Midi dresses have become a firm favourite amongst Australian women. Of all the women’s dresses, midi dresses are possibly the most practical option, given they are a modest length, so suit a range of occasions and settings, and they are very flattering and easy to wear, which is important in our varied climate.
When it comes to choosing the best fabrics for midi dresses, obviously we’ll be opting for fabrics, colours and designs that best fit the current season. We also need to consider occasion, as some fabrics work best in casual settings, and others are more suitable for evening wear.
Let’s look at what are the best fabrics to choose when you buy a midi dress. We’ll start with looking at which midi dress fabrics are best suited to each season.
Best Midi Dress Fabrics for Spring and Summer
Obviously in spring and summer it gets warm to hot, so we’re going to want midi dresses in fabrics that are breathable and lightweight. Linen, cotton, and viscose are great options, as they are all plant-derived fabrics, they feel light to wear, and are highly breathable. They also wick moisture away from the body, which means that, rather than feeling clammy in your clothes, your perspiration is drawn away from your body and is able to dry up quickly.
How these fabrics feel:
- Linen can feel a little stiff at first, but the more you wear it, the more it softens.
- Cotton can feel quite smooth and soft, and feels light to wear.
- Viscose is super light, and has a flowy feel, so it drapes really well.
These fabrics are relatively easy to sew, so a number of shapely designs are available, which flatter your figure. Some spring and summer midi dress styles feature cinched-in, shirred elastic waistbands or waist ties, which draw attention to your waist and accentuate your silhouette, without the need for synthetics in the fabric to provide stretch.
These spring/summer midi dresses often have a panel at the hem that creates something of a flared shape, and brings a flowy movement to the dress.
Look out also for spring/summer midi dresses with lace trim on the waist, hem, collar or sleeves, or lace overlays on the dress.
Spring/summer midi dresses come in a range of practical sleeve lengths, including sleeveless, cap sleeve, and puff sleeve dresses, which all enable you to keep your underarms cool during the hot weather.
Fabric colours and prints
linen, cotton and viscose are all capable of being dyed in a range of vibrant colours, and in unique designs. Viscose dresses, in particular, come in a wide variety of prints, with floral, boho and abstract prints being very popular.
Caring for spring/summer midi dress fabrics
It’s always important to follow care instructions when washing and drying linen, cotton and viscose, as they can all shrink if washed and dried the wrong way. You just need to take a little bit of care when cleaning your spring/summer midi dresses, but it’s well worth the effort.
Best Midi Dress Fabrics for Autumn and Winter
In autumn and winter, we don’t need to worry so much about finding lightweight and breathable fabrics, as it’s less likely to be hot. While cotton, linen and viscose can still be worn in the colder seasons (with the right layering), synthetic fabrics come to the fore, with polyester being a go-to fabric for midi dresses.
Synthetic fabric midi dresses often have a unique sheen that you don’t get with more rustic fabrics like linen and cotton. This means these synthetic fabrics look right at home in a range of stylish winter ensembles, especially when paired with vegan leather jackets.
Polyester
The benefits of polyester dresses is that there’s a wide range of prints and colours available. Also, polyester can feel very smooth and soft to wear, so they make for great everyday dresses. Add to that, polyester midi dresses are easy to care for, as polyester clothes can be washed and dried easily and quickly, and are resistant to shrinkage.
Acrylic
Acrylic is often used as an alternative to wool. It is soft, warm, and resistant to wrinkles. This makes it a great fabric ingredient in cold weather midi dresses. On the downside, acrylic dresses are prone to pilling, so you might need to keep that fabric shaver on hand!
Nylon
Nylon adds stretch to a garment, and is strong. It’s commonly used as an ingredient in autumn/winter dresses.
Synthetic blends
You’ll come across a lot of autumn/winter midi dresses made from a blend of synthetic fibres, including acrylic, nylon and polyester. Mixing these fabrics can mean you get a combination of all their good qualities in the one dress.
Note that synthetic fabrics tend to be a lot less breathable than plant-derived fabrics. They can also hold onto odours, so you might find you need to wash them more often. Thankfully, they are forgiving when washed and dried in machines, as long as you use low-temperature settings.
Evening Midi Dress Fabrics For Any Season
When it comes to evening wear, you want something that looks a little more luxurious than the fabrics you might wear during the day. Generally speaking, linen and cotton are out, and more sumptuous synthetic fabrics are in.
For an evening midi dress, look for fabrics with a satin finish, lace segments or overlays, or else ethereal, sheer layers. Also consider dense, stretchy knit dresses that accentuate the silhouette and can be paired with handsome winter jackets and coats.
Also consider midi dresses in sequin fabrics, or fabrics that include metallic thread, as these will bring a glamourous vibe to your outfit.
Though we said above that linen and cotton will be unlikely choices for evening wear, if you happen to be out at a beachside bar on a hot night during daylight savings, of course those fabrics will be an option! There’s nothing quite like a simple white, black or red linen midi dress, dressed up with the right heels and accessories in summer. You can look very sophisticated, whilst keeping it simple.
Midi Dresses at Femme Connection
Femme can fit you out with not only midi dresses, but a wide range of outerwear so that you look dazzling at all times of year. We also stock gorgeous short dresses and maxi dresses, in a range of styles, fabrics, prints and colours. Our floral dresses and boho dresses are particularly beloved.
And for all other women’s clothes, you’ll find what you need in our collections, and likely in a size that’s just right for you!