Reformation Linen Dress Review: I Wore the Marlow and Marisol for an Entire Summer

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. # Reformation Linen Dress Review: I Wore the Marlow and Marisol for an Entire Summer ## Why I Decided to Test These Dresses So here's what happened. I had three outdoor weddings, a week in Portugal, and a friend's rooftop birthday — all between June and August. I needed dresses that could handle 90-degree heat without making me look like I'd rolled out of bed. A friend swore by Reformation's linen stuff, so I ordered the Marlow Dress ($178) and the Marisol Dress ($218) on a Thursday. They arrived Saturday. I wore the Marlow to brunch that Sunday and didn't want to take it off. That's when I knew this Reformation linen dress review was actually going to happen. Look, I've been burned by "sustainable" linen before. Itchy, shapeless, falls apart after two washes. So I wore both dresses repeatedly — like, embarrassingly often — through the whole summer before writing this. Twenty-plus wears each, multiple washes, different cities, different situations. Here's what actually happened. ## The Quick Verdict The Marlow Dress is the best linen dress I've ever put on my body. The Marisol is stunning but has a fit issue that drove me nuts. Both use genuine 100% European Flax Linen that gets softer with every wash. If you want one linen dress this summer and you're willing to spend around $200, get the Marlow. **Overall rating: ★★★★☆** (4 out of 5 — docked a star for the Marisol's sizing weirdness and the price tag on both) ## Detailed Wear Experience ### The Marlow Dress — My Summer Uniform The Marlow Dress is a midi-length, button-front linen dress with a relaxed bodice and a skirt that hits just below the knee on my 5'6" frame. It comes in a bunch of colors — I got the Mabel Blue stripe and later the solid Chamomile. **How it feels on the body:** Honestly? Like wearing a cloud. The 100% European Flax Linen is lightweight but not see-through (a miracle with linen). It has this barely-there quality where you forget you're wearing real clothes. The bodice is loose without being tent-like, and the waist has a self-tie belt that gives you just enough shape. I wore it on a 95-degree day in Lisbon and didn't once feel that gross fabric-sticking-to-sweat thing. **The fabric specifics:** This is OEKO-TEX certified linen, which means no nasty chemicals. You can feel the difference — the hand-feel is smooth, not scratchy. Right out of the package, it's a little crisp. After three cold hand washes, it softened up beautifully. Fair warning: it wrinkles. It's linen. That's the deal. But the wrinkles look intentional, not sloppy. **Sizing:** I'm a US 6 in most brands, 34D, and the size 6 in the Marlow fit perfectly. It runs true to size, maybe slightly generous. If you're between sizes, size down. The bust has room — I didn't get any gaping at the buttons, which almost never happens for me with button-front dresses. Petite friends: this will be long on you. My 5'2" friend tried my Marlowe Midi (same cut, slightly shorter) and it still hit at her ankles. **After washing:** I hand washed cold and line dried every time (I'm paranoid). After 15+ washes, the Marlow shrank maybe half an inch in length. Barely noticeable. The color faded slightly in the blue stripe but not enough to bother me. The chamomile held its color perfectly. Seams are all still intact — no loose threads, no button issues. The buttons are these little natural shell ones. I was worried they'd snag, but they didn't. ### The Marisol Dress — Beautiful but Frustrating The Marisol Dress ($218) is a sleeveless, fitted bodice with a full midi skirt. It's the dress you see all over Instagram — that fitted waist, the full skirt that moves when you walk. I wanted to love it. I did love it. But. **How it feels on the body:** When it fits right, it's gorgeous. The full skirt has this amazing movement. I wore it to an outdoor wedding in Tuscany and got three compliments before I made it to the bar. But the bodice is cut narrow through the ribcage. I could sit comfortably, but eating a full meal? Tight. Not spanx-tight, but aware-of-it tight. **The fabric:** Same 100% European Flax Linen, but the Marisol uses a slightly heavier weight than the Marlow. Drape is better — that full skirt wouldn't work in a flimsy fabric. But heavier weight means slightly warmer. Not bad, just noticeable on those 100-degree days. **Sizing:** Here's where it gets tricky. I ordered my usual 6 and couldn't zip it up. The zipper — a hidden YKK on the side — got stuck about two inches from the top. Sized up to an 8 and it fit through the bodice but the skirt was noticeably looser. I kept the 8 and had my tailor take in the skirt waistband ($25 alteration). So really, this dress cost me $243. If you have a larger bust or wider ribcage, definitely size up. **After washing:** Same routine — hand wash cold, line dry. The Marisol shrank a bit more than the Marlow, about an inch in the bodice length. That made the already-snug fit even snugger. The heavier linen took longer to soften up — maybe 5-6 washes before it felt really comfortable. Color held up well though. ### Scenario 3: Packing for a Week Abroad I packed both dresses for a week in Portugal. The Marlow rolled up small, barely wrinkled worse than it already was (linen tip: roll, don't fold), and looked fresh with minimal steam in the bathroom. The Marisol needed more careful packing because the heavier fabric creases more visibly. But both survived being stuffed in a carry-on. The Marlow became my daytime-exploration dress. The Marisol was my dinner dress. Worked perfectly. ### Scenario 4: The "Can I Wear This to Work?" Test I work in a creative office where the dress code is flexible but not nonexistent. The Marlow with flat sandals reads as polished-casual. Fine for Friday. The Marisol with block heels could pass for a client meeting if your office leans creative. Both needed a layer — a light blazer or cardigan — to feel fully office-appropriate. Neither has pockets, which is a genuine annoyance for a work dress. ## Pros and Cons ### Pros - **Real European Flax Linen that softens with wear.