Let’s set the scene. You wake up to a sunny day (optimistic, we know) and run to your wardrobe to find the perfect outfit for a socially distanced day out with friends. Spring is leaking into summer, so you know your best bet is a dress – but which dresses are suitable for both seasons?
Spring has shown us a boat-full of new trends just in time for the easing of lockdown in the UK. From florals (“Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking.”) and gingham to sweater vests and patchwork, the list seems endless. But at the end of the day, a trend is a trend, and we want to see our wardrobe retain some longevity beyond a season.
This is where we can help you out! We’ve been scouring the trends of the season, the forecasts for summer, and have even flicked through the archives to pick out some classics which will see you through to summer 2021 – and 2022, if you’re up for it!
Check out our list below to see what fits you can see yourself in this SS21.
Maxi Dress
The Mother of SS21 dresses, the maxi dress should be your first point of call when it comes to seasonal shopping this year. The elegance of a floor-length dress is unrivalled for those wanting to achieve a classy aesthetic but can just as easily be spiced up with slits and cut-outs to create an edgier look. Wear it with your favourite pair of sandals, trainers, or heels – or cowboy boots, if you’re Kendall Jenner – and live your best life.
Tiered Dress
Relaxed and flowy but still carrying an element of drama through its voluminous skirts, a tiered dress is the answer to post-lockdown blues. A popular trend for the tiered dress currently making the rounds is gingham, which is perfect for those summer days lounging in the park with a picnic (bonus points if your dress matches the pattern on your picnic blanket). The flexibility of its hemline also means that a tiered dress can work for any occasion – formal or casual.
Bardot Dress
Not afraid to show a little skin? A Bardot dress (i.e. an off-the-shoulder, open-neck dress) could be just what you’re looking for as we settle in to summer. Pick one up in a floral pattern or jazz it up with some abstract swirls and shapes for your new iconic go-to look this season – it won’t be going out of style anytime soon!
Shirt Dress
A shirt dress is unmatched when it comes to casual chic. Sported in a light cotton or silky fabric, the shirt dress is perfect for layering up on the colder days of spring with a jacket or sweater vest, but is also just as effective in the summer when stripped back and paired with some sandals. Classy without being overly extravagant (or looking like you’re trying too hard), the shirt dress is sure to be a popular look in the warmer months of 2021.
Slip Dress
While typically characterised as undergarments or sleepwear, the slip dress has seen a revival in recent years as outerwear for the warmer seasons. The design isn’t limited to your standard black, white, red, or pink either, as brands today have modernised the slip dress so that it’s available in a variety of colours and patterns. Slinky and sexy, the slip dress is the optimal choice for a night out in a pub garden or at your favourite restaurant (with outdoor seating, of course).
Words By Charlie Colville
