Summer-over-winter style advocates may be in the minority, but nobody can deny the practicality of single-item dressing.
Dresses are the remedy to any warm weather sartorial concerns. Unlike sub-zero temperatures which call for layering, accessorising and bundling up, ensembles for double-digit degrees require minimal effort.
So why does slipping back into summer fashion year after year feel so pressured? Shedding the cashmere and revealing our Vitamin D-deprived skin to the world is exposing. Yet when we have a new frock to button ourselves into and show off, the process of stripping down and bearing near-all is much more savoury.
Summer dresses are highly versatile. Styles range from shirt to slip, tiered to draped, cut-out to georgette, to name but a few. Print options are boundless. Florals carry over from spring, pastels start taking hold on the runways, crochet comes out of hibernation and sheer fabrics become acceptable to wear once the weather warms up. Shoppers are spoilt for choice.
The most important element to factor in when summer dress shopping is occasion. Occasion dictates the type of garment you should add to your online basket. Summer typically marks the midst of wedding season, meaning family-friendly, romantic numbers are required. Cult brands such as Rixo, Omnes and Reformation have you covered here.
Holiday packing calls for beautiful bold prints à la Farm Rio, Johanna Ortiz, Diane Von Furstenberg and Pucci. Wimbledon ushers in summer whites - with Chloe, Cos and DÔEN paving the way for ethereal snow-toned pieces with a fairytale twist. Out-of-office daywear allows for flirty mini dresses to steal the show, while more modest work attire takes the form of longline shirt dresses and Scandinavian silhouettes. Think Arket, Toteme and Jonathan Simkai.
For a large amount of labels, summer is their forte. Airy, colourbomb designs are entwined in the DNA of fashion houses such as Missoni, Isabel Marant, Jacquemus, Siedres, Ahluwalia, Bode, Louisa Ballou and Zimmerman. Dopamine dressing has never been so easy to source.
While many brands are yet to showcase their summer collections, we’ve already pinpointed a few must-see dresses to consider for summer. Gear up for sun-soaked city soirees, beachside breaks and picnics in the park and browse the edit below.
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Siedres Nisha Striped Jersey Mini Dress
Siedres is a brand that excels come summer. The Nisha striped jersey dress is a kaleidoscopic piece that will dazzle passersby.
Buy now £285.00, Harvey Nichols
Farm Rio Gathered Linen-Blend Maxi Dress
Lightweight linen is a summer must - and Farm Rio’s quirky take on the classic material is a sight to behold. Dramatically blooming floral straps complete with drawstring ties create the focal point of this ethereal frock. Soft gathering around the neckline and a voluminous silhouette promise airy bliss in the hottest of climates.
Buy now £310.00, Net-A-Porter
Kitri Roberta Patched Toile De Jouy Mini Dress
Kitri’s dresses have a habit of going viral. Add the ethereal, patchwork Roberta dress to your shopping basket before it flies off the shelves.
Buy now £150.00, Kitri
Arket Silk Slip Dress
Slinky sophistication is always on the cards for summer. Arket’s baby pink midi number, which is made from a smooth satin weave of pure silk, can be thrown on and dressed up for any occasion.
Buy now £65.00, Arket
DÔEN + NET SUSTAIN Ischia Dress
A radiant clear canvas of a frock, DÔEN's Ischia dress is carefully made from organic cotton-voile featuring refined shirred detailing to flirt with the eye. An elegant scooped necklace allows for ample accessorising, while a relaxed fit across the shoulders flashes the collar bones.
Buy now £352.00, Net-A-Porter
Acne Studios Wrap-Effect Midi Dress
Infuse your wardrobe with a lick of luxury. Acne Studios’ wrap-effect midi dress features a lightweight hammered crepe printed with a blurred floral motif, perfect for easing your wardrobe from spring into summer.
Buy now £750.00, Net-A-Porter
For Love and Lemons Audrey Mini Dress
For Love and Lemons specialises in girlish glamour and the brand’s Audrey Mini Dress is romance personified. A dream-like tulip print is coupled with a dainty halterneck that will combat the seaside breeze.
Buy now £219.00, Revolve
Rixo Iggy Midi Dress
Available in regular and petite sizes, Rixo’s delightful Iggy Dress is a striped sensation. Black lace trims, a diagonally accented print and a warming colour palette make for a vibrant summer frock.
Buy now £245.00, Rixo
free-est Mykonos Fauxchet Sweater Mini
Transform into a Grecian goddess with free-est’s Mykonos Fauxchet Sweater Mini. Up for grabs in five eye-catching tones, the crochet number comes complete with playful frilled sleeves and a feminine scooped V-neck.
Buy now £78.00, Free People
By Anthropologie Asymmetrical Floral Midi Dress
Plus-size collections tend to be limited, but not Anthropologie’s. The brand’s stunning Asymmetrical Floral Midi Dress is topping our wishlist. Available in plus sizes only, the tropical number will accentuate your curves thanks to the asymmetrical hemline and floral embellishment.
Buy now £198.00, Anthropologie
Cos Draped Asymmetric Maxi Dress
Cos have the in-office commuters covered. The brand stocks a variety of modest summer dresses, like this chalk-white maxi, that make for highly elegant workwear pieces.
Buy now £135.00, Cos
Sandro Ruffled Printed Twill Mini Dress
A departure from the brand’s signature, neatly constructed designs, Sandro’s ruffled mini dress is a fabulously flirty garment to flit down the high street in.
Buy now £109.00, The Outnet
Simkhai Emily V-Neck Draped Gown
If you have some disposable income to spend on a timeless dress to enchant, look to Simkhai. The brand’s Emily dress is whimsical and lustrous in equal measure. Pale shades of yellow and blossom pink are married by gentle, ghost-like ruffles in a floor-sweeping silhouette.
Buy now £890.99, Farfetch
Fruity Booty Black Rosas Dress
Part of Fruity Booty’s showstopping lace capsule collection, the Rosas stretchy lace dress is complete with an asymmetric hem for joyous walks in the park and dancing long into the night.
Buy now £73.00, Fruity Booty
Rouje Ramia Dress
Summer doesn’t have to equate to bright colours. Rouje’s aubergine satin number is a must-have throw-on-and-go for those who prefer a low-key colour scheme. A white lace trim and slinky silhouette pair perfectly with cowboy boots for the warmer weather.
Buy now £250.00, Rouje
