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Elle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
There's A White Cotton Summer Dress For Everyone – Here Are 5 Of The Best Styles To Buy Now
In 2024 we had Brat Summer: this year, it's the season of the white cotton summer dress. It's not as catchy, sure, but it's also considerably less sweaty. From minimal maxis to crisp poplin shirt dresses, the white cotton dress is the sartorial equivalent of air conditioning – a welcome respite from the cling of acrylic. (As the owner of one too many vintage nylon dresses, I am speaking from experience.) If the SS25 catwalks were anything to go by, designers are in agreement. Most ubiquitous was the white cotton shirt dress, which manifested in mini, midi and maxi forms at Alaïa, Bottega Veneta, and Erdem, respectively. More classic iterations made way for styles with a difference – a flounced hem, split sleeves, or statement cuffs, as seen on Elle Fanning at Cannes last month. The minimal maxi is another sound option for the white summer dress purists among you – it bears no unnecessary decoration, only exaggerated proportions and one or two interesting details. See Brioni's totally perfect, tent-like T-shirt dress or Khaite's very compelling tunic, which appeared on the runway layered atop a pair of silk trousers. For something with a little more romance, we present the white cotton nightie dress – the more demure cousin of the slinky slip. See Bella Hadid's collab with Frankie's bikini, or Harling Ross's collection with If Only If. Equally lovely would be a Broderie Anglaise dress, as seen at 3.1 Phillip Lim, or something with lace cutwork, as at Tove. And if you're not totally ready to relinquish Brat Summer, may we suggest a bubble hem. Alberta Ferretti and Carven proved that the white cotton summer dress can be all sorts of fun via the gathered-hem dresses they showed for SS25. Ready to slip into something a little more comfortable? Here is our edit of the best white cotton summer dresses. Easy, breezy, and not a bead of sweat in sight. Bristol-based vintage seller DuLievre's edit of antique French cotton dresses is unrivalled, while Smock London, Faune and If Only If all make modern iterations. Wear yours with a pair of block-colour ballet flats, chunky silver jewellery, and a basket bag. You can't go wrong with a crisp cotton-poplin shirt dress. Follow the simple but effective styling at Simkhai and style a sweeping maxi with a skinny black belt or do like Alaïa's Pieter Mulier, who dressed up flouncy mini dresses with strappy mules and layered necklaces. The minimal maxi's allure lies in an interesting silhouette – something with oversized proportions or an open back or split sleeves, for example. You'd be forgiven for mistaking styles by Arket for The Row and Khaite, especially when paired with leather flip flops and a single cuff. Spend all of summer in Broderie Anglaise, either in the form of a demure midi dress (with scarlet ballet flats) or something flirtier and thigh-grazing (with Nineties-inspired mules). A white lace dress will do nicely, too. Play with opacity by layering a coloured slip beneath – or, more daringly, not at all. Another bubble-hem summer is upon us, and we're not complaining; this playful detail makes the simplest of white cotton dresses that much more fun. Team Free People's white cotton mini with sleek flip flops and sea-salt hair, or try Cos's midi with jelly shoes and a beaded necklace. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE. Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
Elle
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Elle
6 Of The Best Nightie Dresses - And The Flat Shoe Styles To Wear Them With This Summer
Be it Courtney Love in a beat up slip dress and boots, Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby in a blue nightdress wielding a knife or Wendy Darling waiting at her window for Peter Pan in an Edwardian cotton nightgown, nighties loom large in popular culture. Visually signalling innocence, or perhaps a loss of it, there's something exposing about a nightdress and therefore also something liberating and pretty punk rock about wearing it outside. This is all to say: we think wearing nighties in the day is cool and you should try it. Emerging as one of summer 2025's hottest trends (thanks to designers like Chloé, smaller brands like If Only If ,and cool girls like Daisy Edgar Jones and Sabrina Carpenter), nighties are coming in all shapes and sizes. From slinky, silky slips to cotton voile smocks, there really is a nightie style for everyone. However, we know it can be a little tricky to know what shoes to pair them with, so here are six shoe styles that work and exactly what nightie to pair them with. Boat shoes are a key shoe trend of the season, but a little tricky to style. We've kept things very straightforward by pairing it with a black minidress from Dôen. Lean into feminine shapes and soft hues by pairing these sky blue Mary Janes with Chloé's boho midi dress. Jelly shoes add a girlish feel to any ensemble, that's why we've paired it with a more grown-up midi-length slip, to add some contrast. Take a leaf out of Dua Lipa's book and try some sneakerinas - these Puma Speedcats would pair well with If Only If's Heather dress and are perfect for a summer in the city. If you're looking for an office appropriate nightie combination, this is as good as it gets. Layer with an oversized shirt or cardigan for extra prim points. Can you think of a cuter combination? Take yourself on an adorable picnic or to the seaside in this ditsy print dress and bold fisherman sandals. Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
Business Insider
30-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Business Insider
The best nightgowns that you can wear as a dress, since it's a sleepwear-as-streetwear summer
