FASHION Buying a Summer Dress

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN BUYING A Summer Dress

SHAPE For boyish physiques with a straight torso and slim legs, a straight shift or trapeze shape is best and a shorter hemline will showcase your legs. Those with a defined waistline will look best in styles with gentle shaping or a belt at the waist to highlight your curves. Petites who find that they get ‘lost’ in a maxi dress, should instead look for a ‘mid-axi’ length which sits at the lower calf just above the ankle. When buying a long dress, sleeves should be no longer than the elbow otherwise, it may look too heavy on your frame. Bigger chested ladies should avoid spaghetti straps and off the shoulder styles and look for wider straps, sleeveless or short sleeved styles and the neckline should not be too high. Curvy ladies should avoid pleats and instead look for styles with shaping at the waist and an A-line skirt that gently skim the hips.

WHAT DRESS STYLES ARE BIG THIS SUMMER, EASY TO WEAR AND CAN BE WORN DIFFERENT WAYS? The newest addition to the ‘prim and proper’ trend that we’ve seen emerging over the last 12 months is the Laura Ashley inspired, little house on Prairie look. Brands like Batsheva and The Vampire’s Wife are championing this trend and Urban Outfitters has even launched a collection in collaboration with Laura Ashley. Think high necklines and puffed sleeves. This is not specifically a floral trend. Plaids and stripes are a-plenty. These can easily be dressed down with cross body bags and chunky sandals or trainers. Alternatively, pair them with heels and a clutch plus fabulous earrings for a very chic, willowy evening look.

WHAT MAKES A SUMMER DRESS VERSATILE, SOMETHING THAT CAN BE TAKEN FROM DESK-TO-DRINKS? The fabric plays a crucial role here. If the fabric has too much sheen it can be difficult to dress down in a conservative environment. Conversely, a very casual fabric like a seer sucker or a loose weave linen, can read too casual to pair comfortably with smart accessories. Print also has a role to play. A very informal print on a matte base fabric can read very ‘daytime’. On the other hand, if the same print appears on a smoother fabric with a little sheen, it instantly elevates the print making it more versatile. The majority of dress shapes will work from day to night when paired with the right accessories.

COLOUR Having more skin exposed in summer means it’s crucial that the colour of your dress enhances your complexion. Consider whether your skin tone is warm or cool in the same way you would when selecting a foundation shade. The easiest way to assess this is by comparing cool silver and warm gold jewellery against your skin to see which compliments and sits best with your colouring. Cool skin tones suit blue based colours including blue based pinks and reds. Warm skin tones suit yellow and green based shades including corals, oranges and turquoise.

WHAT COLOURS ARE BIG THIS SEASON THAT WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT WHEN SUMMER DRESS SHOPPING? It’s summer so it should not come as a surprise that an ‘all white’ look is bang on trend. Whilst we are in the midst of an ‘anything goes’ era in terms of colour, the colour families getting the most media attention are Sunset shades, warm Pinks, Reds, Oranges and Yellows as well as Pastels. We can’t speak about SS19 without mentioning the Beige trend! Muted neutrals have been huge this year and worn head to toe or mixed with a bright colour pop.

Keren Beaumont Personal Stylist and Image Consultant

@kerenbeaumont.stylist