Navy linen is quietly one of the best combinations in summer dressing and we think it deserves more credit than it gets. The colour is flattering on virtually everyone, works in heat without looking washed out, and sidesteps the slightly risky quality that white linen has when the sun is directly behind you. Linen itself is the fabric that actually delivers on the promise of staying cool. Not just in theory. In practice, on a thirty degree afternoon when everything else has given up.

What we love about navy specifically is how put together it looks with almost zero effort. Sandals, trainers, a good flat. You are dressed. The crinkle that linen develops through the day reads as intentional rather than chaotic, which is a genuine gift when you are warm and not thinking about your outfit.

We have pulled together our favourite navy linen dresses across lengths and cuts, from relaxed shirt dress styles to more fitted shapes that still breathe properly. These are the ones that earn their place in a summer wardrobe by solving the problem every hot day creates. Look good. Stay cool. Do both at once.