The summer of 2025 is the summer of pajamas as real clothing. Walk around SoHo or Brooklyn, and you'll see tons of New York City's tastemakers wearing boxers as shorts. Often, these are paired with a long-sleeved button-down in what I call the "Skype interview" or Risky Business aesthetic. So it stands to reason that nightgowns are the next bedroom staple to emerge from the intimates drawer and onto the city streets. Credit this to Sabrina Carpenter's tour wardrobe, influencer Harling Ross' collaboration with nightdress brand If Only If, the rise of a vintage, romantic aesthetic, or even the simple fact that we deserve a break from fitted waistbands. All of these dresses (minus the last one, which is made from a linen blend) are 100% cotton. Once you go 100% cotton, it's almost impossible to return to the stifling polyester blends that are so common in sundresses. Cotton — especially cotton poplin — is breathable, light, and feels great against your skin. All these nightgowns function as some of the best pajamas, even if you choose to wear them as a dress. And they're perfect for hot sleepers in the summer who want the best cooling pajamas for temperature regulation. A short, breezy choice that isn't see-through at all The Alice Nightgown from Lake is made from a seersucker material that stays crisp and cool. I got it in the more nightdress-adjacent white color, but there are other colorways, like nautical blue or mint green, that look a little more like real dresses. How it feels to wear as a dress: I want all my dresses to feel this breathable and light. The Alice Nightgown basically floats around your body, with no uncomfortable necklines or even rough seams. When there's inevitably a day in the summer when it's so humid that breathing outside feels like gulping steam, this is the dress I will reach for. Not only does the white version not show sweat, but the fabric is also cool to the touch and supremely airy. This nightgown is also pretty opaque. While some of the dresses on this list lean into the casual sheerness of cotton, the seersucker material keeps this from being translucent, even in direct sunlight. How it feels to sleep in it: I mentioned above that when the humidity hits, this is the first dress I'll be wearing outside. So I have a feeling that this piece will be constantly in the wash, because this would be my choice for hot, sticky nights as well. Trust me, sleeping in front of the fan in this crisp, thin-strapped dress will be a much more pleasant experience than sleeping in an old T-shirt that's probably made with nonporous synthetics. Fabrics make all the difference when it comes to temperature control. The elegant vintage gown that's too pretty to just wear to bed When I walk around in The Kayla from Eileen West, I feel like a heroine from a bygone era. Granted, the heroine of a Jane Austen novel would never use this nightgown as an outside dress — but she would have a great scene brushing her hair in front of an antique vanity while wearing it. How it feels to wear as a dress: Modest dressers, be warned that this pick is a little see-through. It's not overly transparent, but you can see the outline of your legs in direct sunlight. Personally, I'm all for enjoying the breezy, sheet-like feel of the dress and leaning into the subtle sheerness. Nude underwear is definitely a must, though. I love wearing this out in the summer. It's perfect for picnics, brunches in the sunshine, and holding a baguette and flowers as you dreamily walk through the farmers market. Unlike some of the more modern cuts, this nightgown has a distinct vintage feel that's fun to lean into. How it feels to sleep in it: Since I have a larger bust, this wouldn't be my first choice for sleeping. The lace neckline — while beautiful — makes this a little tight under my arms and around my chest. Unbuttoning the first two buttons solves this problem pretty well and makes it comfortable enough to be a daytime dress, but I think it would tug at me if I tried to sleep in it. If you don't have a larger bust, though, this shouldn't be a concern. A cottagecore number with Swiss dots and delicate florals With a pattern of tiny blue flowers and a ruffled neckline, the Elizabeth Nightgown is what cottagecore dreams are made of. It makes me wish I had a garden and a sourdough loaf in the oven. How it feels to wear as a dress: On the scale of transparent to opaque, this definitely errs on the side of transparent. If you want to wear it as a dress, pairing it with a nude slip (or even a skirt slip) is a good idea. The aesthetic itself is definitely on par with ultra-feminine trends like hair bows and Mary Janes. Plus, the general vibe is reminiscent of trend-making brands like Hill House (but the dresses and nightgowns there will run you around $200, compared to $74 for Eileen West). How it feels to sleep in it: Because the fabric is a little more sheer, it's also ultra breezy, which makes it good for summer nights. Initially, I had my doubts about sleeping in this gown because of the raised Swiss Dots and the longer length. But even though it's a full-length dress, I had no issues tossing and turning in this at night. And the Swiss Dots didn't cause me any annoyance at all, even though I'm a sensitive sleeper. The perfect dress for cosplaying as a Victorian ghost This dress from Petite Plume was my nightgown gateway drug. I wore it once to bed. And then again to work from home the next day. And then right into bed again. It makes me look like a chic vintage ghost, and I love that about it. How it feels to wear as a dress: The Ava Nightgown isn't very see-through, so it's ready for the streets even with no slip (although it is still a nightgown, so it's not 100% opaque). But it's quite a versatile dress. You can wear the sleeves off the shoulder or keep the square neckline. Personally, I love how it looks off the shoulder, but I can't bring myself to wear a restricting strapless bra with a dress that's meant to be comfy and breezy. It would also look great with a thin belt to give it some shape. How it feels to sleep in it: Wonderful. It's comfortable, loose enough that nothing is tugging at you, and has no extra design details that are for aesthetics rather than comfort. It does get wrinkled in bed, though, but that's expected with 100% cotton. An embroidered pick that's fully opaque This is the only nightgown on this list that's not 100% cotton. It's a mix of cotton and linen, which is the only acceptable "cotton blend" that we will stand for. The material on this one isn't as soft and billowy as the others, but it is considerably more opaque. It's also from one of our favorite up-and-coming clothing brands, Damsen Madder, a London-based label. How it feels to wear as a dress: If you're tall, this will be more like a shirt on you. I'm just under five feet two inches, and even I could use an extra inch or two on the hem. But despite it being a little short, I still get tons of use out of it as a dress. It's what I pull on when I'm crossing the street to get a coffee or walking my dog. Plus, I love the look of the babydoll silhouette with a cute pair of Mary Janes. How it feels to sleep in it: If you want to wear it to bed, I would recommend sizing up a bit. The neckline is a little restricting, so those who thrash about in their sleep might find it a little too uncomfortable. I've also found that the material isn't as breathable as the other picks on this list, so it traps heat in a bit more.
