Has there ever been a fabric more associated with summer than linen?
Perhaps Lycra, I suppose – if you live in a swimming region.
But linen has been the queen of summer dressing for millennia. Linen fibers are highly breathable and have moisture-wicking abilities, and its resulting fabric has anti-static tendencies, shying away from sticking to the skin.
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Between trips, I’m continuing to share reviews of items that have made their way into my wardrobe, and now that we’re heading into the warmest months of the year here in the Northern Hemisphere, it feels prudent to bring you some more linen reviews.
Looking for more honest reviews? Find them all sorted by brand in my Style Reviews Index.
Over the past few years, dresses have become my go-to outfits on days when I don’t have time (or can’t be bothered) to try to fashion together multiple pieces before running out the door. It’s far simpler to throw a dress over my head, grab a pair of simple sandals or sneakers, and go about my day.
So after bringing you reviews of Quince’s linen separates, today I’m sharing reviews from the brand’s popular line of linen dresses: the 100% European Linen Button Front Dress and the 100% European Linen Fit & Flare Midi Dress.
Who’s ready to get dressed (and quickly!)?
A REVIEW OF QUINCE LINEN DRESSES
100% European Linen Button Front Dress
100% European Linen Button Front Dress | Black, Size Small
This is the first linen dress I recall seeing on the Quince website (and given that the URL for this dress is just “linen-dress” it might be the very first!). This short-sleeve dress features a notched collar, nine buttons down the center line, two pockets along the side seams, and a removable tie belt. After months of wearing it, here are my thoughts:
Sizing and Fit | I often sit right on the line between size small (on the top) and medium (on the bottom) in most brands, and after pouring over the reviews, I went with the small in this dress. I think it was the right call – any smaller and it would be too tight in the hips and any larger and my chest and shoulders would be swimming. As you can see, I’m wearing a tank underneath the dress because it’s a little low-cut and my bra shows; I will likely sew in a clear snap at the top of the buttons so it’s not quite so revealing. For reference, my measurements are here.
Quality | Like the Washable Silk Midi Tank Dress (reviewed here), I found the Linen Button Front Dress sheer even in black. But unlike the silk dress, I found this one wearable with a tank and slip shorts underneath. I would love to see Quince double-layer the fabric or at least consider adding a lining to this dress so we don’t have to fret about our undergarments (it would surely make packing easier!). Other than being thin, the linen in this dress is soft on the skin and it is prone to wrinkling.
Styling | This dress gives me “Spritz on the Italian Riviera” vibes and calls for warm weather accessories (sandals, a chic pair of sunglasses, a straw hat, and/or a neck scarf would compliment this dress beautifully), but I’m not opposed to pairing it with some classic sneakers as well. While some dresses can morph from summer to fall through a pair of tights, I’m not quite convinced this dress can. That’s okay – summer will return next year.
My takeaway | Not a soul is going to accuse you of being a trendsetter in this dress, and that’s fine because it’s an absolute classic. My gripes with this dress (the sheerness, in particular) are the same as my frustrations with nearly every other brand these days, so until brands are willing to step up and willing to bring back a focus on opacity, I’ll be over here with my slip shorts.
→also wearing: Sunglasses | Necklace* | Shoes | Bag*
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100% European Linen Fit & Flare Midi Dress
100% European Linen Fit & Flare Midi Dress | Black, Size Small
The fit and flare dress has largely fallen out of favor, but this blogger will never give up the cut entirely. With a fun square neckline and pockets (!), the 100% European Linen Fit & Flare Midi Dress caught my eye one day while scrolling Quince’s new arrivals. I couldn’t help myself – I had to order it and share my thoughts.
Fit | Um, was this dress made for me? The Fit & Flare Midi Dress hits right at my natural waist and flares out gently to my mid-calves. My tall friends will appreciate that the straps are adjustable thanks to interior buttons at the shoulder blade (at 5’4″, I have them on the tightest setting). My tiny note is that the straps slip off my shoulders occasionally, and I will probably end up adding bra keepers to hold them in place. This is so easy to do, by the way. Even if you’re intimidated by sewing, it’s the quickest, most satisfying fix – I swear by this tutorial.
