Dresses for Summer in Europe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What matters most to me personally for walking a lot on a hot day is having good bike type shorts and a sports bra. Then over that a loose linen or cotton dress.

I feel bike shorts under a dress are for those who have an issue with chafing, correct? Or if the dress is very short. Otherwise this sounds completely miserable - for me personally.

+1
Me too. Sounds incredibly hot and sticky.

I mean, I wouldn’t wear literal bicycle shorts, but I find undershorts helpful and appropriate for some situations/dresses, particularly if you’re prone to chafing. These are great:

https://www.thighsociety.com/products/cooling-5-blush

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What matters most to me personally for walking a lot on a hot day is having good bike type shorts and a sports bra. Then over that a loose linen or cotton dress.

Why would you do this to yourself? Nothing about wearing bike shorts and a sports bra for walking around a city is comfortable.

[Anonymous]

1. Surprised no one has mentioned Z Supply - their new resort collection is cute and reasonably priced and would be great for that trip

2. I feel like my mother, but have any of you ladies tried wearing a demi slip in hot weather under a maxi dress? I absolutely swear by them. It is the ideal way to prevent sweat from getting everywhere and easy to wash in a sink. I also exclusively wear maxis for the ick factor of sitting god knows where. But the slip has to be old school and loose, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Vanity-Fair-Womens-White-22/dp/B0006I89W2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?c=ts&keywords=Women%27s+Half+Slips&qid=1706724822&s=apparel&sr=1-1-spons&ts_id=1045016&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

3. Not these exactly but I have an older pair of T strap Vionics that are cute *enough* and wear like absolute iron that even me and my flat feet can trot over cobblestones all day in. I take them on every warm weather trip:

https://www.zappos.com/p/vionic-ella-gold/product/9485199/color/385?utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla_g&utm_campaign=19809367091&utm_term=_o_53241797&utm_content=_g_143774770981_w_pla-2032369878157_l_EAIaIQobChMI7sK8-ZyIhAMVIHNHAR2WggNIEAQYAiABEgK2hfD_BwE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7sK8-ZyIhAMVIHNHAR2WggNIEAQYAiABEgK2hfD_BwE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should buy a couple dresses on your trip. You will find better, more attractive dresses in Europe. Pack light and buy a few things there

+1…this is always part of the fun for me!
Outdoor vendors at markets, cute boutique on a hidden street…lots of fun to pick up wearable souvenirs like this that you can use while still on your vacation.
Plus—added bonus upon return to U.S. of being able to respond “oh I got it at a boutique in [insert name of fabulous town here]!…”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1. Surprised no one has mentioned Z Supply - their new resort collection is cute and reasonably priced and would be great for that trip

2. I feel like my mother, but have any of you ladies tried wearing a demi slip in hot weather under a maxi dress? I absolutely swear by them.r It is the ideal way to prevent sweat from getting everywhere and easy to wash in a sink. I also exclusively wear maxis for the ick factor of sitting god knows where. But the slip has to be old school and loose, like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Vanity-Fair-Womens-White-22/dp/B0006I89W2/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?c=ts&keywords=Women%27s+Half+Slips&qid=1706724822&s=apparel&sr=1-1-spons&ts_id=1045016&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

3. Not these exactly but I have an older pair of T strap Vionics that are cute *enough* and wear like absolute iron that even me and my flat feet can trot over cobblestones all day in. I take them on every warm weather trip:

https://www.zappos.com/p/vionic-ella-gold/product/9485199/color/385?utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla_g&utm_campaign=19809367091&utm_term=_o_53241797&utm_content=_g_143774770981_w_pla-2032369878157_l_EAIaIQobChMI7sK8-ZyIhAMVIHNHAR2WggNIEAQYAiABEgK2hfD_BwE&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7sK8-ZyIhAMVIHNHAR2WggNIEAQYAiABEgK2hfD_BwE

What a fun throwback!
Seriously I lived in these from about age 12-22!
Once upon a time, we never ever would have dreamt of leaving the house wearing a dress without a slip!!! Someone might SEE your legs THROUGH the skirt/dress!! The horror!
Also it prevented clinging to the pantyhose, which were also 100% required until about 1994…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What matters most to me personally for walking a lot on a hot day is having good bike type shorts and a sports bra. Then over that a loose linen or cotton dress.

I feel bike shorts under a dress are for those who have an issue with chafing, correct? Or if the dress is very short. Otherwise this sounds completely miserable - for me personally.

