A dress for every occasion

The sun is shining.

It’s wedding/event season.

The summer holidays are a matter of weeks away.

So what do you need?

A dress of course, because it is time to get your pins out. So here is my ultimate guide to the dresses you need for every occasion this summer.

The Perfect Casual Everyday Dress

Where do you go for your summer holiday dress? Well Hush is a great place to start with lots of styles to choose from to suit different body shapes.

If you want something loose fitting to skim over your contours then the Artemis dress £65 is great. A v neck-line is the most slimming neckline out there so this is perfect if you have a bigger bust.

In a similar vein, is the Daphne Dress £65 which comes in black and cream. This is a lovely style you can dress up with heels and jewellery. Add layers with a leather or denim jacket or even something a bit more special, like a statement jacket.

For something more figure hugging, then their Venice Beach Dress £40 or their V Neck Tara Dress £55 are a good bet.

I have the Venice in black and it has been one of the most useful dresses ever that doesn’t crease, rolls up to nothing and that I can dress up or down. Making it a perfect holiday and summer buy. It also comes in this gorgeous turquoise and a darker red colour.

The Tara is also in black, stripe and this lovely olive colour. Perfect with some gold jewellery.

 

Boden also has a couple of gems including this Aurelie Jersey Dress £50 which comes in two lovely stripe colour combos.

The Summer BBQ/Party Dress

Ok so you’ve got something to go to that requires a little bit more effort to be made, but isn’t super formal. Then what you need is one of these options.

Boden has this lovely Clemmie Shirt Dress £98 which is perfect for creating curves thanks to its fit and flare silhouette. Not so keen in the print but love the broderie versions in white and navy. And the pockets are a bonus.

Or if that is not your thing, then this Isadora Broderie Dress £98 does the cutwork look in a sleeker shape. Plus it has sleeves.

Oliver Bonas has this amazing Rio Red Frill Sleeved Midi Dress £89.50 which is another feminine swishy-skirted number. So make like the flamenco emoji and get sashaying.

Cos also has this Flared Sleeveless dress £79. They have made it look as Cos-like and androgynous as possible here, but in the flesh it is actually a much prettier garment.

The Wedding Dress

Well not the actual bride’s dress but what do you wear to a traditional wedding?

Since Self Portrait made lace dresses fashionable, a lace dress like the Althea Lace Dress £170 from Boden is spot on. I love the fashionable midi length and the swooshy skirt. It comes in navy and white and you could easily jazz this up with some colourful accessories or keep the look pared back with a sophisticated neutral as they have done.

Whistles also has a whole host of lace options to tempt and with 20% off at the moment (all the prices shown are with the discount), that makes them even more appealing. From more demure styles such as the Amanda Lace Dress £175.20.

To the Valentina Fluted Sleeve Dress £156, both of which have sleeves which are great if, like so many people, you aren’t a fan of your upper arms. Or you don’t want to bank on the day being a scorcher. This is black so may be better for a cocktail reception.

To shorter and brighter dresses like this Off the Shoulder Lace Dress £176.

Or the Rosie Lace Panel Dress £199.20 which is a midi length but in this season’s fiery red. It does also come in navy and nude.

There is also the Flo Embroidered Dress £159.20 in raspberry.

Reiss is another good bet for more traditional occasion wear. This season colour blocking is key, so go bright and bold with the Elle Dress £180 is a fab colour and very smart in a Kate Middleton way – I quite like that and there are times in your life when that is what you need.

Or the Manila Dress £180 in fuchsia and which does the big sleeves trend.

If you are in need of a hat, then try Crown Jules for one of their headpieces such as this Caroline £60 which would work beautifully with a neutral dress like the Whistles Rosie style. if you go for a navy dress, then the world is your oyster on the hat front as basically anything will work. As well as being able to buy styles from the collection, you can also go down the made to measure route for a bespoke design.

If you have a less formal gig, wedding abroad or don’t like the trussed up nature of more formal wedding attire, then there are lots of options out there.

&Other Stories has another flamenco- inspired number with its Frill dress £95. Remove the trainers, add some strappy block heeled sandals or even embellished flat sandals and you are away.

For a gorgeous maxi dress this Helene Dress £170 from Boden is feminine, whimsical and generally rather lovely. While it would suit an English country garden style wedding, it also wouldn’t look out of place in a more bohemian affair or abroad for that matter.

Or the place for a luxe bohemian look is Rixo and you would definitely look like one hell of a sexy senorita (to quote their website) in their Kitty Dress £315 . Plus you aren’t likely to bump into anyone else wearing it as their stock is limited.

An embellished style is another option and this Cindy Neon Sequin Dress £149 is fab (shame about the name). With beautiful but fun embellishment (which I have seen in the flesh and can confirm its loveliness), it would certainly work well for a laid-back or beach wedding.

Phew – that is one heck of a lot of dresses. But hopefully an awful lot of inspiration to see you through the season. Happy Bank Holiday Weekend! Time to reach for the St Tropez.