Quality | When this dress hit the site, I was thrilled because the website indicated the Fit & Flare Midi Dress was fully lined. Fast-forward to me opening my package a week or so later only to be disappointed to discover that the dress is only lined from the shoulders to the waist (Quince has since updated the listing to reflect that only the white dress is fully lined). It’s such a shame because the double-linen smocked bodice is so nice to wear.
To make the dress wearable, I toss the brand’s silk skirt underneath. In the photos above, you can clearly see my calves at the bottom of the dress; with this silhouette, I don’t want any light peeking through my thighs (so the slip shorts are a no-go here).
Styling | It’s funny that I wore the same sandals when shooting this and the Linen Button Front Dress (these were shot ten months apart, I should add!). I feel a bit like a ballerina princess in this dress, and I am enjoying leaning into that feeling with more feminine accessories like these cat-eye sunglasses and sweet bow bag and dressing it up even further with heels.
My takeaway | Having a fully lined skirt dangled in front of me like a carrot and then having it taken away felt particularly cruel, but I’m over the moon with the fit. Just like with the Linen Button Front Dress, I do get some wrinkling here, but it doesn’t seem to wrinkle quite as badly. Until they make a fully lined version in a color other than white (I know better than to tempt fate!), I’ll be over here, grumbling about putting on a slip.
→also wearing: cat-eye sunglasses | Necklace* | Earrings | Shoes | Bag*
FINAL THOUGHTS ON QUINCE LINEN DRESSES
Embracing the wrinkles of linen is always going to be a bit of a personal challenge for me, putting aside my perfectionist tendencies to lean into the worn-in look. But when the temperatures go into triple digits, it’s easy to stop caring so much about frivolous things and just try to keep cool.
Quince’s linen is a good value (i.e. bang for your buck), and I’d say it’s pretty comparable to your elevated mall brands like J. Crew and Banana Republic for about half the price. But I won’t deny that in a single layer, it is sheer, which is an issue I’m having across almost all retailers right now, as they push the limits on what consumers will accept. Thankfully, Quince’s generous return policy makes it easy to send back a piece that doesn’t quite hit the mark.
As for Quince’s other linen styles, I’m currently eyeing the 100% European Linen Tank Mini Dress and the 100% European Linen Scoop Neck Midi Dress, which are both fully lined, as well as the 100% European Linen Square Neck Jumpsuit (because I can’t resist a good jumpsuit!). If I end up ordering any of these items, I’ll update this post with my honest review.
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Questions for you
How are you feeling about wearing linen? Do you embrace the wrinkles, or do they bother you?
Have you noticed an uptick in sheer clothing (that typically shouldn’t be sheer?)
*this item is no longer available and a similar is linked
Looking for more? You may also like:
- Sets Appeal: A Review of Almost Every Linen Top and Bottom from Quince
- I Tried Quince for the First Time and I Have a Lot of Thoughts
- Quince 100% Organic Cotton Tiered Maxi Dress Review
- Quince Cashmere, Cotton, and Alpaca Sweater Reviews
- Quince Washable Silk Slip Dress Review
- Quince Washable Stretch Silk Tank Midi Dress Review
- Quince Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater Dress Review
- Quince Italian Wool Double-Breasted Coat Review
- A Review of Accessories from Italic
- Nisolo Go-To Flatform Sandal Review
- Summer-Ready Style from ABLE
- All of My Everlane Reviews
- A Review of the Everyday Chelsea Boot from Nisolo
- Three Ways to Style the Perfect Block Sandal from Sarah Flint
- Shop My Closet
- Style Reviews Index
- Exclusive Discounts + Promo Codes
The post An Honest Review of Linen Dresses from Quince first appeared on wayward.