We’re delving into the inspirations behind our bestselling Joanie Icons! First up in this brand-new series is Barbara, the fan-favourite shirt dress that’s been a mainstay in our range since we first opened our virtual doors in 2016.

Meet Barbara!

Barbara is the bestselling dress shape that’s popular for a reason. This easy-going tea dress combines the very best elements of our favourite vintage dresses, from the pleated detailing at the shoulders and waist to the fit-and-flare silhouette.

We designed the Barbara Dress to be as easy to wear as possible with plenty of clever hidden features. The functional button-through front makes this dress breastfeeding-friendly, there’s a hidden inner fastening to prevent gaping at the waist - and, of course, it has pockets for all your necessities!

Barbara Vintage Typewriter Print Button-Through Dress, Barbara Geometric Print Button-Through Dress

What Makes Barbara A Joanie Icon?

Joanie Icons are designed with thought with you - our lovely Joanie Gals - in mind. We’ve created these styles in the hope that they’ll become the kind of clothing you’ll love for a lifetime and then pass on to someone else to enjoy.

We’ve spent years working on and improving the Barbara Dress, from changing the materials it's made from to make it more sustainable to removing the lining to make it easier to wash and care for.

Joanie Dresses are always lovingly designed with the wearer in mind. We’re a proudly female-fronted company, and we design for real-life women with boobs, tums, and bums. 

Where we can, we’ll always add a little ‘ease’ to your day, whether that’s a fabric that washes really well, an elastic channel that gives you an extra inch post-lunch, or a natty little inside button that stops the belly button keyhole from popping open at pudding time. 

An extra gather here or a little somethin’ somethin’ there to make sure the garment will make you feel your absolute best is always our goal.

Lucy, Brand Director

The Barbara Dress: Your Top Picks

Barbara is a certified Joanie Icon because this dress shape simply never goes out of style. For that reason, you’ll see Barbara’s popping up again and again across our collections in a range of retro, conversational, second-discovery prints.

Need more convincing? We’ll let the reviews speak for themselves…

Joanie Icons: Barbara Book Print Button-Through Dress

Our favourite dress shape and our favourite type of print? What a novel idea! This Barbara is every bookworm’s dress of dreams, perfect for wearing your love of literature on your sleeves…

Joanie Icons: Barbara Bee Print Button-Through Dress

Honey, you’d bee mad not to love this print! Featuring a tessellating retro bee design on a pumpkin spice background, we couldn’t be more buzzing to have the Barbara in our collection.

Joanie Icons: Barbara Ann Space Print Button-Through Tea Dress

A twist on the classic Barbara Dress, Barbara Ann features short, slightly puffed sleeves in the place of the usual ¾-length ones. This cosmic wardrobe staple features an out-of-this-world space print and moon-like faux-pearl buttons.

Shop the Joanie Icons online now!