Garden Party

Nineteen dresses for daytime events outdoors: garden parties, christenings, the races and summer lunches. Between £25 and £145, sized XS to XXXL.

Free UK delivery on every order, no minimum spend, and free 14-day returns.

Dressing for grass

Daytime outdoor events have one constraint everybody forgets until they arrive: the ground. A floor-length hem and a thin heel do not survive a lawn, and neither does the wearer.

That is why ten of these nineteen are midi rather than maxi. A garden party dress at or below the knee clears wet grass, gravel and uneven ground, and it still reads formal enough for an invitation. Pair it with a block heel or a smart flat, not a stiletto.

The second constraint is British weather. Bring a layer — a longline waistcoat or blazer over a floral midi is the outfit that copes with a marquee that turns cold at six.

The races, and actual dress codes

If you are going to Ascot, Goodwood or Cheltenham, check the enclosure before you order rather than after. The stricter enclosures require a hem on or below the knee and shoulder straps of a minimum width — usually one inch. Strapless, spaghetti straps and mini lengths are refused entry in the Royal Enclosure, and being turned away at the gate in a dress you love is a bad day.

Our midi styles with a proper strap clear both rules. If you are unsure about a specific dress, the measurements are on the size guide.

What we carry

Nine are floral, which is the natural language of a daytime summer event. Six are A-line, the most forgiving cut and the easiest to wear standing for hours. Four are chiffon and four are boho prints.

Colour runs blue first at six, then yellow, green, pink and white. Fifteen are cut as day dresses and fifteen work as holiday pieces, so nothing here is a single-occasion purchase.

Sizing

This edit runs XS to XXXL — sixteen of the nineteen go to XL and eight to XXL, the deepest size run outside the holiday shop. Full measurements in centimetres are on the size guide.

Our dresses are true to size. Between two sizes, take the larger in chiffon and woven cotton, and your usual size in anything with stretch. For an A-line, order to your bust.

Delivery and returns

UK delivery is free on every order with no minimum spend, and takes around seven working days. Returns are free within 14 days with a prepaid label in the box. For an event, give yourself three weeks so an exchange is never a problem.

Where to look next

By print: floral dresses. By length: midi dresses. By occasion: wedding guest for summer weddings, The Holiday Shop for travel.