6 Effortlessly Elegant Dress Outfits Londoners Are Relying On This Summer

Come summer, there are plenty of items that enjoy their moment in the spotlight—vest tops, linen trousers and sandals, to name a few. Our inboxes are saturated with “light and breezy” pieces competing for our attention, but one category reigns supreme as far as Londoners are concerned: dresses.

Unless you’ve experienced London during a heatwave, it’s hard to imagine just how sticky and unpleasant things can get (especially if you’re a Tube commuter, like many of Who What Wear UK's editors). Summer in the city can be heavenly, filled with cute park dates and iced matcha pit-stops, but there also are plenty of moments spent cursing the UK for its lack of air conditioning or general inability to function well in the heat. That’s why dresses are such an important fixture of a London summer wardrobe. Choose a linen or light cotton style with a flowy silhouette, and it’s as close as you can get to wearing nothing. No uncomfortable rubbing around the waist, arms and legs, no synthetics sticking to your skin—just total sartorial freedom.

And then there’s the ease of assembling a dress outfit: it’s basically a one-and-done situation. Just add cute shoes and a basket bag, and you’re ready for whatever the day has in store. Office, pub, Hampstead Heath; every outing is better in a dress.

Below, I’ve assembled some of my favourite London summer dress outfits of late, borrowed from the city people I constantly look to for inspiration, especially in weather like this.

London Summer Dress Outfits:

1. Linen Mini Dress + Strappy Sandals

Style Notes: When London hits 30 degrees, the only sensible option is a lightweight linen dress. And if it's a mini, better yet. Most I've seen are simple with not much going on, so pairing it with strappy, low-heeled sandals will make it feel a touch more polished.

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2. Butter Yellow Dress + Flat Sandals

Style Notes: Butter yellow is the colour du jour, so naturally, Londoners are wearing it in dress form. I like the idea of pairing it with a bolder shade of yellow, as Eni has done here.

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3. LBD + Woven Bag + Ballet Flats

Style Notes: I know what you're thinking—a black dress in summer? Well, an LBD is a cliché for a reason, and it does work in balmy climes as long as you choose a breathable natural fabric like cotton or linen. Add warm-weather accessories to make it feel seasonally fresh.

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4. Gingham Dress + Matching Headscarf

Style Notes: Charlotte lives in Lincoln, but her gingham look that she opted for for a day in the city is too good not to highlight. The matching headscarf? Perfection.

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5. Denim Dress + Tan Accessories

Style Notes: A denim dress might not be the smartest choice for ultra-hot days, but it's a fail-sale option for comfortably warm weather. Structured enough to look like you planned it, casual enough to wear with sneakers or flat strappy sandals.

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6. Floral Dress + Clogs

Style Notes: If you thought floral dresses couldn't look incredibly elegant, I'm pleased to say you're wrong. Just look at Francesca in her pretty DÔEN style for proof!

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