Broderie Anglaise: How to Wear the Eyelet Trend in the Baghdad Heat

Broderie anglaise is having a real moment this summer, and it could not have arrived at a better time for Baghdad. This is the crisp, punched-with-holes cotton embroidery you have probably spotted on white sundresses and floaty blouses, and it happens to be one of the coolest, most breathable fabrics you can wear once the afternoon heat sets in. In this guide we break down what the trend actually is, why it suits our climate so well, and how to style it in a way that stays covered and comfortable, using pieces you can shop today on Harrir.

Broderie anglaise, sometimes called eyelet, is a decorative technique where small holes are cut into lightweight cotton and then finished with neat stitching around each one. The result is a pattern of tiny openwork motifs, usually in white or a soft pastel, that lets air pass straight through the fabric. Because it grew out of a hand-embroidery tradition and reads as fresh and a little romantic, it moves easily between casual daywear and dressier occasions. That versatility is exactly why designers keep bringing it back, and why it is everywhere for summer 2026.

The honest answer is airflow. Those hundreds of tiny cut-outs mean the cotton never sits flat and heavy against the skin, so warm air can escape instead of getting trapped. Natural cotton also draws moisture away rather than clinging, which keeps you feeling drier through a long, bright day. On top of the comfort, the classic off-white shade reflects sunlight instead of soaking it up, so a broderie anglaise dress tends to feel noticeably cooler than a dark, dense fabric cut the same way. For a city where summer stretches on and on, that mix of lightness and coverage is hard to beat.

The trend is genuinely easy to wear with full coverage, because so much of it arrives as long dresses, midi skirts and blouses with long or three-quarter sleeves. If a piece is a little sheer, and fine cotton often is, simply layer a plain slip or a fitted long-sleeve top underneath in a matching tone so the openwork still shows without revealing anything. A broderie anglaise blouse worn over wide trousers is an effortless covered look on its own. For dresses with shorter sleeves, add a light cotton cardigan or a thin under-layer and you are set. The texture does all the talking, so you never need to over-style it.

For daytime, keep everything soft and unfussy: a white broderie anglaise dress with flat sandals and a roomy tote is all you need for errands, coffee or a family visit. To carry the same piece into the evening, swap the flats for a low heel, add a few pieces of gold jewellery and move to a smaller bag. If you are wearing separates, tuck a broderie blouse into a plain midi skirt for the day, then untuck it over tailored trousers at night for a looser, more relaxed shape. One fabric, two completely different moods.

Broderie anglaise has a slightly rustic, handmade feel, so natural materials sit beautifully next to it. A woven espadrille or a simple flat sandal keeps the whole outfit light and summery, while a clean structured tote in white or a natural tone echoes the fabric without competing with it. Both of the pieces below are available on Harrir and finish the look without any fuss.

If you are new to the trend, begin with a dress rather than a separate. A single white broderie anglaise dress is a complete outfit on its own, so there is nothing to match and nothing to think about, and it will carry you from a daytime visit to an evening gathering with just a change of shoes. Look for one with sleeves and a hem that falls below the knee so it works with full coverage straight out of the wardrobe. Once you are comfortable with the fabric, add a blouse next, because a broderie top is the single most useful separate you can own: it lifts plain trousers, plain skirts and plain jeans instantly, and it layers cleanly under a cardigan when the evening cools. A skirt is the third step, easy to build looks around once you already have the tops to pair with it. Building the trend up slowly this way keeps everything wearable and stops your wardrobe from filling with pieces that only work once.

Broderie anglaise is one of those rare trends that is genuinely practical for our summers: light, breathable, easy to cover up and endlessly wearable. Start with one piece, a dress or a blouse, and build around it. For more warm-weather ideas, browse our How-To Guides and Seasonal Edits, or see how to layer another summer texture in our guide to crochet outfits for summer 2026.