I must admit, I have recently found my way back to summer dresses. After years (perhaps almost ten, if I count properly) of quietly believing they were not really “for me,” I wore one again last week. Not on holiday, not for a special occasion, but simply for a very warm day in Amsterdam. It was a dress I had bought from Sézane and then left hanging in my wardrobe, telling myself I would wear it one day, perhaps on vacation. We all have pieces like that, I think: clothes that are technically ours, but that we keep for an imagined version of our life.
And then, suddenly, the weather was hot, the dress was there, and I put it on. It may sound like a very small thing, but it made me think about all the little rules we create around ourselves: what suits us, what feels “too feminine,” what is “not our style,” what we think our body can or cannot wear. Sometimes, what we call personal style is not only taste. It is also memory, habit, and a few old ideas we have carried for far too long.
For a long time, I think I had placed summer dresses in that category. Too romantic, perhaps. Too soft. Not quite right for my figure. Not quite “me.” And yet, when I finally wore one again, it did not feel like a disguise. It felt light, simple, and strangely liberating. This week’s private Edit continues that reflection more deeply: the clothes we believe are not for us, the rules we inherit, and what happens when we begin to dress for the woman we are now. But for today, I wanted to return to something more immediate and joyful: the summer dress itself.
Because after wearing that dress, I found myself looking for others. Not in a frantic way, but with curiosity. What kind of dress would I genuinely want to wear now? What feels beautiful without feeling precious? Feminine without feeling forced? Elegant, but still easy enough for real summer days?
So I gathered the dresses that caught my eye this season. Consider this a personal edit, a small wishlist of summer dresses I would truly wear now, chosen with my French eye, but also with a little more freedom than before. I hope you find something here that feels like you. Or perhaps something that gently reminds you of a version of yourself you had left aside for a little while.
How I Choose a Summer Dress
When I choose a summer dress, I look first for ease. Not something shapeless or careless, but a dress that feels natural from the moment I put it on. In summer, I do not want a piece that requires too much thought, too many adjustments, or a whole strategy around it. I want a dress that can be worn simply, with flat sandals, a basket bag, a little jewellery, and still feel considered. This season, I find myself drawn to dresses with texture, movement, and softness, pieces that bring a little beauty to the day without feeling too precious.
I always love linen in summer, especially in warm, sun-washed tones: sand, olive, terracotta, soft yellow, tobacco brown. These colours feel summery without being loud, and linen has that lived-in quality I love. It never looks too perfect, which is precisely why it works. White dresses are another summer weakness of mine. I prefer them when they have either a beautiful cut or a little texture: cotton, embroidery, broderie anglaise, a clean neckline, or a slightly structured shape. The best white dresses feel luminous, but still easy to wear.
I am also very drawn to black summer dresses, particularly when they are loose, light, and simple. Black can feel surprisingly fresh in warm weather when the fabric is breathable and the silhouette has ease. It is the kind of dress I would wear in the city when I want to feel put together without thinking too much about colour. This year, I am looking at softer shades too: pale pink, powder blue, butter yellow, warm blush. I like these colours best when the shape remains simple, so the dress feels delicate rather than sweet.
And finally, I have been drawn to a few printed or more bohemian dresses: blue-and-white motifs, soft florals, long fluid silhouettes, a sleeve with movement, a neckline that feels relaxed rather than dramatic. These are the dresses that bring a little fantasy into summer, but I prefer them worn in a very simple way.
In the end, I think a good summer dress should do three things: feel easy on the body, bring a little beauty to an ordinary day, and still leave room for the woman wearing it. The 20 dresses below are the ones that caught my eye this season, pieces I would genuinely consider for my own wardrobe, and a few I may very well make room for. I hope you find one here that feels not only beautiful, but possible.
This article is unsponsored. If you choose to buy something through my links, I may earn a small commission, always at no extra cost to you. I only share products I genuinely love and use myself. Merci.
I love your blog, and want to know more about the lovely off shoulder white dress with polkadots at the beginning of this article.. where can we find it?
thank you!
Thank you so much, Tracy! I’m so glad you enjoy the blog. The piece you noticed at the beginning of the article is “The Rita” long polka-dot dress by Jacquemus.
I think the dresses are lovely. However I wear petite clothing and I am only 5’ 2”- so most of these dresses would totally overwhelm my small frame. Plus I’m 72 years old and don’t wear short styles. Any suggestions? I really enjoy your blog.
