White Cotton Strapless Maxi Dress

White cotton, strapless, floor length — three simple decisions that add up to the most photogenic dress of the season.

With the shoulders and arms completely bare, the dress draws one long, uninterrupted line from neckline to hem, and the cotton keeps that line crisp rather than clingy. White at this length reads occasion instantly, but the natural fibre keeps it grounded — this is elegance that can sit on a lawn.

It is the guest dress for summer weddings, the dinner dress for beach holidays, the obvious pick for engagement photos. Bare shoulders make jewellery count double: one necklace or one pair of statement earrings, never the full set. Flat strappy sandals keep it relaxed; a heel takes it formal. White forgives sun and flatters a tan, which is why a dress like this gets packed for every trip that involves an airport and good weather.