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A linen sundress is perfect for summer vacation, cruises, beach trips, or even long term multi-climate journeys. It’s an all-in-one no-brainer outfit and you can easily take seven dresses for a one-week vacation and be done with your packing.
As a plus, dresses instantly feel like you’re dressing up and will make your pictures look a little more Insta-worthy without much effort! Stay cool on your next vacay with one of these picks!
Comfortable and Cute Linen Dresses
Table Of Contents
TFG Editor wearing Linen Blend Mini Halter Dress from Zara | Sizes XS-L
Linen tends to be expensive and a deal is hard to come by, but this Zara halter dress I picked up in Rome has an awesome price tag. It’s pretty, classic, and would look great in just about any hot weather destination. It’s available in sizes XS-XL.
Zara is my favorite place to buy linen (I stock up every summer) and I wore this dress 90% of the time on my Croatia sailing trip!
Their linen clothing is cost effective and lasts forever; take a look at Zara’s latest linen clothing!
If you want more ideas, we’ve amassed quite a catalog of linen articles to aid your summer capsule wardrobe choices:
- Best Linen Shirts
- Best Linen Skirts
- Best Linen Shorts
- Best Linen Pants
- Best White Linen Pants (for beach vacations)
- Best Linen Clothing Looks
Below you’ll find our favorite linen dresses for women headed on a hot weather trip—they’re practical and stylish, too!
Womens Best Linen Dresses
Shop Sizes XS-XL: Quince 100% European Linen Button Front Dress
Overall Best Linen Dress
This midi linen button front dress is so versatile and cute, the compliments will be rolling in. Made from 100% European flax, which is more sustainable and less resource-intensive to grow. Linen is the ultimate year-round fabric because it’s breathable and naturally heat-regulating.
Beautiful yet easy to wear, this is the perfect type of dress to take with you anywhere you go! Wear it with a pair of comfortable yet stylish sandals for effortless European fashion flair. One user says, “LOVE this dress already. The linen is so light and the olive green color is gorgeous. Super comfy for work or a day out.”
Shop Sizes XXS-3X Classic, Petite & Tall: J Crew Capitaine Linen Shirtdress
Best Plus Size Linen Dress
This dress is absolutely beautiful and is available in sizes XXS-3X, accommodating female travelers of all shapes and sizes. The design is chic and sophisticated, with a flattering midi silhouette!
One happy user shares, “My favorite dress from jcrew dress. Roomy and light fabric. I loved it so much I bought 3 other colors. Perfect for work or dress up for a casual night out. Can wear with or without belt.” Also available in petite and tall sizes!
Looking for the best sandals for travel? Here are comfortable walking sandals that are fashionable, too!
Shop Sizes XS-3X: Lands’ End Linen Sleeveless Midi Dress
Best White Sleeveless Linen Dress
Womens white linen dresses for summer are my absolute favorite thing to wear when it’s hot! Despite the fact that white seems like it stains easily, a wide weave on the fabric will conceal some signs of wear such as dirt. Plus, who doesn’t love a linen dress with pockets!
I even wore a linen white dress to a super dusty and windy summer music festival in Belgium! The weather was a scorcher so I sat down in the grass or dirt ground just to get a reprieve from the heat. The dress held up surprisingly well and the flowy style looked perfect in a festival setting, too. Also available in petite and plus sizes!
Take a look at these packable cute summer dresses for women!
Shop Sizes XS-XL: DKNY V-Neck Linen Maxi Dress
Best Maxi Black Linen Dress
Black may seem like a difficult color to wear in the heat, but it’s all about the fabric! With a wide weave, even dark colors can keep you cool while staying chic—just the thing to pack if you’re wondering what to wear to Paris or Italy in the summer. This black sleeveless linen dress is woven in pure linen and makes a chic canvas for accessorizing.
We have rounded up our favorite travel dresses that will help you pack light and stylishly!
Shop Sizes 00-24: J.Crew Gamine Linen Shirtdress
Best Navy Linen Shirt Dresses
Not a fan of wearing black? A navy blue linen is the perfect alternative! This color is timeless and chic for any part of the globe. A tan leather sandal or cute white sneakers as pictured would be some versatile add-ons for this dress!
One wearer says, “I bought last week at the newly remodeled J Crew in Fort Worth,TX. It’s the perfect piece for casual and dressing up for going into this spring and summer!”
Pair it with stylish dress sandals!
Shop Sizes 2-22: Boden Sky Smocked Linen Midi Dress
Best Short Sleeve Red Linen Dress Styles
For jet setters that prefer vibrant to neutral hues, a cheerful linen red dress is just the answer. Choose light-colored accessories or color block with pink or blue, red is a good color for a Caribbean cruise or for a beach destination.
One user shares, “Very comfortable dress! The elastic is not too tight and well made material. I love it.”
Pack less clothing and more jewelry for beautiful travel outfits!
Shop Sizes XXS-XXL: Anthropologie Linen Square-Neck Midi Dress
Best White Linen Dress Plus Size
We love long white linen dresses for travel because they’re polished enough to take you from day to night and are versatile enough to pack a punch in your wardrobe. They can be used as a beach cover up or you can even wear it on a night out.
One reviewer raves, “I love this dress! It’s quietly elegant and oh so pretty. The fit and length are perfect!” Besides plus sizes 1X-3X, this is also available in regular XXS-XL and petite sizes XXS-XL.
