Clodagh McKenna’s comfortable cotton dress is the kind you’ll want for every garden party and alfresco lunch

Her late summer style offers the dreamiest outfit inspiration

Clodagh McKenna attends The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024 Penelope Chilvers x Butter Wakefield Stand on May 21, 2024
(Image credit: Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Penelope Chilvers)

Whilst I’m looking forward to cooler autumn weather, I’m planning to make the most of late summer before August ends. For garden parties and alfresco dining, I’m definitely going to be recreating the effortlessly chic look Clodagh McKenna recently wore on This Morning.

Appearing on the show to make a delicious-looking pistachio tiramisu, Clodagh braved cooking with coffee while wearing an ecru mini dress. It's the Mazarine dress by Sezane, and because it's so beautiful, I was prepared for it to be sold out. But happily, it's still available in all sizes!

With a loose silhouette that nips in gently at the waist for some definition, the wide 3/4 sleeves and all-over embroidery give this mini dress a really light and airy feel. Thoughtful touches like the lace inserts at the hem and the sleeves are balanced out by simple design elements, such as the round neckline. It's an elegant staple to wear every day with comfortable sandals or, you could dress yours up with layered necklaces and a pair of statement heels like Clodagh, who added the Sezane Gloria sandals.

Recreate Clodagh's late-summer style

While Clodagh’s dress would look perfectly at home styled with your best white trainers, she elevated her outfit tenfold by choosing instead to wear it with a pair of statement gold heels.

Her sandals are spot on to style with jeans for date night outfits, but also (forgive me getting ahead of myself!) you'll get a lot of wear out of them during the festive season, too.

I’m also intrigued to try out Clodagh’s jewellery style here. I’ll admit that when faced with a crew neckline, whether it’s on T-shirts or summer-ready dresses, I never quite know what necklace to opt for. Her layered style sits perfectly, adding some glamour while also not feeling overly fussy.

Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse
Freelance news writer

Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse is a freelance royal news, entertainment and fashion writer. She began her journalism career after graduating from Nottingham Trent University with an MA in Magazine Journalism, receiving an NCTJ diploma, and earning a First Class BA (Hons) in Journalism at the British and Irish Modern Music Institute. She has also worked with Good To, BBC Good Food, The Independent, The Big Issue and The Metro.

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