The #1 Way to Wear This Type of Dress

We can’t deny the comfort of a long dress and flip-flops, but we’ll be the first to tell you that the comfy look isn’t winning you any style points in the summer of 2015. Since long flowing dresses are a go-to summer uniform for many women, we’ve made it one of our summer style missions to show you how to look cool while flaunting a long dress. When styled right, these floor-sweeping frocks take on an ethereal vibe that’s beautiful for summer, both day and night. To ensure you’re wearing yours in the most stylish way possible, read on and take note!

Scroll down to see 16 examples of the right way to don a long dress, and to shop an assortment of our favourites this season!

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Pair it with pants:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

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Keep a breezy style grounded by pairing with platforms:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

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Capitalise on its versatility by layering:
(Image credit: Stockholm Street Style)

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Long-sleeve maxi dresses always look cool:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

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Interesting accessories take a simple maxi dress from ho-hum to head-turning:
(Image credit: A Love is Blind)

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Top it with a leather moto jacket:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

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Turtlenecks bring a surprising edginess to maxi dresses:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

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A sleek maxi dress paired with structured accessories is the most city-friendly look:
(Image credit: The Urban Spotter)

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Pair with structured pieces to make it office appropriate:
(Image credit: Le 21ème)

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Forgo flip-flops for strappy leather sandals:
(Image credit: The Urban Spotter)

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A long shirtdress is the best kind of shirtdress, in our opinion:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

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A feminine maxi dress with white sneakers is a perfect outfit combination this summer:
(Image credit: Vanessa Jackman)

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Keep your pretty dress from skimming the ground with the help of a pair of wedge-heel platforms:
(Image credit: A Love is Blind)

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Long outerwear looks surprisingly cool with a longer-hem dress:
(Image credit: Vanessa Jackman)

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Abstract patterns temper brightly coloured maxi dresses:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

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Oversize maxi dresses should be lightweight and breezy. Ankle-tie shoes are the perfect on-trend pairing:
(Image credit: Style Du Monde)

Shop irresistible maxi dresses (nary a jersey knit in sight!):

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.