a staple of a good summer wardrobe, shop this edit of linen dresses, from high street saviours to Irish makers and designer investments …
It would be remiss to write about linen dresses without dropping a pin on our indigenous brands which keep the traditions of manufacturing Irish linen alive and also make dresses that are ultra-desirable, with their roots firmly in the now. See newcomer Aoife McNamara whose linen pieces have online currency and millennial zing, Jennifer Slattery who makes her pieces at her studio on Dublin’s Benburb Street, and the Limerick-headquartered 31 Chapel Lane whose thoughtful creations would live excellently in your wardrobe for years. Elsewhere, Massimo Dutti will see you right for a linen dress in a neutral colour that punches above its weight, looking more mid-range than high street. Equally, Marks & Spencers’ square-neck midi-dress, below, has a designer leaning with a €60 price tag. At the investment end of the scale Italian heritage brand – and pin-up of the quiet luxury movement – Loro Piana’s linen dress boasts an archival striped pattern and gathers gently at the waist for a flattering fit.
Main image (left to right): Margretta dress in Irish linen, €630; www.31chapellane.com, a linen colour-block dress by Reiss at Brown Thomas; Jennifer Slattery’s Rita pinafore dress.
Pure linen halter-neck dress, €79.95, at Massimo Dutti.
Square neck violet linen dress, €425, at Aoife McNamara.
Linen cross-back dress, €22.99, at Mango.
Linen colour block midi-dress, Reiss, €164, at Brown Thomas.
Linen blend square-neck midi-dress, M&S Collection, €60, at M&S.
Rita dress in gingham, €290, at Jennifer Stattery.
Lantern sleeve dress, €292.64; www. the-sleeper.com.
Henrietta striped linen dress, Loro Piana, €2,500; www.net-a-porter.com.
Tagliatelle linen dress, €348; www.thereformation.com.
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