7 Non-Clingy Dresses That Keep You Cool in Summer
Sanibel Boutique · The Style Desk
7 Non-Clingy Dresses That Keep You Cool in Summer
Summer is when the dress earns its place in the closet. One easy piece, on and out the door, cool all day, no fuss. At least that is the idea.
The trouble is most summer dresses let you down by lunchtime. Stiff polyester that turns into a sauna. A cut that clings exactly where you would rather it did not. So you end up back in the same two safe dresses you always wear.
These seven are the ones our customers come back for, summer after summer. Every one is light, breathable and cut to skim rather than cling, and every one has earned its spot the only way that counts, by women buying it, loving it, and ordering it again in a second color. Here they are.
1Kwani, the one with pockets
Kwani | Easy Casual Flow Dress
$69.95 $179.95
If you have ever loved a dress and wished it had pockets, this is the one. It is cut from a soft, breathable cotton in an easy A-line that flows as you move and skims the body instead of pulling tight, so it stays comfortable from a morning with the grandchildren to a long lunch out. The pockets are real and roomy, big enough for your phone and your keys, and the relaxed shape quietly flatters every figure without a single tug. It comes in a generous range of sizes and four easy colors, and it is the kind of dress women buy once, live in all summer, then come straight back for in a second shade. Black and Green are almost gone.
"I bought the Kwani for the pockets and ended up ordering it in three colors. It does not cling, it does not crease, and I have practically lived in it all summer."
— Diane M., 64, Naples FL
"I have three Kwani dresses now, one in every color I could justify. The pockets are deep enough for my phone and my glasses, and it has never once clung or wrinkled on me, even in the heat."
— Eileen R., 66, Estero FL
Soft cotton, real pockets, in a cut that skims every figure.
See Kwani →2Luna, for easy tummy coverage
Luna | Effortless Boho Dress
$61.95 $123.95
This is the dress to reach for on the days you want a little more coverage through the middle. The soft V-neck draws the eye up while the gentle A-line skims straight past the tummy and never clings, so you feel covered and comfortable from morning to evening. Pretty lantern sleeves give your arms an easy, flattering cover with none of the heat, and the artistic geometric prints make it look like you put real thought into getting dressed, even on the mornings you simply pulled it on. Wear it with flat sandals for the garden, or dress it up with a necklace for lunch out. Effortless to wear, and quietly flattering on everyone.
"The Luna is the one I reach for when I want a little more coverage through the middle. The drape skims right past it and the lantern sleeves cover the tops of my arms. I have it in two prints now."
— Sandra B., 69, Venice FL
The gentle drape that floats right past the middle.
See Luna →3Tansy, the coolest on a hot day
Tansy | Trendy and Comfortable Summer Dress
$63.95 $139.95
When the heat is at its worst, this is the one you will live in. It is light, sleeveless and breezy, made to keep the air moving so you stay cool when everything else feels far too warm. The flattering V-neck and clean, elegant cut make it smart enough for lunch out, yet it is just as easy to wear puttering around the house or running errands in the sun. The midi length feels covered and comfortable without ever feeling heavy, and the soft summer shades look lovely against a little color in your cheeks. It is the dress that helps you genuinely beat the heat without giving up on looking put together. The Green is almost sold out.
"Tansy kept me cool on a 90 degree afternoon when everyone else was wilting. Light as anything, and it skims right past the middle."
— Carol S., 71, Sarasota FL
Sleeveless and light, for the hottest afternoons.
See Tansy →4Zora, breathable cotton-linen
Zora | Sable Short-Sleeve Midi Dress
$64.95 $159.95
For the women who fell in love with our linen, here it is in a dress. The soft cotton-linen blend actually breathes, drawing warmth away from the skin so you stay cool and dry through the day, and it only gets softer with every wash. An easy short sleeve gives the arms a gentle cover, the relaxed round neck sits comfortably, and the midi length skims rather than clings. Best of all, it comes in six colors, from soft neutrals to richer shades, so there is a Zora for every closet. Dress it down with flat sandals for the store, or up with a little jewelry for an evening out, it carries both with ease.
"I was nervous ordering online at my age, but the Zora linen is exactly as described and only gets softer. I am already back for a second color."
— Linda H., 66, Tampa FL
Real cotton-linen comfort, in six easy colors.
See Zora →5Lolita, the classic stripe
Lolita | Breezy Striped Dress
$65.95 $159.95
A timeless stripe never dates, and this one is cut to do all the work for you. The gentle A-line flares softly from the shoulder so it skims the figure and never clings, while the light long sleeves give you a touch of arm cover with none of the heat, which is exactly why so many women reach for it again and again. The lightweight woven fabric stays cool and comfortable through a long day, and the classic stripe quietly goes with everything already in your closet. It is the easy, pulled together dress for a cafe brunch, a day of errands, or packing for a trip away, the one you can throw on and know you look right.
A classic stripe that goes with everything you own.
See Lolita →6Rimmey, the showstopper
Rimmey | Beachcomber Boho Dress
$85.95 $139.95
When you want a dress that turns heads, this is it. The flowing, layered skirt moves beautifully as you walk and the deep V lengthens the whole silhouette, while the rich, vibrant boho prints feel like a vacation the moment you slip it on. The lightweight fabric stays cool and comfortable even on a hot afternoon, and the relaxed, graceful cut means you can wear it for hours without a single tug or adjustment. It is the one to pack for the trip, wear to a summer celebration, or throw on for dinner by the water, the dress people stop to ask you about. A little more of a treat, and worth every bit of it.
"I wore the Rimmey to my granddaughter's wedding and felt wonderful all evening, cool and comfortable when I expected to be neither. Two women stopped to ask me where it was from."
— Janet K., 67, Cape Coral FL
Made to move, and made to be noticed.
See Rimmey →7Skyler, the customer favorite
Skyler | Ocean Breeze Summer Dress
$62.95 $149.95
This is the one that started all the reordering. It is soft, airy and beautifully light, with a flowing loose fit that keeps you cool and skims the body instead of clinging, so it feels just as good at the end of the day as it did first thing in the morning. The easy short sleeves and gentle neckline give it that relaxed, put together look with no effort at all, and it comes in five gorgeous colors, from Ocean Blue to Blush Pink, so it is easy to find your shade. Wear it to the beach, to lunch, or to a warm evening out. If you only try one dress from this whole edit, our customers would tell you to make it this one.
"The Skyler is the first dress in years I can wear all day in the heat and still feel put together by dinner. My sister ordered two the week after she saw mine."
— Patricia R., 68, Fort Myers FL
Soft, airy, and the one customers reorder most.
See Skyler →"I am not one to write reviews, but I have ordered four of these dresses now and every one fit beautifully and washed up like new. At my age that is rare, so I keep coming back."
— Gloria P., 70, Port Charlotte FL
The more you buy, the more you save
- Buy 2, save 15%
- Buy 3, save 20%
- Buy 4, save 25%
- Buy 5, save 30%