Libbie Blue Stripe Cotton Mini Dress

Striped blue and cut short, the Libbie Mini Dress is a cotton mini with a square neckline and a back that does more than the front. The stripe print is the obvious feature; the construction behind it is where the dress earns its keep.

The neckline is square and edged with a ruffle, and the straps are fixed rather than adjustable, which keeps the top neat. At the back there is a tie closure, a cut-out below it, and an invisible zip, with an elasticised band at the waist that lets the dress move with you. The skirt flares as an A-line from that waist, and the blue stripe runs through the whole piece. Cotton keeps it cool, and the dress is lined.

This cotton mini dress is a daytime thing: a beach town afternoon, a brunch, a weekend away where you need something you can pull on and forget about. White trainers or flat sandals suit the stripe; so does a straw hat. Wear your hair up so the tie and the cut-out at the back get seen, and keep the bag small and tan or white.