Short sleeve dresses from flutter to lantern sleeves

Hot afternoons are when a short sleeve dress earns its keep, covering the top of your arm and leaving the rest to the breeze. We sew most of them for summer in satin, cotton muslin, viscose and linen, and a few velvet and pleated ones carry the same short sleeve into the colder months.

Muslin, linen and a lemon sateen midi for July

Muslin first. It’s a thin cotton, and our pink wrap mini uses two layers of it, so you won’t see through it in bright sun. Its sleeves have little slits and ties. The muslin wrap midi with a flounce at the hem comes in blue and pink, and it’s long enough for an office with a summer dress code. White sandals with the blue, beige ones with the pink.

The white muslin mini printed with hearts has puffed short sleeves. Wear white sneakers and a backpack to meet friends for coffee.

Linen’s for the beach town. It’s light and doesn’t stick to you when the air’s humid. White linen with open shoulders, midi or mini, leather sandals and a straw bag. Once the evening cools off, a denim jacket.

Then there’s the lemon sateen midi for a garden wedding in August or drinks out on a terrace. Flutter sleeves up top, a flared skirt below. The back’s open, and that’s what everyone sees when you walk to the bar, so put your hair up and choose a bra that doesn’t fasten at the back.

The satin ones like a cool hand wash and no tumble dryer. If you love that soft shine, there’s more satin on its own page.

Short sleeves after summer is over

A short sleeve dress in October sounds odd. Pleats and velvet change that. Our black midi in marble velvet has fine pleats that open as you walk, and with a thin black turtleneck underneath it goes to the office. The emerald pleated midi works the same trick for a holiday dinner, with gold earrings and a small black bag.

For a New Year’s party there’s a dark navy velvet gown that reaches the floor, draped, with open shoulders. Heels keep the hem off the ground.

Sizing’s simple on a wrap. The belt takes care of the waist, so measure your bust and pick from that. We cut every short sleeve dress here in five sizes, XS through XL, and a US 6 or 8 usually means our M.