Ah, summer! Such a long-awaited season, especially for us, Canadians, who have to deal with treacherous winter weather for most of the year. When the sun is shining and it’s warm outside, life’s good and, somehow, everything feels okay. This year is extra special; with restrictions slowly lifting, there’s a good chance we will be able to engage in more activities – especially outdoor activities. You know what that means – it’s time to plan some outfits!
As a pants girl, one of my style goals for these past couple of years was to incorporate more dresses into my wardrobe; I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job. Summer is the most fitting time to raid your closet for dresses you may have forgotten about, or invest in some new pieces to add to your collection. If you’re planning on doing some shopping or you’re looking for some inspo, keep reading for a guide to four must-have summer dresses.
#1 The Little White Dress
So, we all know about the LBD – little black dress – and the important role it plays in our wardrobe. When in doubt, we reach for the LBD. Well, the LWD – little white dress- is kind of like the LBD of the summer. Whenever there’s a summer event happening, and you’re not sure what to wear, you can always confidently reach for the LWD and know that it will work well for any occasion (unless you’re attending a summer wedding, of course). You were invited to a picnic? LWD. You’re grabbing drinks on the patio? LWD. You’re going to a fair or festival? LWD. You’re going shopping and grabbing coffee? LWD. You get the point… Versatile and can be dressed up or down, the little white dress is a must-have for your summer wardrobe. The dress I am wearing below is from Dynamite’s summer 2020 collection, and is unfortunately no longer available, but if you like the look of it, I have linked a similar dress that features the same eyelet embroidery here: https://www.zara.com/ca/en/openwork-embroidered-dress-p02731089.html?v1=120136425
#2 The Satin Dress
Satin has been a really popular fabric these past couple of years. We’ve seen satin dresses, satin skirts, satin button-downs, and even satin joggers circulating the internet and being offered in a variety of styles for in-store shopping. This fabric is hot this season as well, which means it’s everywhere and you’ll have an easy time getting your hands on a satin piece if you don’t already own one. I like satin dresses because they’re super easy to style. The material already looks luxurious, so it requires minimal accessories when styled. That’s not to say that you can’t go all out and pile on the bling if that’s what suits your fancy. Satin dresses can be dressed up or down and can be worn in a variety of different settings. You can pop some sneakers on and head out for an errand, you can dress it up with some sandals to wear to a brunch date, or if you have a more formal event, like a wedding, you can simply grab your favourite pair of heels and a clutch and you’re good to go! The one I am wearing below was purchased during the Zara winter sale and is no longer available, however, they have another version of the black, satin maxi dress on their website currently: https://www.zara.com/ca/en/satin-lingerie-style-dress-p01165089.html?v1=116230174
They offer a variety of different styles and colours in both maxi and mini satin dresses. Dynamite also has a variety of cute mini and maxi satin dresses in stock. I currently only have a maxi satin dress, however, I’ve been looking into options for a short one; I will be sure to share my thoughts with you if I end up investing in a mini satin dress as well.
#3 The Floral Dress
This one is definitely a staple! Any kind of floral pattern screams spring and summer to me. These always make for a quick grab-and-go outfit and look great styled in a variety of different ways. Similar to the satin dress, the floral dress can be paired with either sneakers, a casual summer shoe, or a dressy shoe to match whatever kind of look you are going for. I really like pairing either sneakers or a flat sandal with floral dresses. Accessorizing is also fairly easy as you can personalize the outfit any which way you’d like; floral dresses are easy to work with. If you’re going for a super summer-y vibe, a straw bag and some espadrilles would take your look to the next level. The dress I am wearing below was purchased from Dynamite during their winter sale and is no longer available, but this lovely floral dress from H&M has been quite popular this season and is a great option: https://www2.hm.com/en_ca/productpage.0970161002.html
#4 The Maxi/ Midi Dress
Longer length dresses are a great item to have in your collection. They come in a variety of styles, patterns, fabrics etc., so there’s bound to be a dress out there to everyone’s liking. In the same manner as the other dresses, the maxi/midi dress is super versatile, especially when considering all the different styles. You can opt for a floral pattern, a neutral colour, a loud colour, a dress with a slit, with no slit, with spaghetti straps, with no straps, with puff sleeves, an a-line fit, a bodycon fit…the options are endless. These types of dresses can also be dressed up or down depending on the way you would like to style them. The dress I am wearing is from Dynamite, is still available, and is currently on sale! You can purchase it here: https://www.dynamiteclothing.com/ca/p/long-sleeve-polo-sweater-dress/10006345906V.html I opted for this particular dress for many reasons, one of them being the polo collar, which is very in this season. It is a knit material, however it’s super lightweight, and, although it may not be the best option to wear during a hot summer day, it’s perfect to wear in the evenings as the fabric is light enough that you will not overheat, but also covers enough of the body that you will not be cold on those cooler summer evenings.
Conclusions
These are some staple summer dresses that I think are great pieces to add to your wardrobe if you don’t already own them. Even just owning one of these types of dresses would be a great investment given the fact that all of them are super versatile. Their versatility allows for styling in different ways to suit different occasions, which means you can re-wear them multiples times and they won’t end up at the back of your closet, collecting dust. Since these types of dresses are staples and not trendy statement pieces, you will also be able to keep them for the future and re-wear them the next few years.
Do you enjoy wearing dresses in the summer or are you more of a pants/shorts person? If you're for the dresses, what’s your favourite type of dress to wear during the summer? Let me know in the comments. Can’t wait to chat!
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