Pulling off beach dresses is a matter of equilibrium. As the mercury rises, so does the difficulty of dressing with both style and comfort in mind. But warmer weather doesn’t have to mean a sartorial slump. Enter the beach dress — breezy enough to add ease to your everyday summer wardrobe, but versatile enough to look great beyond the sand as well.
Choosing the best beach dresses is tied to occasion and mood. Lunch at a waterside restaurant calls for a polished design that can be worn with heels, as Poppy Delevingne does so well. Browsing markets on an island getaway? A relaxed silhouette created by a kaftan or maxi dress and sandals is just the ticket. Perhaps the best style is a printed sundress, one that can be worn to casual events right after a refreshing dip in the ocean. The great thing is, you needn’t have holiday plans to plan your beach dress style ideas.
Embrace the kaftans of the bohemian jet set
Have kaftan, will travel — from sun lounger to cocktail lounge, beach to bar. Who do we thank for such a breezy choice when it comes to pulling off beach dresses? Yves Saint Laurent’s Moroccan influences first solidified the kaftan as a go-to for the jet set during the 1960s, inspiring the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Bianca Jagger and Brigitte Bardot. Missoni debuted multi-coloured versions around the same time, while Valentino gave us couture interpretations of the style.
We are still indebted to these pioneers for making the kaftan a viable choice when thinking about how to wear beach dresses. It’s perfect for a day by the water, but just as elegant when dressed up for drinks in Bondi. Celebrities such as Cate Blanchett favour the style equally for holidays and the red carpet (recall when Blanchett wore an off-the-shoulder Missoni kaftan to the LA premiere of Elizabeth: The Golden Age).
Modern incarnations of this floaty style tend to boast a shorter hemline and have been presented in recent years by labels such as Stella McCartney, Gucci and Roberto Cavalli. Hedi Slimane’s arrival at Saint Laurent also marked a reinvigoration of the maison’s iconic kaftan style, as the designer sent Stevie Nicks-inspired creations down the runway for SS13.
Let prints do the talking
Nothing brings out the sunshine better than a floaty sun dress. Even better still if the dress in question incorporates a summery print or a touch of appliqué. This offers the perfect mix of relaxed and feminine style that will be at home anywhere from Byron Bay to St. Kilda. If a resort casual dress code feels right for you, turn to Australian style icons like Miranda Kerr for the best beach dress outfit ideas.
Kerr demonstrates the essential versatility of the printed sundress by styling hers with a straw hat and sandals, or toughening the look up with black ankle boots. Now based in Los Angeles, her resort casual approach reflects a mix of laid-back Australian style and California cool. Nothing captures this mood better than a summery sundress in bright prints or beautiful embroidery.
The casual femininity of a sundress makes for a versatile layering piece, as seen on the runways of Isabel Marant and Chloé. Effortless with denim or a touch of leather, this look lends the impression that you haven’t really tried too hard.
From Coogee to the catwalk
Choosing the best beach dresses for you isn’t always about a summery colour palette, though. Phoebe Tonkin, for example, embraces lacy black creations while holidaying with friends at Viceroy Sugar Beach in St. Lucia. Designers also make a compelling case for pulling off beach dresses with a touch of elegance. Consider Hedi Slimane’s feminine yet contemporary Saint Laurent dresses, which were beautifully embellished and crafted in sweeping silhouettes, fit for the beach and the bar alike.
If the more dramatic beach dress style ideas appeal to you most then luxurious fabrics, such as silk or lace in tiered maxi dresses, will lend effortless polish. Look to Self-Portrait or Valentino dresses for inspiration, after which only a red lip and pair of heels are needed to complete the look.
Alluring colour combinations can be another way to make a sophisticated statement with your beach dress outfit ideas. Eschewing traditional colour combinations, designers have been championing bold colour blocking, mixing mustard with rust, or rich reds with shades of pink. The desired result is less colour coordinated à la The Spice Girls and more elegantly irreverent in the vein of Leandra Medine.