Flowy maxi dresses for lawns, promenades and picnics

The ceremony’s on a lawn at four, it’s hot, and you’d like a skirt that moves when you walk across the grass. That’s the whole job of a flowy maxi dress. Ours wrap and tie at the waist, open into a V-neck and keep short sleeves over your shoulders.

Two white muslin wraps, florals or little pink hearts

Two of them are white muslin, a thin cotton that’s light on a hot day. One carries flowers. Small pink hearts run all over its sister, which makes that one the sweeter of the pair.

We’d pack the floral one for a week by the sea and wear it again at home when the city turns sticky in August. Keep the earrings small with it. On a white ground the flowers are already busy enough.

The hearts version belongs at a photo session in an open field. Its long hem moves as you walk toward the camera, and a flowy maxi dress in motion is what makes those pictures look alive.

Once the sun drops near the water, you’ll want a layer. Throw a thin milky cardigan or that same denim jacket over the hearts one and stay out longer.

After washing, muslin looks a bit crumpled. Nothing’s wrong with it, and a quick steam before you leave sorts it out.

A pink floral wrap for somebody else’s garden wedding

Pink is the guest’s color here. The third flowy maxi dress is a pink floral wrap in lightweight viscose, and we’d send it to a backyard wedding or a slow walk on the promenade after dinner. Its sleeves are short, but they do cover the shoulders.

On a full bust the V-neck sits well, and during an outdoor ceremony the long hem gives your legs a bit of shade. Skip the stilettos on a lawn. Sandals that buckle flat, or a modest wedge, won’t sink. When it cools off, a thin cardigan over your shoulders is plenty.

If the party runs late and there’s dancing on a patio, tie the wrap a little firmer than you would for dinner and check in the mirror that the skirt still opens nicely when you take a big step.

There’s more for this kind of day on our page of dresses for summer weddings.

Frequently asked questions

These aren’t showing up in the catalog. Why?

They’re summer pieces. From September through February they’re tucked away, and in March they’re back.

What size should I get with a tie waist?

Measure your bust. The tie takes care of the waist, whatever size you land on. All three run XS to XL, and if you’re usually a US 4, start with S.

Is the V-neck very deep?

It depends on how you tie it. Cross the wrap tighter at the fitting for a higher line, looser for a lower one, and make sure the front doesn’t gap when you walk.