+1
Me too. Sounds incredibly hot and sticky.

I mean, I wouldn’t wear literal bicycle shorts, but I find undershorts helpful and appropriate for some situations/dresses, particularly if you’re prone to chafing. These are great:

https://www.thighsociety.com/products/cooling-5-blush

OP here - chafing is not an issue for me

[Anonymous]

Seriously, linen is your friend in hot Mediterranean climate. I took a very small spray bottle and it was sufficient for keeping things neat.
Fashion sneakers are needed for all day walking on Cobblestones. Those straped sandals with cork in the sole would also be good.

[Anonymous]

These are some cute easy dresses in cotton

https://www.marinelayer.com/collections/gals-dresses/products/selene-smocked-maxi-dress-1?variant=40562332467274
https://www.marinelayer.com/products/valencia-wrap-dress-black?variant=40182318137418&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NB-Shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=476100743686&gclid=CjwKCAiA_OetBhAtEiwAPTeQZ2oMfoeen9OvQZ3zNXMfxdTNAH-GDJJZdRGDE8HJ4r_W5_oz_sZhnxoCvW8QAvD_BwE

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should buy a couple dresses on your trip. You will find better, more attractive dresses in Europe. Pack light and buy a few things there

+1…this is always part of the fun for me!
Outdoor vendors at markets, cute boutique on a hidden street…lots of fun to pick up wearable souvenirs like this that you can use while still on your vacation.
Plus—added bonus upon return to U.S. of being able to respond “oh I got it at a boutique in [insert name of fabulous town here]!…”

+2 no matter how much I pack I always end up desiring the clothes I see while traveling. I stocked up on linen dresses and pants while in Italy.

[Anonymous]

Linen was very popular when I was on the Mediterranean coast last year. Shirts in addition to dresses.

[Anonymous]

We were in Rome last summer right before the major heat wave, although it hit 100 on one of our days there. I wore mostly linen/linen-blend dresses, linen pants, and light colored cotton/gauzy tops. Splendid, Faherty, and Jcrew were my go-to’s, and I basically lived in Birkenstocks the whole time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These are some cute easy dresses in cotton

https://www.marinelayer.com/collections/gals-dresses/products/selene-smocked-maxi-dress-1?variant=40562332467274
https://www.marinelayer.com/products/valencia-wrap-dress-black?variant=40182318137418&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NB-Shopping&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_campaign=&utm_content=476100743686&gclid=CjwKCAiA_OetBhAtEiwAPTeQZ2oMfoeen9OvQZ3zNXMfxdTNAH-GDJJZdRGDE8HJ4r_W5_oz_sZhnxoCvW8QAvD_BwE

Oh thank you! these are cute, and there's a Marine Layer store near where I live!

[Anonymous]

My favorite linen shirt because it's soft and oversized is this Eileen Fisher one in white
https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/eileen-fisher-classic-collar-shirt?ID=4624305&pla_country=US

I have the Garnet Hill linen tunic but it's stiffer, not as soft and shrunk a lot even after a cold water wash.

Everyone wears sneakers and shorts now in Europe - I went to Greece and Italy last summer and only wore sandals to the beach.

I also tied a longish lightweight scarf to my purse when we were out all day, to use as a wrap while indoors at a chilly restaurant or inside a church.

[Anonymous]

Sezane will have summer dresses when it's closer to summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What matters most to me personally for walking a lot on a hot day is having good bike type shorts and a sports bra. Then over that a loose linen or cotton dress.

I feel bike shorts under a dress are for those who have an issue with chafing, correct? Or if the dress is very short. Otherwise this sounds completely miserable - for me personally.

+1
Me too. Sounds incredibly hot and sticky.

I mean, I wouldn’t wear literal bicycle shorts, but I find undershorts helpful and appropriate for some situations/dresses, particularly if you’re prone to chafing. These are great:

https://www.thighsociety.com/products/cooling-5-blush

I started wearing shorts like this under dresses last summer and I'm a convert. I don't have a chaffing issue, but I get so hot and sweaty in the summer and I liked having that light layer underneath, especially while traveling. One extra benefit is that I liked having the extra layer when I rose public transportation, especially when wearing a dress made from a very thin fabric or something shorter. I just liked not having the plane or metro seat in contact with my skin.

But yes, you need something ultra thin made out of a slip fabric so as not to add bulk or make you sweat more. You could also just do a regular slip, but I like the shorts because (sorry for the TMI) they absorb more of the crotch sweat on very humid days. I just felt more secure and comfy.