOVE
    Sabella strapless gathered linen midi dress
    $501.00
    Select a Size
    34 - low stock
    36 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    40
    42 - out of stock
  • AGUA BY AGUA BENDITA
    Barbara printed embellished linen mini dress
    $345.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small - out of stock
    medium - low stock
    large - low stock
    x large
  • ZIMMERMANN
    Lucky belted printed linen mini dress
    $450.00
    Select a Size
    00 - out of stock
    0 - out of stock
    1 - out of stock
    2
    3
    4 - out of stock
  • POSSE
    Essie fringed linen maxi dress
    $200.00
    Select a Size
    xx small
    x small
    small
    medium
    large
    x large
    xx large

A new-season highlight is Gabriela Hearst’s effortlessly elegant ‘Aleka’ shirt dress from our NET SUSTAIN edit. Detailed with pleats at the sleeves and hem, it is the sort of piece you can wear from the office to dinner in the evening with kitten heels and a structured top-handle bag. For extra-special events, like a destination wedding, Zimmermann’s romantic ‘Ascension’ dress, printed with tropical flora and fauna and another NET SUSTAIN highlight, is a suitably romantic choice.

  • GABRIELA HEARST
    Aleka belted pleated linen midi shirt dress
    $1,196.00
    Select a Size
    36
    38 - low stock
    40
    42 - low stock
    44
    46
    48
  • ZIMMERMANN
    Ascension floral-print linen mini dress
    $375.00
    Select a Size
    00 - out of stock
    0 - out of stock
    1 - out of stock
    2 - out of stock
    3 - out of stock
    4 - out of stock
  • SIR
    Twisted ruched linen midi dress
    $245.00
    Select a Size
    00 - low stock
    0
    1 - out of stock
    2
    3 - out of stock
    4 - out of stock
  • ANDRES OTALORA
    Petalos embroidered linen midi dress
    $400.00
    Select a Size
    0 - low stock
    2 - low stock
    4 - low stock
    6
    8
    10 - low stock

Elsewhere, Agua by Agua Bendita’s faux pearl-embellished maxi dress is printed with lush green floral motifs and has a flattering empire waist. Accentuate its feminine feel with mesh ballet flats and a raffia bag. For ultimate versatility, you can’t go wrong with a little black dress. Inspired by ’60s styles, Faithfull’s mini dress looks chic styled with Mary Jane ballet flats and cat-eye sunglasses for an afternoon exploring the sights. Both are from our NET SUSTAIN edit and crafted from lower-impact materials.

  • AGUA BY AGUA BENDITA
    Barbara pleated bead-embellished floral-print linen midi dress
    $425.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium - out of stock
    large - out of stock
    x large - out of stock
  • FAITHFULL
    Felice shirred linen mini dress
    $168.00
    Select a Size
    x small - out of stock
    small - out of stock
    medium - low stock
    large - out of stock
    x large - out of stock
    xx large
  • TALLER MARMO
    Bambolino cold-shoulder fringed linen maxi dress
    $663.00
  • FARM RIO
    Tasseled shirred printed linen halterneck maxi dress
    $196.00
    Select a Size
    xx small - out of stock
    x small - out of stock
    small - out of stock
    medium - out of stock
    large
    x large - out of stock

For the perfect slip-on-and-go dress to pack for your next vacation, La Ligne has you covered. Exclusive to NET-A-PORTER, the New York-based brand’s ‘Alba’ mini dress is patterned with artful florals and has a swishy skirt. Wear it over a bikini with salty hair and leather sandals by day, then amp it up with heels come evening. Elsewhere, Le Kasha’s ‘Jesmah’ dress exudes city polish, making it perfect for alfresco dinners and summer-exhibition openings. Complement the versatile terracotta shade with chunky gold jewelry and black accessories.

DISCOVER MORE

  • LE KASHA
    Jesmah open-back embellished linen midi dress
    $540.00
    Select a Size
    XS/S
    S/M - low stock
    M/L
  • LA LIGNE
    Alba printed linen-blend mini dress
    $118.00
    Select a Size
    xx small - out of stock
    x small - out of stock
    small - out of stock
    medium - out of stock
    large
    x large - low stock
  • FAITHFULL
    Felice shirred floral-print linen mini dress
    $189.00
    Select a Size
    x small - out of stock
    small - out of stock
    medium
    large - out of stock
    x large - out of stock
    xx large
  • ZIMMERMANN
    Cascadian leopard-print linen maxi dress
    $425.00
    Select a Size
    00 - low stock
    0 - out of stock
    1
    2
    3 - out of stock
    4 - out of stock

The people featured in this story are not associated with NET-A-PORTER and do not endorse it or the products shown