There is something about long days and high temperatures that brings out the romantic in all of us. Even the most utilitarian dresser can’t help but be swayed by the sight of a on gossamer-thin fabric. The US label Dôen has come to own this aesthetic, with cotton dresses and lace blouses that look as though they were discovered in a trunk in your granny’s attic, but are miraculously moth-hole-free.
Before you dismiss this as cottagecore 2.0, it is no passing trend. Romantic is more timeless, less studied, and far less twee.
It’s about how a garment makes you feel, says Blaire Donald, the founder of British label St Clair. She’s paid particular attention to , cut and the way her dresses move on the body for that reason: ‘All my dresses are made from the softest organic cotton, so they feel light and floaty and soft against the skin, but they are lined, so don’t require an ill-fitting slip.’ As you may remember from the cottagecore-heavy summer of 2020, there’s a fine line between sultry and frumpy.
The key to getting it right is an injection of sex appeal – and it’s why one of Donald’s favourite designs is her ruffle-collared Rita dress: ‘With a skirt buttoned through to a “kissing split” that parts above the knee as you walk, and a waist tie that you can cinch in, she’s light as air, elegant and slightly flirty.’ Sienna Miller is a great poster woman for summer-romance style, particularly in her Chloé era. She proves that you can get the lo.