Everlane black linen shirt dress (gift from Everlane to review) | size 8
Melissa plastic sandals | true to size (also at Garmentory – use my referral link and get a $20 account credit)
Happy Monday!! So, here’s a look at Everlane’s linen shirt dress. From what I can tell, it’s the same as last years, which I had in indigo, also in a size 8. I gave it to my sister, because while I liked the indigo color, I knew I would never wear it. This year’s may be a bit longer? But otherwise, it seems the same.
Anyway, it’s a very good linen shirt dress. I really like Everlane’s linen shirting (not so much the linen tees, although they’re not bad for linen tees) and find it holds up well to a lot of wear and washing. The problem with shirt dresses on me is that I have to get the size that fits my hips/butt, which always leaves it too big up top. It’s comfortable this way, and easy to move in, but I feel rather overwhelmed in it.
I am wearing just a pair of high-waisted panties and a nude bra; I would not wear a slip with this, but I do always wear underwear with more coverage with linen. I love that it covers my knees, and that the side slits are a little higher up and show more skin, without being flashy.
A major problem though, with shirt dresses, is the button gap when you sit down; it’s in the WORST place. Or even not when you sit down, sometimes once the linen is stretched out, you can get a pretty big gap as you’re standing and walking around. Why more companies don’t narrow their spacing more between buttons on shirt dresses is beyond me. Seems a simple fix. Tradlands does this best, I think. But they don’t have any shirt dresses at the moment…
I love a good shirt dress, but I don’t like the hassle, if that makes sense. Every single shirt dress I’ve ever had I’ve ended up giving away or selling; they’re much better in theory than ON ME, I’ve concluded. I will keep this one, though, it’ll be a good vacation dress, and/or something to wear at home since it has pockets.
Now, here’s what I’d love next year from Everlane: a linen dress that mimics a shirt dress, but only buttons 1/4 or so down, so no more button gap. Actually, that may be an easy DIY fix for this one, just sew the button placket closed starting about half way down the dress. Has anyone ever done something like that?
Do you have better luck with shirt dresses? Did you order this one or have it from last year? What do you think of it?
I feel exactly the same way. I’ve slowly been teaching myself to sew, because I’m actually that particular about my clothing. I just made a linen shirt dress and only included the buttons part way down, but continued the look of the shirt dress seam all the way till it splits open around my knees for some good movement. The full length of the dress just skims the tops of my calves.
I use a lot of Everlane (because it’s time consuming to sew an entire wardrobe) and I ordered this dress, but it’s good to know ahead of time I might need to fix a possible gap. If I can.
I was also planning on wearing this open like a duster over over clothing, so I’m excited to see you were happy with everything else.
Check out South Street Linen in Portland Maine – link to dress although it may be too short and I don’t see the models height anywhere. Love their dusters and scarves. Some of the linen is heavy weight and summer weight.
oh, it would be great as a duster/jacket! i’ve done that too, with other shirt dresses i’ve had. it’s a great travel piece that way – multi functional!!
I love a good shirt dress!
Often the reason for design and function flaws in garments made by larger companies are due to the cost of getting all those little details right. The dress would cost more to produce if they narrowed the distance between buttons as this would require more buttons and button holes – with equals more labor and higher cost to the consumer. Cutting corners in design and function is one of the ways companies like Everlane are able to keep their retail prices as low as they are.
I don’t love shirt dresses for the same reason I don’t love button down shirts in general – hard to fit for big boobs/smaller waist (in comparison…) I do have a denim shirt dress that’s actually a “popover” (I’ve never loved that term because I immediately think food, not clothing, but whatever…) I don’t have gapping/bra visibility but it’s still not the most flattering – just hangs/hits oddly on the waist etc. I prefer a knit dress that skims, I guess….
I love shirt dresses — the buttondown look is actually the most reliable silhouette for me, since I have broad-ish shoulders and small bust, it helps me pull off the “polished yet easy” vibe I usually try to channel. I’m glad you posted a review on this, I was just perusing Everlane this morning and contemplating their indigo linen pieces!
For what it’s worth, I think this dress looks great on you. I’m a huge fan of shirt dresses, worn on their own or with leggings in the winter. I love the indigo versions of this dress, but I too rarely wear blue. I would definitely wear it in black and linen is just so great in the summer. Seeing this modeled by you is so helpful to get a better sense of the general look and sizing.
This is certainly no reflection on you, but wow do I not want that dress after seeing it on you and reading the post.
It looks so wrinkly and creased, and the proportions seem off somehow — like it’s a men’s nightshirt that somehow got out during daylight hours. I would feel like such a hot mess in that dress, but linen can be so tricky for me because I have to balance the garment’s shape and cut against the rumpled nature of the fabric.
I do appreciate your candor about the button placement, and the color is lovely. And so long as you like the dress, why not keep it, right?
I love the Everlane linen tees, are there other linen tees out there that are jersey-style soft linen but better? I tried the Grana linen tees, but the handkerchief style linen was too stiff for me.
EXACTLY!!! You describe the issue perfectly, and once it’s stretched out, it often won’t stay buttoned. I think a “popover dress” is a perfect solution to this problem. I just ordered one in white by CP Shades, and I think it’s a popover style. I’d love one in black, too. American Colors by Alex Lehr does beautiful linen shirtdresses at a fair price, and they’re often on-sale.
A very chic restaurant owner in Montauk wore her white linen shirt dress as a duster over a buff-toned slip dress at an event last summer, along with simple tan leather Greek sandals and gold hoop earrings. That outfit has stayed in my mind!
This was a reply to your post, Grechen!
me too… i love the way they look but i never wore any shirt dresses that I bought… can’t figure out why exactly.
I just got the pin-striped, hi-low shirt dress that was in the Victoria Beckham for Target collection, and I am soooooo into it! I can’t wait to style it for the summer. It’s so light and (gasp!) colorful, so it’ll definitely be a departure from my usual look. I love a good shirt dress, though I am not good with linen. I always look disheveled and the fabric just pulls all weird on me. I would love to get a chambray shirt dress though……
Yours looks awesome on you!
oh!! need to see an outfit picture of that dress on you!!
i think interestingly enough, they’re too fussy for me. especially worrying about the button gap…
give me a good pullover dress any day and i’m good 🙂
YES. love that outfit idea. in fact, i’m going to do that with the linen tunic i got to review from tradlands, except not with a dress, but with jeans and a tank LOL –
yes, of course you’re right. we get what we pay for…
I think the dress looks great! I just received the indigo one and I was wondering how much the dye transfers?
Did you end up sewing together part of the button placket? I’ve done that with button downs and will do that with this dress as well. I’m busty with a smaller build and the button gap has always plagued me.
Your review is really helpful. I was just looking at this dress wondering what it would actually look like on me (5’3″ 135lbs) as opposed to the model who is 6′ tall and a size 0…and I think I will buy it, tack it at the bust and probably shorten it a bit. It looks nice on you, particularly great for summer vacation or hot city days. I like wrinkly linen and sometimes crinkle up my ironed shirts and dresses to get a more consistent effect. I have several great shirt dresses from a French brand called Kiwi St Tropez that have a placket and buttons just to the waist, very cute and wearable (no gap and perfect button placement, amazing!), though they don’t look so flattering on their website and sadly they do not ship to the US, so you have to stock up in France. I was looking for something similar when I found your site. Overall, I feel it’s unique to find really well cut clothes these days and I alter almost everything, it makes a huge difference in fit and proportion.
Thanks for posting!