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Layering note

Unlined. Opaque on the rig, but in the palest colourway a strongly contrasting undergarment will read through in direct sun.

Cotton Shift Dress, photographed in ordinary diffused daylight.

Photographed in diffused daylight against a plain ground.

Everyday Warm

Cotton Shift Dress

$79 USD

A straight shift with no waist seam, cut with 14 cm of ease through the body.

Light and lining

Opaque
Under our backlight rig, the outline of the form behind the fabric is not readable.
Unlined
There is no second layer anywhere in this piece.

The backlit photograph above was taken on our fixed rig. The rig conditions are published. We do not claim any piece blocks light completely.

Where the hem lands when you sit

Just above the knee standing; seated, the hem rises to about 9 cm above the knee.

Measured seated: 9 cm above the knee at the base size. How this is measured.

In moving air

Moderate — the hem moves in air but returns quickly. A common choice for part-outdoor events.

This is a description of how the cloth behaves, not a promise about the weather.

Size
Colourway

Colour on a screen is never the colour in a room. See how we photograph colour before ordering a pale or a saturated shade.

This piece is sheer or unlined. Your bag will remind you to look at the layering note before checkout.

Price shown in US Dollars (USD). Free standard shipping within the United States on orders over $150 USD.

Orders leave our warehouse within 1–2 business days; standard US delivery takes a further 3–7 business days.

30-day returns on unworn pieces with tags attached. Pieces that have been worn, or that carry make-up marks or fragrance, cannot be accepted. Full return conditions · Shipping and delivery

This is a one-time purchase. There is no membership, no monthly plan and no rental option.

The label

Fibre content
100% Cotton
Care
Machine wash warm, tumble dry low, warm iron.
Country of origin
Made in Sri Lanka
Machine washable
Yes — see the care line above for the cycle.
Fabric weight
160 g/m²

Fibre content, care instructions and country of origin are printed on the sewn-in label of every piece and repeated here. A piece missing any of these three is not listed on this website.

What this fabric does

  • Unlined and pale. In the Chalk Cream colourway a dark undergarment reads as a shadow in direct sun.
  • Shrinks about 2% in length on the first hot wash. Wash cold if that matters.
Fabric and care in full

Why it is made this way

A shift has nowhere to hide construction, so this one is four panels, two darts and a bound neckline. The ease through the body is 14 cm at the base size, which is what keeps it off the skin at 32°C.

It is the simplest dress we sell and the one people buy twice.

Measured, not estimated

Every number below is taken from the finished garment laid flat and doubled, in centimetres and inches. Tolerance is ±1 cm. How each measurement is taken.

Measured size table for Cotton Shift Dress, in centimetres and inches
SizeBustWaistHipLengthShoulder
US 085 / 33.5″83 / 32.7″89 / 35″89.6 / 35.3″35.5 / 14″
US 290 / 35.4″88 / 34.6″94 / 37″90.4 / 35.6″36 / 14.2″
US 495 / 37.4″93 / 36.6″99 / 39″91.2 / 35.9″36.5 / 14.4″
US 6100 / 39.4″98 / 38.6″104 / 40.9″92 / 36.2″37 / 14.6″
US 8105 / 41.3″103 / 40.6″109 / 42.9″92.8 / 36.5″37.5 / 14.8″
US 10110 / 43.3″108 / 42.5″114 / 44.9″93.6 / 36.9″38 / 15″
US 12115 / 45.3″113 / 44.5″119 / 46.9″94.4 / 37.2″38.5 / 15.2″
US 14120 / 47.2″118 / 46.5″124 / 48.8″95.2 / 37.5″39 / 15.4″

On the models

  • Model C — 163 cm tall, 99/82/106 cm, wearing US 12.
  • Model A — 178 cm tall, 82/64/89 cm, wearing US 2.

We publish two different sets of body measurements on every piece because one model tells you almost nothing. Whether clips were used to adjust fit is disclosed here.

A dress form with measuring tapes at the bust, waist, hip, shoulder and full length.

Where we would wear it

Dress codes we list this under: Casual.

Occasion labels are our suggestion, not a rule. Dress codes vary by host — always follow the invitation.

Also in Everyday Warm