Sundresses for Women
A sundress is the least complicated thing you can own: one piece, no layering, nothing to arrange. What separates a good one from a cheap one is entirely fabric and cut — whether it holds a shape in heat or collapses against you by two in the afternoon. These are 115 pieces, $68 to $398, in prints I draw myself.
On sale right now
Three floral cotton wraps, reduced and not coming back at these prices:
- Poppy Wrap Dress — $199, was $358
- Freesia Floral Cotton Wrap — $225, was $378
- Azalea Wrap Dress — $235, was $358
A wrap is the most size-forgiving sundress there is, because you set the waist yourself rather than hoping the cut matches you.
The cotton poplin sundresses
These are the ones I would point a first-time buyer at. Square neck, fit-and-flare skirt, 100% cotton poplin — structured enough to stand away from the body instead of clinging, which is the whole trick in heat. Gatsby comes in four colourways and holds 81 units ($298; orange $358), and the single-colour versions are yellow, pink and black at $298 each. Together they are the deepest stock in my catalogue, so your size is almost certainly there.
Who What Wear makes the case for the fabric better than I can — their editors call cotton poplin a true summer wardrobe staple, and note in their cotton dress edit that cotton is the low-maintenance alternative to linen because it does not crease the same way.
What actually makes a sundress work in heat
Structure beats softness. The instinct is to buy the floatiest thing on the rail. But a fabric with some body holds itself away from your skin and lets air move through the gap; a thin drapey one sits on you. Poplin, cotton linen and viscose linen all do this. Thin jersey does not.
Check the lining. A fully lined sundress is two layers in 95°F. Mine are unlined or lightly lined wherever the fabric allows it.
Strap width decides what you can wear underneath. A spaghetti strap commits you to a strapless bra all day. A square neck with a wider strap, or a wrap, does not — which is why the poplin maxis get worn more than anything else here.
Print over solid, for a reason that is not aesthetic. Sunscreen marks and sweat both show on a dark solid and disappear into a multicolour print. This is the practical argument for a printed sundress and almost nobody makes it.
A sundress is a winter purchase if you travel
The mistake is treating this as a May-to-August category. If you are going somewhere warm in January — a cruise, Mexico, the Caribbean, a resort — you are shopping for sundresses in the dead of winter, when the high street has nothing but knitwear and the selection online is picked over.
That is the argument for buying out of season. The full size range is here now; in April it will not be. See vacation dresses, cruise dresses, resort wear and Cabo and Mexico, and my resort wear packing guide works through how two sundresses cover most of a trip.
Sundresses past 40
The thing that changes is not what suits you, it is what you want to think about while you are wearing it. A sundress that needs a strapless bra, or that you have to keep pulling down, is a dress you will not reach for twice. The ones that get worn are the ones with a defined waist, a strap you can wear a normal bra under, and a length you are not managing — which is most of what is on this page.
I have written this out properly in the best sundresses for women over 40, which is the most-read thing I have published on the subject.
Dressing a sundress up
For a daytime or garden wedding, a cotton maxi sundress in a print is one of the most comfortable correct answers there is — add a heeled sandal and a proper earring and it reads as a dress, not a day dress. See summer wedding guest dresses and my guide to what to wear at a summer wedding. Never white as a guest.
For everything else, Who What Wear's throw-on cotton dress edit is a good survey of how the shape is being styled this year — flat sandals or clogs by day, a strappy heel and a bold necklace at night.
Sizing
Sizes run XS (US 00–0) to 3XL (US 22–24), and availability varies by style because each print is a short run — the cotton poplin maxis currently have the fullest range. The size selector on each product page shows what is in stock, and the price shown there is what you pay at checkout.
Wraps and fit-and-flare cuts are the most forgiving if you are between sizes; go by your bust. Our models are 5'8"–5'9", so a maxi photographed brushing the floor will pool on a 5'4" frame. Check the size chart, and any style can be made to your measurements for $50 to $100 above retail, length included. For what has 1X to 3X now, see plus size dresses.
Cottons and linens: machine wash cold, hang dry, press on the reverse. Free US shipping on orders over $250. Afterpay available. Ships from Scottsdale, Arizona.
Where to go next
By length: maxi · midi · mini
By shape: wrap dresses · shirt dresses · kaftans
By print: print dresses · floral · striped · colour block
Nearby: summer dresses · casual day dresses · beach dresses · new arrivals
Sundress questions
What is a sundress?
A lightweight warm-weather dress designed to be worn on its own, with no layering. Traditionally sleeveless or strappy in a breathable fabric like cotton, linen or voile, with a relaxed or fit-and-flare shape. The defining quality is ease rather than any one silhouette.
What fabric is best for a sundress?
Cotton poplin first, then cotton linen and viscose linen. All three have enough body to stand away from the skin, which is what actually keeps you cool. Cotton also creases less than pure linen, so it survives a suitcase. Avoid thin polyester jersey, which clings and holds heat.
Can you wear a sundress to a wedding?
To a daytime, garden, beach or destination wedding, yes. Choose a maxi or midi in a real fabric and an artisan print rather than a casual mini, and dress it with a heeled sandal and jewellery. Never white or ivory as a guest.
What bra do you wear under a sundress?
Buy the dress around the bra, not the other way round. A square neck or a wider strap takes a normal bra; a spaghetti strap or a bandeau commits you to strapless for the day. If you want one sundress you will actually wear, choose the wider strap.
Are sundresses flattering over 40?
Yes, with a defined waist. A wrap or a fit-and-flare sets the shape at the narrowest point and skims everything below it, which is more comfortable and more flattering than a straight cut. What stops a sundress being worn is usually fuss, not shape — anything you have to keep adjusting gets left in the wardrobe.
When should I buy a sundress?
Out of season, if you travel. The full size range is available in autumn and winter; by late spring the popular sizes in short-run prints have gone. If you have a warm-weather trip booked for January, shop in November.
Do sundresses come in plus sizes?
The label runs XS to 3XL and prints are not restricted by size. Stock depth varies by style because each print is a short run — the cotton poplin maxis currently carry the fullest range, and the plus size edit lists what is available now.
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Testimonials
★★★★★Gorgeous and Flattering
I recently wore this to a friends outdoor wedding and it was absolutely stunning! The fit was perfect the colour divine and I love the asymmetry. There are many accent colours to pair with these piece which makes accessorizing creative. I received many compliments thank you Sandhya! <3
Nina![]()
Austin, Texas
★★★★★Over the Moon
When I opened my package; I could not believe the huge smile that came on
my face. Not only was it beautiful, the quality was outstanding. I will be wearing many more designs by Sandhya Garg.Reba Aylward![Summer top for woman]()
New Bern, NC
