4-Year Son de Flor Review: Quality, Sustainability, Fit

Son de Flor is perhaps one of the best-known cottagecore and vintage-style clothing brands. Think flowy dresses, pinafores, full-length circle skirts, and the classic peter pan collar.

Their beautiful and timeless pieces come at a steep price, however. If you’re eyeing Son de Flor and wondering whether it’s worth the $200+, here’s my in-depth review—including sustainability measures, quality, measurements, care instructions, and more.

Personally, I own the Classic Dress, Carmen Dress, Wrap Skirt, Classic Skirt, Smock Dress, Second Breakfast Vest, Ivy Dress, and Amelia Dress, so you can expect to learn most about these pieces.

This post is not sponsored. I was gifted most of my Son de Flor pieces with no obligation to share, and I purchased the Second Breakfast Vest. I am a Son de Flor affiliate, meaning I may earn a small commission from any purchases through the links in this post, at no extra cost to you.

Is Son de Flor Ethical and Sustainable?

Son de Flor is a Lithuanian brand known for its fairytale-esque and vintage-style pieces made out of linen. Their clothing is not only in the cottagecore aesthetic, but they also stay true to the cottagecore values of caring for the earth and its people.

Son de Flor traces their entire supply chain, with the linen being fairly produced in the EU. The fabric is also Oeko-Tex certified, meaning it’s free from harmful substances. The garments are then made in-house, or by local sewists who work in safe conditions and are paid fair wages. Finally, the clothing is stone-washed and softened by a small, family-owned company.

The pieces ship in a cardboard box that is plastic-free, other than the clear envelope glued on top to hold the shipping label and customs form. They’re also wrapped in tissue paper and tied with twine. (One sweet detail is that there’s always a small poem rolled into a scroll and placed into the pocket of the piece).

When you’re ready to rehome your Son de Flor clothing, they offer a take-back program where they give you a 50 euro voucher to use on the site, and they pay for the shipping fees for you to send the item back. The clothing is then sold on the pre-loved section of their site.

Overall, Son de Flor is doing some pretty awesome stuff as a brand. Some potential areas of improvement are:

• Switching to a made-to-order model to reduce potential waste
• Featuring more diverse models (Lithuania is mostly white, but Son de Flor has a global presence on Instagram, and people of color aren’t as often represented in the cottagecore/vintage fashion space)

With that, let’s get into the review!

Son de Flor Classic Dress Review

I could tell right away that the Classic Dress was well-made. The stitching is straight and neat (there were a couple places where a little bit of extra thread wasn’t cut, but that was no big deal). The linen is thicker and the dress has a surprising weight to it, likely because of the full circle skirt. The interior of the dress hem is lined with white fabric, which creates the appearance of depth, as you can see the white hem peek out when you walk around or twirl.

This was my first 100% linen piece, so I was surprised at the texture, which feels relatively stiff compared to cotton or linen blends. It’s comfortable to wear though, and isn’t scratchy.

The buttons on the dress are dainty and made of natural materials, and they stay secure. The hidden zipper on the side glides easily. One of my favorite parts of the dress, however, are the pockets. They’re generous and can easily hold a phone.

The dress feels perfect for prancing through meadows and wandering through forests, though I’ve mostly worn it to special events and for apple picking.

My brother has joked that the dress makes me look like a nun (thanks bro), and I can see where he’s coming from since it is modest, and does seem like something a sister or the Amish would wear. I try to mitigate that by wearing my thrifted Doc Martens or a cardigan with the dress.

As for sizing, Son de Flor’s sizing runs from XXS-4XL. They also offer custom sizing and changes for an additional fee.

Son de Flor has a size calculator that will help you choose your size based on your measurements (and they take both metric and imperial measurements). I was recommended XXS due to my small bust size, but the calculator said that the waist would be slightly tight for both the XXS and XS. So, I opted for the S, which was said to be loose in the bust and slightly loose in the waist.

For reference, I’m 5’4″, 125-130lbs, 32″ bust, and 28.5″ waist. That’s 1.63m, 57-59kg, 81cm bust, and 72.4cm waist for my non-US readers.

The size small fits well, though it is slightly loose in the torso as predicted. I don’t mind since I can easily add a base layer for the winter months. The dress is almost full-length for me, hitting mid-calf.

If you’re interested in the measurements of the dress, here they are:

• 18.5″ (47cm) pit to pit
• 15.5″ (39.4cm) waist
• 45″ (114.3cm) length

Note: I’ve had the Classic Dress for 3 years and have since gained some weight; I’m now around 140lbs (63.5kg) with a 30″ (76.2cm) waist. The dress still fits well, but the waist can be a bit tight if I’m sitting down and had a full meal. At these measurements, I would recommend a size medium.

Son de Flor Classic Skirt Review

Nothing feels more Dark Academia than the Classic Skirt in Brown Tartan. This is a full circle skirt that almost hits my ankles (I’m 5’4″ or 1.63m). It has some weight to it and is also perfect for twirling. Think of it like a Classic Dress without the top section. (It also has pockets!).

The Classic Skirt is definitely not as forgiving as the Classic Dress. While the Classic Dress will still fit with my weight fluctuations, there are times where I can’t wear the Classic Skirt at all. There is some elastic on the waistband, but it doesn’t stretch too much.

For size small (which I got), the size chart says you should have a 27.6-29.1 inch waist (70-74cm). If you’re on the higher end of a range but don’t expect to have a larger measurement than that, I would still stick to that size, as the weight of the skirt naturally pulls the skirt down and the smaller size may feel more secure.

