Summer cocktail dress in satin or florals

A summer cocktail dress from our workshop is either a satin wrap with a soft sheen or a light print with flowers or dots, usually short and sometimes midi. These are warm-weather styles, so it’s smart to choose yours and book a fitting well before the first invitation lands.

Satin wraps in white, emerald, beige and chocolate

The wrap does the shaping. Its two halves overlap over the bust into a V-neck and pull the waist in, and you’ll find that flattering on very different figures. Our white and emerald satin wraps are minis with long sleeves, which keeps the short hem from feeling too bare. With emerald, we’d go for gold earrings or a thin chain in the neckline.

Beige and chocolate come as midis, also with sleeves. They’re calmer. The beige one suits a summer wedding or a ceremony where bare shoulders aren’t welcome, and it’s easy with nude pumps and gold. The satin on these is polyester with elastane, and there’s a slight stretch for dancing.

Prefer ruffles with your sheen? The green satin midi has frills at the waist, short sleeves and a V-neck. Want more shine for evening? Our satin cocktail styles sit together on one page.

Prints for a rooftop or a garden party

Florals feel right outdoors. The light blue mini has ruffles at the hem that sway as you walk, plus short sleeves and a round neck, so keep the top simple with small studs. For a terrace at dusk, the off-shoulder florals in blue, beige or black show your collarbones and need nothing around the neck.

Sunny yellow comes as a sleeveless midi with a V-neck and a ruffle along the waistline. It’s bright enough to stand out in seaside or garden photos. On the white mini printed with big magnolias, the long sleeves are slit open at the shoulder. That keeps a closed round neck from looking strict.

Dots are the other route. A red polka dot style with a keyhole at the neck ends at the knee, and a white one with dots has full long sleeves that shade your arms from the sun. More prints live among our floral summer looks and the polka dot range.