Summer holiday dresses for warm evenings and dinners out

Satin wraps for dinner after the beach

The white wrap mini is the one we’d pack first. It’s sewn from matte satin, polyester with some elastane, so it’s smooth and gives a little when you move. Long sleeves balance the short hem. You’ll be glad of them at a restaurant where the air conditioning runs cold or the terrace catches a breeze.

With white, stay in pale tones. We’d wear it with beige or silver sandals on a thin strap and pearl earrings, and keep an ivory blazer nearby for when the evening cools.

The same cut comes in emerald. Gold is the metal for that green, so a fine chain inside the V is all it needs. Can’t decide between them? Think about your shoes, because nude pumps or strappy sandals suit the emerald and paler ones suit the white. Either way, tie the wrap so the neckline lies flat and choose the size by your bust.

Black off the shoulder for any month

A summer holiday dress doesn’t have to be pale. Our black off-shoulder style with slits stops at the knee and isn’t tied to a season. In July it goes with thin-strap sandals. Its neckline lies low across both shoulders with your collarbones on show, so leave the necklace at the hotel and wear earrings big enough to notice.

Its long sleeves do the job of a shawl when the dining room is chilly. Put your hair up to keep the neck open, and carry a small bag in black or a metallic. For this one the bust measurement matters most, because it’s what keeps the neckline sitting on your shoulders instead of sliding.

Washing satin on the road and planning ahead

Sooner or later a trip means laundry in a hotel sink. That suits these wraps fine, since cool water and your own hands are what we’d tell you to use at home too. Dry the dress spread out in the shade. A steamer smooths it afterward.

Both wraps also work between seasons under a pale trench, so they don’t go back in the closet when the trip is over.

Our summer styles appear in the catalog with the warm season, so measure and choose ahead of your trip. Each comes in XS to XL. More warm-weather cuts are in all summer dresses, the satin wraps and bare-shoulder styles for summer. If holiday means the December party season to you, those looks are under holiday dresses.

Frequently asked questions

How do I pack a satin summer holiday dress?

Roll it loosely. Once you’ve arrived, steam it or press the wrong side with a warm iron.

Aren’t long sleeves too hot for July?

At midday, probably. These wraps are evening dresses, and the sleeve earns its place once the sun’s down or the room is cooled.

Is this satin a silk fabric?

It isn’t. The fiber is polyester with elastane, and the surface is matte and silky.

Which of these can I wear in both seasons?

The black off-shoulder dress. It takes sandals in summer and ankle boots with thick black tights when it’s cold.