A summer dress is a seasonal staple of any wardrobe. While dress trends cycle in and out of fashion each year, you don’t necessarily have to buy the latest pieces to look and feel cool in warm weather. So long as it suits you and your personal style, it is possible to find “that” dress: the one you’ll keep on rotation throughout the season and even into the colder months.
Choosing the perfect summer dress also involves practical considerations: easy-care, natural fabrics that are light yet durable (such as cotton or linen) in a style that makes you feel just like the weather: bright, sunny and carefree.
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Maximalist Maxis
If you’re drawn to breezy, bohemian designs in floor-skimming lengths, the maximalist maxi might be for you. Styles range from strapless styles to long-sleeved versions (Dainty Jewells offer some great options), often seen in a range of bold and beautiful patterns that pair perfectly with sandals, or a platform heel if you need a little more height.
The “Every Wear” Dress
Capsule closet lovers, this one’s for you: for this dress the brief is simple: a fitted or rib-knit design in a high quality stretch jersey fabric and a neutral color that you can wear everywhere. It’s also the perfect “day to night” dress, whether worn with a jean jacket and sneakers or glammed up with jewelry and a pair of mules.
A Classic Sundress
Typically constructed from linen or cotton with a fitted bodice and flowy a-line skirt in pastels, brights or floral prints, this timeless style is perfect for those who love a retro look. Keep things simple with a woven beach bag or basket for the daytime or for a vintage Hollywood look, just add red lipstick and a pair of fabulous cat-eye sunglasses.
Shift Dresses
The classic shift (or “sheath”) dress might just be your wardrobe’s hardest working item, especially if you are drawn to more corporate styles. A straight silhouette falling from mid-length to knee makes this style ideal for the office as well as after work drinks, while the tailored, structured appearance makes it a great standby for formal events.
Slip Dresses
Silky, slinky slip dresses made a comeback with the return of nineties fashion sometime in the mid 2010s. They’re surprisingly versatile, whether layered over a crisp tee shirt or (for cool evenings or days when you need a little more warmth) worn with a midweight sweater or cardigan.
Shirt Dresses
Shirt dresses are another great option for those who prefer a more tailored look, combining the breeziness of a dress with the more structural elements of suiting such as collars, cuffs and buttons. Whether fitted or more loose in style, they’re the epitome of effortless cool, especially when worn with sneakers and simple jewelry.
The Tee Shirt Dress
The trend for wearing laidback, loose-fitting designs has been with us for some time now, and if you want to go supersized with your outfits this summer, it’s the best time to do it. Oversized tee shirt dresses are made for warm days, offering a simple, casual look that can be worn as is, or with a belt or a light blazer to add a little more structure and shape.
