Casual dress styles in rib knit, cotton and jersey

Most weeks need a casual dress you can wear from the school run straight into dinner without going home to change. We sew them in rib knit, jersey, velvet and angora-blend knit for the cold half of the year and in satin, cotton, muslin, viscose and linen for the warm half, mostly in mini and midi.

Velvet and angora for the colder months

A casual dress in velvet sounds odd until you try the chocolate mini. It covers your shoulders and arms but shows your legs, and that balance works when the evening starts at your desk and finishes over dinner. Soft folds gather it from waist to hip. The hem wraps on a slant, so it opens a little as you walk.

Brown velvet gets a copper sheen under the lights. Mocha boots are all it needs.

Angora-blend knit is the fluffy one. Wear it with thick tights under a long coat, and look at our cozy knit dresses if that’s the feel you want all winter.

Black minis with a keyhole, flounces or a flared skirt

We sew more black and white here than any other color. For a casual dress in black, there’s a Mustang rib mini with a small drop-shaped cutout at the chest and a round neck, modest enough for work and still right for dinner. Another rib mini has a fitted top, a seam at the waist and a flared skirt that swings when you dance, with rib cuffs that hold your wrists.

If you’d rather have something softer, there’s a jersey mini with two rows of flounces and a fitted bodice, and you’ll find more in that fabric among our jersey styles. The cotton knit mini has 5 % elastane and a seam under the bust. Any smooth underwear works under black.

The summer half, from lemon sateen to floral midis

From March the warm pieces come back. The lemon midi in sateen has a bare back, a V-neck and flutter sleeves, and it’s for a friend’s summer wedding or a dinner on the terrace. Wear your hair up. The back is the whole point.

A black floral sundress has thin tie straps you can shorten and a flared skirt that covers the knee. White canvas sneakers and a tote by day, sandals at night. The pink midi in a floral print ends in a flounce, so pick plain shoes and throw a light cardigan on when the sun goes down. For an office with a stricter code, see the smart casual page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I choose the length of the flounced jersey mini?

You can. It’s made at 80, 88 or 92–94 cm, so go by your height and the heels you wear most.

What goes under a fitted rib casual dress?

Smooth underwear without lace. Rib sits close and shows texture.

Why can’t I see the summer styles in winter?

They’re hidden from the catalog from September to February and return in March. Cold-weather styles do the reverse.

How do I look after angora-blend knit?

Hand wash, or use the delicate program with cool water and mild soap. No rubbing, no wringing. Lay it on a towel to dry. Pills come off with a fabric shaver.