Thank you so much, Rosie! I completely understand your dilemma. When you have a smaller frame, finding the right proportions is key to not feeling lost in fabric. My best suggestion would be to look for midi-length dresses (hitting right at the mid-calf) with a well-defined waist. An A-line midi dress won’t overwhelm a 5’2” height the way a long maxi dress might, and it offers beautiful, sophisticated coverage without being short. Brands like Sézane often have wonderful midi options that look incredibly chic at any age.
You are absolutely marvelous…spot on with your beautiful style
Thank you so much, Elizabeth! I am so happy that my style selections resonate with you. Wishing you a wonderful and very chic summer ahead!
Great recommendations in this column, I just ordered the Tuckernuck dress, and am waitlisted for the Massimo Dutti bag. I had not seen either anywhere else, so thank you!
Thank you so much, Claudia! I’m so glad you enjoyed the recommendations! I love knowing you discovered pieces you hadn’t seen elsewhere, that’s exactly what I hope to offer. I hope you’ll love them once they arrive 🙂
How about a few dresses that cover somewhat the arms? Je suis une femme d’un certaine age! Merci!!
Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment, Daniella! I completely understand—and I’ve included a few options that offer more arm coverage, like the shirt dress, the kaftan, and the Courtney dress from Tuckernuck. I hope one of them speaks to you :)!
I absolutely love your blog and follow it intensely. I am from Los Angeles but grew up in France and a full on francophone. I also work in the tech industry and agree with you that dresses don’t feel appropriate for the most part, and are better reserved for summer vacations on European beaches 🙂
Thank you so much, Marianne! It is so lovely to connect with a fellow francophone. I used to do exactly the same thing! For a long time, I reserved my summer dresses strictly for beach vacations. But lately, I’ve changed my mind; now, I love wearing them for weekend strolls in the city, and even during the week the moment the weather in Amsterdam allows it! xo
Hi! I’m from the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium (the southern neighbours of the Netherlands). And yes we do have a word for heatwave, it’s quit literally translated to ‘hittegolf’. But probably the criteria for a heatwave in Belgium/the Netherlands are quite different from the south of France. It’s called a heatwave when we have 25 degrees or more for 5 days in a row or 30 degrees or more for 3 days in a row. We don’t have them a lot, maybe once a year.
Thank you so much for your comment, Annelien—so good to know! 🙂 I’m adding hittegolf to my Dutch vocabulary. I’ve been trying to learn Dutch on my own and am currently waiting for a new course slot to open at the Alliance Française in Amsterdam. In France, a canicule usually refers to temperatures over 30–35°C (depending on the region), along with heat that stays above 20°C at night and lasts for several days in a row. In any case, I don’t know if it’s the same for you, but the weather here in the Netherlands has been absolutely incredible lately! ☀️ xo
I am an expat American living in the south of France and your observations about the French wardrobe and style are exactly on the mark. Very lovely and readable blog thank you.
Bonjour Judith! Merci beaucoup for your feedback 🙂 xo
I just love your topics! I always look forward to your newsletters! Thank you
Merci Teresa for following and for your support <3
Love your site. As far as fashion goes but l am old and lived in France in the early 70s
I became enamored by country dresses , button down the front in cotton small prints Provence prints. Does anyone e even make them anymore? You have excellent taste. ⚘
Thank you so much, Jeanne Marie! What a beautiful memory, living in France in the early 70s must have been absolutely magical. To answer your question: yes, they absolutely still make them! For the most authentic Provençal prints, traditional French heritage houses like Souleiado and Les Olivades are still wonderful keepers of that style. You can also find beautiful, modern interpretations of those vintage cotton button-down country dresses from contemporary French brands like Sézane or Rouje during the summer.
Wonderful post! Love the dresses!
Merci beaucoup Elizabeth 🙂
I wore my share of the v neck flowing dresses and blouses in the day. But at my age with sagging arms I wear 3/4 length everything. I’m tall and slim but not toned unfortunately because I’m too lazy to work out…..
Thank you for sharing, Nancy! I love your honesty, and please, do not feel guilty about skipping the workouts; life is far too short and summer is meant for relaxing! 🙂
Love these dresses! Thank you. Would be good to know where to buy the ones in the photos…
Love this article! So chic!
Thank you Amanda <3
Great post! What about dresses to wear to weddings and formal occasions in the summer? xx
Thank you <3 I will add some suggestions for those formal and special occasions 🙂