Chic Summer Formal Dress Trend Report

Nothing to wear? Guess again. Now what to wear for a summer time formal event? Forget about food and music; when it comes to parties, a polished outfit is as necessary as hitting the dance floor for the cha cha slide. It’s the difference between being on #fleek or a fashion police fail. Not to mention the confidence boost of slipping into a dress that highlights your every curve. With a packed summer schedule, the wardrobe struggle is real. Before you whimper in your closet and rethink that RSVP, allow us to inspire your attire.

Dress like a goddess in this Adrianna Papell Beaded Blouson gown. Perfect for a lavish summer celebration, the flattering bodice and sequin embellishments ensure a classy arrival. Feeling bold? Slay the style game in this Jewel Double Strap Evening dress by JS Boutique. The fitted bodice, trumpet flare, and sizzling red hue will have you feeling hot at your next formal affair.

Wedding or not, summer is the season for shorties. Ace the lace trend in a unique coral tent dress (above) that can take you from beach wedding, to brunch and beyond. Craving cutouts? Look très chic at your next fête in a short sleeve V-neck with scalloped trim or flatter in a similar frock with a modern floral design.  Great for day or night, this sparkling La Femme cocktail dress is elegance done right. The lace cap sleeves, ruched skirt, and simple satin belt are wow-worthy for a hot weather wedding.

You will never go worng with a Black Formal Dress

The autumn catalogue of formal dresses arrived last week, a refreshing reminder that this long, hot summer has to end at some point. Once the harvest season arrives, we will start seeking for formal dresses for formal evenings. I would be love to share what I am loving right now.

This tropical take on evening wear actually originated in the early 1960s when the fashion industry pretty much threw out the rulebook on formal tradition.  At that time manufacturers retained seersucker’s distinctive striped pattern but limited the fabric to summer dinner jackets. 

Keepsake has been a long-time favourite of mine with their history of geometric prints, stripes and minimalistic designs. In their ‘City of Lights’ dress, they combine bold black geometric stripes against a plain white fabric. The simplistic style of the dress, and the sleek design flatters the body, and upholds the feminine shape.

As the weather begins to cool down, this dress is perfect as you can layer it with a modern jacket or keep it simple by itself. The bodice shape, and the two tiered detailing along the bust is the standout of this dress for me. It’s both sexy and simple, with its slightly more covered style keeping the allure going. Dress it up with nice heels for an elegant evening or wear it down with some leather boots for a fun night out!