These are the best swimsuit coverups of the season!
Shop Sizes XS-XL: Quince 100% European Linen Smocked Midi Dress
Best Linen Midi Dress
If a long linen dress doesn’t suit your style, a midi length has become popular in recent seasons, especially for women that prefer dresses below the knee or hemlines fit for modest but warm countries.
One reviewer says, “This is such a great spring/summer dress! It’s super cozy and the color is so lovely. The dress is lightweight and the fabric seems really breathable. The quality, like all Quince products, seems really high!”
Use these accessories and hats for a fun and stylish way to update your outfit!
Shop Sizes XXS-3X Classic, Petite & Tall: J.Crew Maxine Button-Back Dress in Linen
Best Mini Linen Dress
Mini shift dresses are a classic option that flatter a wide range of body types. Dress up this style with a pair of comfortable sandals or ballet flats. For a modern and casual look, pair with some feminine slip on sneakers—best worn with narrow or regular shaped shoes.
Available in many colors and sizes regular, tall and petite too!
We’ve got a round up of 20 beautiful summer maxi dresses!
Shop Sizes XS-XL: Michael Stars Eleanor Linen Shirt Dress
Best Linen Dresses With Sleeves
While a sleeveless linen dress is easy to find, sleeved styles can be challenging to shop for. Fortunately, we were able to find a variety of sleeve lengths to feature in this post. There’s something for everyone and a classic shirt dress is perfect for a jet setter!
Find out how to wear a shirt dress on vacation!
Sizes XXS-XXL: Faherty Isha Basketweave Linen Beach Dress
Best Linen Beach Dresses
You can use a stripe or chambray linen dress for beach wear as it can easily double up as a cover up over your bathing suit. Wear it on the sand during the day and throw it on over an underlayer for the evening with a pair of cute and strappy sandals. Finish the look with a stylish sun hat and jewelry!
Here are some more beach dresses you can wear on and off the sand!
Shop Sizes Regular 00-14 Petite: Banana Republic Lina Linen Mini Dress
Best Petite Linen Dresses
Some brands just get that not everyone’s the same height and Banana Republic is one of them. Not only are their linen dresses super cute, but they’re available in a wide range of sizes and lengths, too. Available in petite 00-14 and regular 0-20 sizes!
Check out these flip flops that you can add to your wardrobe!
Shop Sizes Tall XS-XL: J.Crew Tall Bungalow Linen Popover Dress
Best Tall Linen Dresses
This spring and summer-ready style comes with a deeper V-neck that’s perfect for layering, a classic pointed collar and a swingy shift silhouette that’s as comfortable as it versatile. Plus, it’s crafted from breezy, lightweight 100 percent linen fabric that’s guaranteed to keep you looking and feeling cool.
A lovely J.Crew find, this style shown above is available in regular, plus sizes XXS-3X and petite sizes XXS-XL. Pretty, functional, and super comfortable, too!
Make sure to keep everything else neutral so your look is well balanced!
Linen Summer Dresses Comparison Chart
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Thigh Society The Cooling Shorts | Sizes XS-6X
Best Shorts to Wear Under Dresses
If your looking for a shorts to wear under your dresses Thigh Society is a reader favorite! The Cooling anti-chafe shorts from ThighSociety are raved about by TFGers for so many reasons, especially their silky, hi-tech performance fabric. These shorts pull heat and moisture away from the body, keeping things cool, fresh, and chafe-free on even the hottest of days.
They’re tagless, don’t roll or bunch, and are ultra-thin and lightweight yet stretchy and durable as can be. Plus, they come in a wide range of colors and lengths and range in sizes from XS-6X!
How to Pack Linen Dresses
Bundle wrap the clothes and place them into packing cubes for organization. Watch this video to see this packing method in action!
Learn our hacks with packing cubes in the video above!
How to Deal with Wrinkles in Linen Fabric
By bundle wrapping your clothing then folding together into a packing cube, you can avoid wrinkles in both linen and other fabrics. If you’re spending more than one night in your destination, try to hang up your clothes or the next day’s outfits as soon as you get to your accommodation to help loosen creases.
Alternatively, a travel steamer is a guaranteed way to always have perfectly polished clothing when on the go!
Why Linen Is An Awesome Fabric for Travel
In addition to paperweight cotton or rayon, linen is the ideal type of fabric when traveling to hot and humid destinations because it’s breathable, lightweight, and keeps you cool in the heat. Look for 100% linen in addition to blends with cotton or rayon for the best travel picks.
Read these tips on how to choose the best fabrics for travel!
What do you think are the best linen summer dresses for travel? Share and comment below!
For more of our favorite travel dresses, please read:
- These are the Best Vacation Maxi Dresses for Summer
- Cute Summer Dresses for Women Who Travel
- Best Convertible Travel Dresses: Flirty, Feminine, and Functional, Too
- Versatile Dresses: How to Wear One Dress, Many Ways
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I have bought some linen blends and I have found it does not wrinkle so bad. I roll it and then hang it in the bathroom the day before I wear it and it is perfect!
You didn’t mention the washing and IRONING. I wear lots of linen at home in summer where I can care for it easily, but don’t travel with it unless its a short trip and there is no laundering along the way.
Hi Bev, thank you for taking the time to share your insight! I love some of the linen pieces I have from Zara. Maybe I don’t notice the wrinkles but I never iron the pieces ?