But, if you’re also comfortable wearing a belt, it is always easier to make clothing smaller than it is larger, so you could also opt for the larger size. I personally do wish I’d gone for a medium in this piece.

Son de Flor Smock Dress Review

The Smock Dress is by far my favorite Son de Flor piece. It’s so easy to layer with and perfect for all seasons as a result. I’ve worn mine to the beach, through airports, and in frigid winter weather under a sweater.

Some of the biggest winners of the Smock Dress, in my opinion, are:

• The material is lighter so it’s easier to travel with and wear in the summer.
• The baggy shape makes it perfect for weight fluctuations and also changing underneath it at the beach. I was able to change completely from street clothes to a one-piece without ever fully taking the Smock Dress off. It can basically act as a changing dress!
• The sleeveless style looks so good with a t-shirt or button-up underneath.

I got a size S-M, but according to the size chart, I could’ve gotten an XXS-XS for a more fitted look. I’m super happy with the S-M since the flowier silhouette makes it more versatile.

Son de Flor Carmen Dress Review

When I grew out of my Classic Dress, I knew I wanted another dress in Evergreen. I decided on the Carmen and it’s been one of my favorites since. I was a bit worried about the more open scoop neckline, but it’s quite elegant, and the same thing goes for the 3/4 sleeves; the only thing is that these make it harder to layer with it and wear it in the winter.

In the back, there’s also shirring, so there’s more wiggle room if you also fluctuate in weight. I ordered a medium and it was the right choice now that I am between 140-150lbs (63.5-68kg) and 5’4″ (1.63m).

I feel like the Carmen Dress is a more modern and fun version of the Classic Dress as it has the same full circle skirt but doesn’t look as traditional.

It also looks perfect with the Second Breakfast Vest (first photo), which I ordered in Large as there is no elastic. I had to get the bust tailored but the waist was the right size.

Son de Flor Wrap Skirt Review

After growing out of the Classic Skirt, it was refreshing to try the Wrap Skirt as it can be adjusted for many sizes. I got the S-M, which fits well for my 30-31″ (76-79cm) waist. If you want more coverage, you’ll want to size up.

I love the way the skirt drapes and twirls, but I don’t wear it as much since there’s no elastic, so sitting down and eating be uncomfortable in the skirt (you may want to adjust it).

Son de Flor Ivy Dress Review

The Ivy Dress is unique since you can tie it 3 ways: at the sides, or in the front or back. I typically tie it in the back, but will tie it on the sides if I want to show off the dress I’m wearing underneath.

The Ivy Dress comes in one size and it’s roomy and flowy. While there’s no elastic or shirring, it’s very comfortable to wear in all situations. The only thing is that you’ll always need to wear something on the bottom underneath as there’s not much overlap between the front and pack panels when tied.

If you like the Smock Dress but want something more adjustable or fitted, then the Ivy Dress is a great option.

Son de Flor Amelia Dress Review

The Amelia Dress is one of Son de Flor’s most romantic pieces—I couldn’t get over the shoulder tie straps. This dress is also quite weighty and the fabric is thick.

I chose to get a size medium since I was worried it would fit a bit tight in the waist like the Classic Dress, but the Amelia Dress actually has some elastic shirring in the bag (along with a side zip), so I think I could’ve gone with a small. The size chart has the same garment measurements as the Classic Dress, however.

I don’t wear the Amelia Dress as much as the other pieces because the shoulder ties make it more difficult to layer. But, it’s still a stunning piece and feels very fitting for the spring and summer.

Caring for Son de Flor Pieces

Linen is prone to wrinkles and shrinking, so you’ll want to be extra careful. Son de Flor has their own care guide. They recommend turning the dress inside out, buttoning and zipping it up, and machine washing on low temperatures with mild detergent.

They recommend air drying since it reduces wrinkles, and linen dries quickly. To get out the wrinkles, iron the dress while slightly damp. Son de Flor says dark linens should only be ironed on the reverse side, while lighter ones looks best ironed on both sides.

Is Son de Flor Worth It? Quality, Longevity

Is Son de Flor worth the $200+ price tag? Given the quality of the fabric, workmanship of the piece, and fair working conditions, I’d say the price is justified. After foraying into sewing myself a bit this year, I can see how pieces like this could easily take hours to make.

After owning some of my pieces for 3 years, and wearing them over and over, I can also say that they’ve held up very well. I’ve worn the Smock Dress in particular countless times this year, and it’s still in fantastic shape with little wear to the fabric.

If you think you’ll wear your Son de Flor garments regularly and over many years, then I think they could be worth it for you. The cost per wear can get down to the single digits in even a year if you wear your purchase every other week. If you’re not sure, then I’d recommend thinking about it a bit more. Son de Flor’s pieces are timeless classics meant to be kept for years and passed down.

Where to Buy Son de Flor Clothing

If this review was helpful and you’re ready to buy a Son de Flor dress, it would mean a ton if you used my affiliate link. You can also get an extra 5% off during their winter sale with code: sondeflor-g4nnug.

You can also find Son de Flor clothing secondhand apps like Mercari and Poshmark (both are $10 off referral links if you haven’t signed up yet).

Let us know what you think in the comments if you end up buying from Son de Flor! For more ethical brand suggestions, check out my sustainable brand directory or my guide to sustainable cottagecore brands.