Off-shoulder floral dresses in muslin, linen and satin

Bare collarbones, a short sleeve and a print that does all the decorating are what you get with an off shoulder floral dress from us. We sew ours in cotton muslin, crinkled linen and matte satin, nearly all as minis. In Britain the same cut goes by floral bardot dress.

White muslin with small flowers for the hottest days

Several of our styles are white muslin minis, and the print is what tells them apart. One has tiny pink flowers. Another is scattered with cornflowers, and a third carries a fine black print that looks almost graphic from across the street. Muslin is a thin cotton that breathes, so you’ll stay comfortable even at noon in July. A wash leaves it slightly creased. Thin cotton does that, and one pass with a steamer smooths them out.

Where would you wear one? The pink flowers suit a date or a friend’s birthday. We’d pack the cornflowers for vacation, with woven sandals for the promenade and a low heel for dinner. With the black print, let the dress choose your accessories and reach for black sandals and a small black bag on a chain.

Crinkled linen, then flowers on black and beige

We sew one midi here. It’s white linen with a flower print. Its hem covers your knees, and the fine creases are part of the weave from the start, so a few hours in the car won’t leave it looking rumpled. We’d add espadrilles and a straw hat. Once the sun drops, throw a denim jacket over your shoulders.

Prefer a darker ground? The black off shoulder floral dress with small light blue flowers is cut from matte satin, 98% polyester with 2% elastane, and that bit of give lets you move freely at the table or on a dance floor. It isn’t natural silk. There’s also a beige mini and a light blue one, both sewn for dates and parties near the water. Gold jewelry looks good against the beige, especially with a tan.

How to keep a bardot neckline where it belongs

The neckline is the whole point, and it only works when the top sits snug. So choose your size by your bust measurement instead of by habit. Too loose, and the shoulders slide down. All of them come in XS to XL, with the bust for every size given in the product page chart. You’ll want a strapless bra. Skip the necklace too, because small studs or a thin bracelet are plenty beside open shoulders.

This whole page is summer wear, and it reappears on the site once it’s warm. Until then, compare the prints, take your measurements, and look through the rest of our off-shoulder styles or the wider floral dress collection.

Frequently asked questions

Will an off shoulder floral dress slip when I lift my arms?

Not if the size matches your bust. A top that’s cut close stays level, so measure before you order.

Does the linen midi wrinkle in a suitcase?

It’s crinkled linen, so the creases are meant to be there. Unpack it and put it on.

Which of these could I wear to a cocktail party?

The satin mini on black or the light blue one. Add heeled sandals and small hoop earrings, and tie your hair up so your shoulders show. For more evening options, see our summer bardot page.