The Best Cotton Poplin Clothing Pieces for Summer & Other Favorites 

Today is Sunday Favorites with Mary Ann and Cindy, and I wanted to share some of the best cotton poplin clothing pieces for summer. We just returned from three weeks in France, and these items are all pieces I wore on repeat the entire trip.

Cotton poplin fabric is an excellent choice for warm weather. It’s a lightweight fabric that is perfect for summer months. Unlike linen, cotton poplin has a crisp finish, making it an ideal choice for your summer wardrobe.

A lightweight feel with an elegant appearance

Cotton poplin has a lightweight feel, yet it also possesses a subtle structure, making it the perfect fabric. While I love summer fabrics like linen and linen blends, they often appear messy after just a few hours of wear. I love wearing linen pieces in the summer, whether at the pool, the beach, or even in the evening after a shower. Linen is summer clothing. 

Cotton poplin wins out when it comes to feeling put together at the end of a day in the city. It is a fabric with a smooth surface and an airy feel, making it perfect for summer clothing. However, the great thing about poplin is that it is a versatile fabric that can be worn year-round.

What is cotton poplin?

Cotton poplin is a durable, breathable, and crisp fabric made of 100% cotton. It’s known for its smooth surface and crisp texture. It is commonly used in apparel, such as shirts, dresses, and tailored garments, due to its ability to maintain shape.

Cotton poplin is a very breathable material. It makes it my preferred choice. When buying poplin, make sure it’s not polyester poplin. You definely want o look for 100% cotton or even organic cotton poplin. 

Cotton poplin is the best fabric to wash and wear

Cotton poplin is great in hot weather. When I’m traveling, I often wash and wear and never even iron or steam the items. I wash in cold water, shake vigorously, and hang to dry. 

Cotton poplin dries very quickly, especially in warm climates. At our Airbnb in Provence, we had access to a washing machine and a clothesline. I would hang out all my poplin summer clothes, spend an hour at the pool, and everything would be dry and ready to wear again! 

In between washings, I spritz my cotton button-downs, lightweight dresses, tops, and skirts with Vodka. When traveling, I might wear a dress for an hour in the evening to meander the city streets in search of a gelato, so instead of washing after a short time wearing a piece, I’ll just spritz it and hang it in the fresh air. It really does help air out your clothes, plus they will last longer.

A few of my favorite pieces I’ve been wearing

This lightweight cotton fabric is suitable for any weather condition. Ideal for warmer weather, but a great choice for cooler weather too! 

100% Organic Cotton Poplin Midi Tunic Dress

This poplin dress is one I’ve had for two years. I own it in black and have just ordered it in the Tribeca stripe because of how easily it can be worn. This dress, in particular, has great versatility with the overall mid-length and arm length (covers the elbow). I can even wear a cardigan or denim jacket over the dress, as it is a fairly lightweight cotton fabric that still has structure.

100% organic cotton poplin split neck top

I’ve had a black split neck top since last year and wore it all last summer. It’s easy to wear with everything! Skirts, jeans, summer pants. I was thrilled to discover that they introduced two new colors this year. White (which is the perfect weight. It’s not at all see-through, but still feels like a light fabric), and blue. I own all three and wear them all the time! 

Poplin button-downs

I have a few of these long-sleeve boyfriend button-down shirts, and I love them all! Both the more traditional shirt and the cropped version. They can be worn with anything, on their own or layered. 

Poplin pants

A pair of linen pants for summer is a must-have, but you have to admit, they look pretty wrinkled in no time. So, I decided to give poplin pants a try for hot weather. These from Quince are great and only $39.90 a pair. They come in three colors. They run a little short on me (I’m 5’10”), so if you are of a more average height, you will probably love them.

Poplin Maxi Skirt

This a-line poplin cotton skirt comes in three colors and almost has an elegant appearance when worn with a crisp shirt in the same color. However, it’s very versatile and can be worn with a striped button-down shirt open over a tank or paired with a t-shirt and vest.

Enough about poplin, what about footwear in France?

If you have been wondering like me if Adidias Sambas and Gazelles are still in fashion in Paris….the answer is yes! I think it’s hard to beat a cute, comfortable sneaker that comes in a ton of color combinations.

When I say Sambas are comfortable, I mean they are comfortable right out of the box. When we are in Europe, we average 20,000 steps a day. And in Paris, a lot of stairs when using the Metro. Adidas Samba and Gazelle sneakers are my preferred choice in sneakers for both style and comfort.

The cream and black pair is my go to pair. The Samba collab with Liberty of London is so cute!

You can read my posts here and here for more about my love for Adidas! 

Birkenstocks are very popular in Paris right now, too!

All-leather black Arizona // Arizona Soft-Footbed in taupe suede // Arizona Soft-Footbed Clog in beige // Boston All-leather Equisite Clog

In addition to sneakers, I saw many women wearing Birkenstocks with skirts, dresses, pants, and jeans as part of their outfits, especially in the more trendy areas of Paris, such as the Marais—both the Arizona sandal and the clog in natural or black. I did not see any of the metallics or florals that were popular a few years ago. Other brands offer many similar styles, but when it comes to comfort, I don’t think you can do better than a Birkenstock. 

L’Avant Laundry Detergent

I have been using L’Avant laundry detergent for a couple of years. It’s highly concentrated, so you only need a small amount. I use it for everything from towels and linens to workout clothes and fine washables. It comes in a fresh linen scent and an unscented option.

It’s great for travel. I try to save a jug, and when it’s starting to get low, I will save it for when we travel. That way, I can take it with us, use it, and then discard the container, saving space in our luggage. If you haven’t tried it, they now have it at Nordstrom!

Thank you for reading MLT!

That’s it for me today! I hope you are having a wonderful start to summer! On Tuesday, I’ll be sharing a super simple summer entertaining idea. I appreciate you so much! Reading, commenting, engaging….it makes me so happy! 

Make sure you are signed up to receive emails so you are the first to know about the shop reopening with over 100 new vintage treasures from flea markets all over France! We will be photographing and listing everything this week!

Let’s see what Mary Ann and Cindy found this week!

Read Mary Ann’s Sunday post here.

Read Cindy’s Sunday post here.