Gibson & Latimer Linen Dress Review: A Pink Shirtdress and a Little Dillard’s History

I have a weakness for clothes that look as though they could have been worn in another decade without actually looking vintage.

This Gibson & Latimer dress falls into that category. It is long and pale pink, with a proper pointed collar, buttons all the way down the front and two oversized patch pockets. The linen gives it an easy, slightly rumpled finish. It is feminine, but the shirtdress construction keeps it from becoming too sweet.

I liked the dress before I knew anything about Gibson & Latimer. Then I started looking up the label, and that became its own little project.

Gibson & Latimer and Dillard’s

Gibson & Latimer is a Dillard’s label, and it has been around for more than a decade. You can still browse the current Gibson & Latimer collection at Dillard’s .

Dillard’s filed the federal trademark application for Gibson & Latimer in June 2012. The first commercial use listed in the trademark record is January 2, 2013, and the trademark was registered later that year.

The registration covered women’s sportswear, including pants, skirts, jackets, shirts, sweaters, blouses and dresses. The trademark was renewed in 2023.

Dillard’s later expanded the Gibson & Latimer name into footwear as well.

So Who Are Gibson and Latimer?

I went looking for the designers behind the name, but I could not find a documented Gibson or Latimer credited with designing the Dillard’s collection.

The federal trademark record instead takes the name directly back to Dillard’s, which has owned the Gibson & Latimer clothing trademark since the label’s introduction in 2012–2013.

The Dillard family history does, however, offer an intriguing clue to where those two names may have come from.

A Clue in the Dillard Family Tree

William T. Dillard, who founded what became Dillard’s, was born in Arkansas in 1914. His mother was Hattie Mae Gibson Dillard.

Gibson.

William Dillard later married Alexa Latimer in 1940.

Latimer.

Decades later, the company he founded registered a women’s clothing label called Gibson & Latimer.

I have not found a statement from Dillard’s confirming that the brand was named for Hattie Mae Gibson Dillard and Alexa Latimer Dillard, so I would not present that as established fact.

But the connection is hard to miss.

The Dress Itself

All of this began because of a pink dress.

The shell is 55% linen and 45% cotton, while the lining is 100% cotton.

That last detail is one I appreciate. Putting a polyester lining underneath a summer linen dress can undo much of what I like about wearing linen in the first place. Here, even the lining is cotton.

The linen-cotton blend also makes sense for this particular design. It has the visible texture of linen without being quite as stiff as some pure linens can be.

It wrinkles, of course. I would steam it before wearing it, but I would not expect it to remain perfectly smooth. A long pink dress that stayed completely crisp could start to feel a little formal. The linen keeps this one relaxed.

The Pockets

They are enormous.

These are not tiny side pockets that can barely hold a phone. They are two substantial patch pockets placed directly on the front of the dress.

Visually, they break up what would otherwise be a very long expanse of pink. Practically, they are useful.

The pointed collar does something similar. Without it, the length, gathering and pink linen could push the dress toward romantic or bohemian territory. The collar gives it some structure.

That balance is probably why I like it.

What Does the Gibson & Latimer Dress Cost?

The dress was originally priced at $159 at Dillard’s and is currently permanently reduced to $55.65.

As a seasonal piece, this particular style will likely disappear as the remaining inventory sells, although Gibson & Latimer continues to offer dresses and other women’s clothing through Dillard’s.

How I Would Style This Pink Linen Dress

I do not think this dress benefits from being buried under clothes. The pale pink works particularly well with natural straw, cognac leather, ivory and light denim, so I would keep everything around it fairly simple.

Pink Linen Dress With Cognac Sandals

I tend to prefer supportive shoes from brands such as Naot, Vionic, Dansko and Alex Marie because I want a shoe I can actually walk around in.

For this dress, I would stay with the cleaner, more refined sandal shapes from those brands rather than the heavier styles. Cognac, honey and brandy are particularly good against the pale pink.

Add a Really Good Straw Hat

A natural straw hat may be my favorite addition to this dress.

I would choose something with a little structure and a substantial brim rather than an enormous floppy beach hat. The Brixton Joanna is very close to the shape I have in mind.

Pink linen, cognac leather and natural straw is probably my favorite combination for the dress.

Wear It With an Ivory or Cream Sweater

When the weather begins to cool, I would add an ivory, cream, oatmeal or even soft blue sweater.

I would choose a fine- or medium-knit sweater that leaves the collar and much of the pink visible. NIC+ZOE and Splendid are around the level I would look at: polished pieces that still feel wearable in everyday life.

Try Soft Blue With the Pink

I also really like pale blue with this particular pink.

It is less expected than cream, and with cognac leather shoes it changes the look without fighting with the dress.

Is Gibson & Latimer Worth Looking For?

I can only judge the piece I own, and this one makes a good case for the label.

The fabric is sensible. The cotton lining is a detail I appreciate. The pockets are genuinely useful. The design borrows from a shirtdress formula that has lasted for decades rather than trying terribly hard to look current.

I also like knowing where the label fits into the larger Dillard’s story.

I started with a pink linen dress and ended up reading trademark records and the Dillard family tree, trying to work out why two surnames appeared together on a piece of clothing.

I still do not have Dillard’s official explanation for the name.

I do know that William Dillard’s mother was a Gibson, his wife was a Latimer, and the company he founded eventually put Gibson & Latimer inside a line of women’s clothing.

Whether the name was intended as a tribute to the two women is a bit of Dillard’s history I’d still love to know.

In the meantime, I’ll be wearing the dress.