At first glance, finding an everyday summer dress should be easy. Yet every summer, women across Britain survey high street shops flooded with dresses with a sense of panic.
The perfect dress should go from casual to dressy, looking elegant while still being easy to put on and wear. It has to seem current, but avoiding the trap of ubiquity.
The key to doing it right is to stick to your style, whether minimalist or bohemian. We’ve chosen the best dresses for every style tribe, so you’re sure to find something you’ll love for many summers to come…
The Lady
Dress, £179, houseofcb.com; sunglasses, £187, blackeyewear.com; bag, £58, thecolombiacollective.co.uk; earrings, £99, patspats.org; trainers, £90, gola.co.uk
Do you secretly long for the glory days of 1950s glamour? Our model is wearing the Dorothy (£179) from London brand House of CB, which makes the best corsetry-inspired dresses on the market.
Emphasis on the word “inspired”: This is not the same corsetry that an 18th century duchess would know. Today, smart panels and innovative fabrics in stretch cotton create the Same silhouette, so you can breathe comfortably.
Try Nobody’s Child’s Marina dress (£85, nobodyschild.com) for a similar shape that looks as good with sandals at a market as it does with pumps at a wedding.
the adventurer
LR: dress, £295, meandem.com; Dress, £275, ganni.com
The adventurer likes bold prints but never floral ones (too predictable). Luckily, animal and fruit prints are everywhere.
Never Fully Dressed has an orange and lemon one (£99, neverfullydressed.com). The most daring could even opt for cuts.
Me+Em’s cotton dress features a perfectly placed cut to show off a slip of skin just above the hip.
The minimalist
LR: Khaki dress, £44.99, hm.com; bag, £58, thecolombiacollective.co.uk; earrings, £110, patspats.org; Cream dress, £24, Mango at very.co.uk
There is only one dress for minimalists this season. Enter the sleeveless dress. The top is made of one fabric and the bottom is made of another, so it resembles a skirt and a tank top, but can be put on in one go and effortlessly.
Don’t be discouraged if you’re afraid to show your arms: the clean shape of this dress makes it the perfect canvas for an oversized jacket or cropped jacket.
They come in high-waist and low-waist styles. Mango has a number of stylish options for under £40.
The bohemian
LR: pink dress, £80, monsoon.co.uk; Una dress, £210, boden.co.uk
If you’re a fan of Sienna Miller’s style or prefer a little wavy linen, then you’re in the boho tribe.
Boden’s Una dress (£210, boden.co.uk) comes in four colors and is the ultimate in summer versatility – wear it with trainers, over your swimsuit on holiday and with cork-soled heels in the evening .
A belt means it retains enough shape to nod to bohemia without looking like a Woodstock festival costume. Or try Monsoon’s pink maxi dress.
The classicist
LR: Dress, £90, river island.com; hat, £69, toast; earrings, £99, patspats.com; bag, £95, longchamp.com; Checkered dress, £295, jasper conran.com
The classicist likes impeccable white shirts, checked pants and basket bags. She doesn’t like busy floral prints.
A white shirt dress should be your summer investment, ideally one that cinches at the waist for a stylish finish.
The River Island dress adds style thanks to pearl buttons and scalloped details.
Beaufort & Blake has a similar one with embroidery that has a real French Riviera factor (£150, beaufortandblake.com).