** Not the cardboard linen you get from fast fashion. After 3-4 washes, it feels like a well-loved favorite. - **Thoughtful construction.** French seams on the Marlow. Clean finishing on both. The shell buttons on the Marlow are a nice touch that you don't see at this price point often. - **The Marlow's bust fit.** No gaping at the buttons. If you know, you know. This is genuinely rare in a button-front dress at any price. - **Color range that's actually interesting.** Not just navy and black. The Mabel Blue stripe and Chamomile are distinctive without being trendy. - **OEKO-TEX certified.** No harmful chemicals. Good for sensitive skin — I have eczema-prone skin and had zero irritation. ### Cons - **The Marisol's sizing is a mess.** Runs small through the bodice, true to size through the skirt. I had to size up and get it altered. At $218, I shouldn't need a tailor. - **No pockets on either dress.** Zero. For $178-$218 dresses in 2026, this is just annoying. COS and Everlane manage to put pockets in their linen dresses at lower prices. - **Wrinkles fast and wrinkles visibly.** I know it's linen. You know it's linen. But if you're someone who hates looking rumpled, these will stress you out. The Marlow handles wrinkles better than the Marisol due to the lighter fabric weight. - **Hand wash only is a commitment.** The care label says hand wash cold, line dry. I ignored this once and machine washed the Marlow on delicate. It survived, but I could tell the fabric roughened up slightly. So yeah, hand washing it is. For two dresses I wore constantly all summer, that's a lot of sink time. ## Who It's For / Who Should Skip It **Get the Marlow if:** You want a throw-on-and-go linen dress that actually looks intentional. You're okay spending $178 on one dress you'll wear 30+ times. You run warm and need breathable fabric. You like a relaxed fit. **Get the Marisol if:** You have a specific event — wedding, garden party, fancy dinner — and want to look incredible. You're okay with the fit being slightly unforgiving. You have a good tailor on speed dial. **Skip both if:** You're looking for a workhorse everyday dress under $100. You hate ironing or steaming. You need pockets. You prefer fitted silhouettes over relaxed ones. You're very petite (both run long). ## vs. The Competition ### Reformation Marlow vs. COS Oversized Linen Dress ($79) The COS linen dress is less than half the price. It's a solid dress — I've owned one. The linen is decent but noticeably scratchier when new. Took about 8 washes to soften up versus the Marlow's 3-4. COS uses a linen-cotton blend in some of their dresses, which wrinkles less but doesn't breathe as well. The fit is more boxy. Construction is good but not great — straight seams, no French seams, plastic buttons. If budget is your main concern, COS is a fine choice. But the Reformation linen fabric is genuinely nicer. You feel the difference. ### Reformation Marisol vs. Everlane Linen Midi Shirt Dress ($98) The Everlane linen dress is much more affordable and has a similar button-front midi silhouette. The fabric is 100% linen but not European Flax — it's a lighter weight that wrinkles faster and feels thinner. Everlane's dress has pockets (point: Everlane). But the bodice fit is less structured, and after 5 washes, the Everlane started pilling slightly at the side seams. The Marisol's heavier linen and structured bodice just look more expensive because they are. Everlane for everyday, Reformation for occasions. This Reformation linen dress review wouldn't be honest if I didn't say: the price gap is real. COS and Everlane give you 70-80% of the experience for 40-50% of the price. But that last 20% — the fabric hand-feel, the construction details, the way it holds up over a season of heavy wear — is where Reformation pulls ahead. ## Is It Worth the Money? The Marlow Dress at $178? Yes. I've worn mine more than 25 times this summer. Cost per wear is under $8 and dropping. It's held up beautifully, looks better with age, and gets compliments every single time. That's a buy. The Marisol Dress at $218? Conditional yes. If it fits you out of the box — no sizing drama — it's worth it. The silhouette is stunning, the fabric is excellent, and it photographs beautifully. But if you're between sizes or have a larger bust/ribcage, factor in alteration costs. At $218 plus $25 in tailoring, you're at $243. That's steep for a linen dress you hand wash in your sink. Bottom line from my Reformation linen dress review: buy the Marlow without hesitation. Try the Marisol in store if you can. Both are genuinely good dresses made with real linen that will last, but the Marlow is the one I reach for every single time. ## FAQ **Does Reformation linen shrink after washing?** Yes, slightly. Both the Marlow and Marisol shrank about half an inch to one inch in length after multiple cold hand washes. Line drying helps minimize this. If you're between lengths, know it'll get a touch shorter. **What size should I order in Reformation linen dresses?** The Marlow runs true to size — maybe slightly generous. Order your usual size. The Marisol runs small through the bust and ribcage. Size up if you're curvy or broad-shouldered. Reformation's site has a "Find My Size" tool that's actually pretty accurate based on my experience. **Can you machine wash Reformation linen dresses?** Technically the care label says hand wash cold. I machine washed my Marlow once on delicate cycle in a mesh bag and it survived, but the fabric texture changed slightly — rougher. I'd stick with hand washing if you want to keep that soft hand-feel. Definitely never put them in the dryer. **How does Reformation's linen compare to their other fabrics?** Their 100% European Flax Linen is one of their best materials. Better than their linen-cotton blends (which wrinkle less but feel stiffer). Their Tencel and deadstock fabrics are hit or miss, but the linen collection is consistently well-reviewed for a reason. It's the fabric that put them on the map, and it shows.