Mesh Dresses: How to Wear Sheer for Evening Without Overthinking It

The short answer: buy a mesh dress with a lining if you want one you will actually wear, and choose an embroidered mesh so the sheerness reads as texture rather than exposure. Black is the easiest colour. The new Flower Mesh Maxi Dress is our pick for winter evenings. Shop every sheer dress at Coveti, the wider designer dresses edit, and the full ROTATE Birger Christensen collection.

Mesh used to be a summer fabric. Embroidery and linings have turned it into one of the most useful evening materials of the year, light enough to dance in and rich enough for a winter party. ROTATE Birger Christensen is the Copenhagen label Jeanette Madsen and Thora Valdimars founded in 2018 with the Danish house Birger Christensen. It started with a handful of party dresses and still builds every collection around going out. Its flower mesh, a sheer ground embroidered with florals, has become one of the label’s signatures.

Lined vs sheer: which mesh dress should you buy?

The ROTATE flower mesh dresses are lined, so the embroidery sits over a solid layer. The long-sleeved mini keeps its sleeves sheer.

Our picks: mesh dresses to buy now

1. Flower Mesh Maxi Dress

A long black dress in sheer mesh with embroidered flowers, a high neck, short sleeves, a fitted bodice and a slightly A-line skirt, lined and zipped at the back. It is formal enough for black tie with the right shoe.

2. Flower Mesh LS Mini Dress Black

The same embroidered mesh as a short dress with a square neck and long sheer sleeves that flare at the cuff. Wear it with sheer tights for a party.

3. Flower Mesh Sleeveless Maxi Dress Dark Brown

A dark brown version without sleeves, softer than black and very good with gold jewellery.

4. Flower Mesh Tube Dress Egret White

A strapless tube in off white mesh for warmer evenings and holidays.

5. Flower Mesh Midi Skirt Black

The mesh as a skirt, which makes it easier to wear by day with a fine knit.

What to wear under a mesh dress

With a lined dress, nothing special. With sheer sleeves, keep the arms bare and the jewellery small. With an unlined mesh, choose a slip in the same colour as the dress so the embroidery stays the focus.

What shoes go with a mesh dress?

A slim heel. For the maxi, a strappy sandal; for the mini, a slingback and sheer tights. The party shoes guide has the ROTATE pairs we like, from satin flower sandals to velvet slingbacks.

Frequently asked questions

Is a mesh dress see-through?

It depends on the lining. The ROTATE flower mesh dresses are lined through the body, so only the embroidery and, on the long-sleeved mini, the sleeves are sheer.

Can you wear a mesh dress to a wedding?

Yes, a lined one. A black maxi in embroidered mesh suits an evening wedding. Avoid white mesh at a wedding.

Can you wear a mesh dress in winter?

Yes. Choose long sleeves, add sheer black tights, and put a faux fur jacket over the top. Our guide to ROTATE faux fur jackets and coats has the ones that suit a party dress.

How do you care for a mesh dress?

Treat it gently. Follow the label, avoid snagging the embroidery on jewellery, and store it folded in tissue rather than hanging, which can stretch the mesh.

What is ROTATE flower mesh made of?

The current flower mesh dresses are recycled polyester with stretch, lined in polyester with elastane. The full composition is on each product page.