Timeless Elegance: How to Style a Summer Dress

It’s all about the finishing touches, right? I’ve always loved dresses because they are “one-and-done” pieces. In fact, there’s something magical about slipping into a summer dress—the way it catches the breeze, the freedom it gives your silhouette, and the instant polish it adds to your day. They don’t need much to shine. However, details matter—even the subtle ones. Wondering how to style a summer dress elegantly?

In today’s post, I’ll be using spring and summer dress selections from Red Dress to walk you through four key styling tips.

These simple guidelines allow you to put your own spin on each style, while ensuring you remain the focus not the dress. We’ll also include a Red Dress Boutique review if this brand is new to you.

Dress | Heels | Bag (similar) | Earrings (similar)

Summer Dress Styling: 4 Key Tips

1) Don’t Fight Detail 

First, it’s important to consider the level of detail your chosen style has.

Take a good look at your summer dress. Does it have a lot going on? Heavily embellished pieces (think ruffles, embroidery, lace, bows, or patterns) demand restraint. You want to make sure the finishing touches you choose don’t compete with dress. It’s all about editing! Think back to that famed Coco Chanel quote:

“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off.“

For example, the ivory floral embroidered midi dress I’m wearing has a lot of interest already. It has a face-framing square neckline, figure-flattering mermaid silhouette, delicate floral detailing, and an adjustable self-tie black ribbon. Basically, it feels made for a princess. In fact, it reminds me of the McQueen Dress the Princess of Wales wore in 2022).

Because of the the level of detail, it’s important to go easy on the finishing touches. By choosing minimal, related accessories, you allow the feminine elements of the dress to pull the focus. While you could play-up the ribbon with a black bag, I find darker accessories can feel spotty against white styles. You don’t the eye bouncing all over the place. I opted for a white envelope clutch and floral earrings that mimicked the dress detail.

Avoid high contrast with your shoes too, as it can pull attention from the stunning embroidery. I opted for a classic nude pump.

How to Style a Summer Dress

2) Reveal Special Backs & Necklines w/ an Updo

Next, we need to consider our hairstyle as we figure out how to style a summer dress.

I don’t wear my hair up very often, especially for special occasions. However, there’s a reason updos are practically synonymous with occasion dressing! It would be a shame to let a high drama dress get lost under layers of hair.

A good rule of thumb when styling a summer dress is to assess the back. Are there details you want people to see? Remember, you make an impression both when you walk into a room and when you leave it.  Still not sure how to proceed? Snap a quick review mirror photo with your hair pulled up and with it down. This can help give you a better view.

When styling this Red Dress coral cotton maxi dress, I knew long hair would detract from the bold shoulders and ruffle detailing. In contrast, a sleek updo or simply ponytail let’s them shine. Pulling your hair up also allows you to reveal a statement earring. I opted for gold accessories and a gold block heel to boost the formality of the style, making it appropriate for an evening party or to wear to a wedding.

Read this next: Best Bridal & Event Shoes | Shoes Like Loeffler Randal

Dress 

3) Pin Away Extra Belt Length

A common mistake people make when considering how to style a summer dress, is ignoring what can make it look sloppy. Fabric belts are notorious for wrinkles, creases, and unwanted length. Without effective styling, they can detract from the overall look of your summer dress.

This leaves us with two options: You can swap out the fabric belt for an alternative with less length – or you can use some stylist tricks to adjust appropriately. I think the fabric belt on this midi dress makes the look, so I wanted to keep it.

In fact, I keep a safety pin permanently inside my fabric belts, so it’s always on hand to make adjustments. You can also use a bobby pin to secure belts that are too long.

4) Consider Color

Finally, we conclude our tips for how to style a spring dress with an opportunity to inject some personality. You can completely change the look and feel of a dress by adding a pop of color. And don’t forget color goes both ways! Bold hues can either boost formality for an evening look, or make a style feel more whimsical and playful.

For example, my striped dress looks daytime casual when styled with wedges and a woven bag. However, when you add a splash of orange with a pump and evening bag, you’re ready for an event. The blue and orange combo is a strategic choice.

Blue and orange are complementary colors, meaning they are opposite each other on the color wheel. This creates an especially vibrant and visually appealing contrast and is a really fun way to mix up how you style a summer dress.

When choosing a colorful accessory, it can be helpful to think of color theory. This article offers a helpful discussion on complementary colors. With that said, remember personal style is all about channeling your uniqueness. If you have a color you love, rock it! I go deep into choosing your best colors in this blog post.

How to Style a Summer Dress – With Red Dress Boutique

A No-Fail Formula 

To conclude, there is a no-fail formula for styling a summer dress. It’s one I naturally gravitate toward and turn to regularly. Summer dresses have an easy-breezy, light, and happy feel to them. Consequently, you can’t go wrong with neutrals, gold, and woven accessories.

In fact, a mix of all three might be your perfect recipe!

You’ll see a lot of this type of styling on the Red Dress website because it is so effective at enhancing the dress and the woman wearing it. Here are a few of my favorite “will never fail you” accessories for styling summer dresses:

Red Dress Boutique Review

About the Brand

Now, let’s chat quickly about the brand for those looking for Red Dress boutique reviews. Red Dress is a female-owned small business that focuses on highly feminine, unique styles. It boasts a lot of color, whimsy and does a great job of keeping things fresh and updated with new, timely collections. I feel like it has an Old Money aesthetic, but with color. Think Palm Beach luxury at a moderate price point.

If you love ruffles, bows, floral print, and unique detailing, Red Dress is worth exploring.

The company is based in Athens, Georgia. According to its owner,  it caters “to the woman who wants to look like a million bucks, but she doesn’t have a million bucks.” It got a boost from an appearance on Shark Tank 10 years ago. Click here to watch that pitch.

About Red Dress:

Price, Quality, Shipping & Returns

I’ve ordered four Red Dress styles and loved each. The quality was on par with similar online boutique retailers and matches what I’d expect at this price point. The fit matched the sizing guide and was pleasantly petite-friendly. I felt like the styles ran slightly smaller and shorter than what I typically find online, which is a huge win for us short gals! (I’m 4’11 for reference).

They also shipped really quickly. U.S. shipping for orders over $100 is free. Standard shipping takes 5-8 business days. Click here for shipping info.

Pay Attention to the Return Policy!

While crafting this post, I did notice online reviews about Red Dress were a bit of a mixed bag. This did not match my experience, so I did a bit more digging.

Most critiques have to do with the Red Dress return policy, not the quality of the items. It’s critical to note, that returns are for STORE CREDIT ONLY. Mail in returns also incur a $6 shipping fee, deducted from that store credit. Also, store credit is processed for the item cost only. Your initial shipping fee is not reimbursed.

Additionally, items marked FINAL SALE and those using 30% off discount codes are not eligible for return. Am I wild about store credit only return options? No. Then again, it is important to remember that small businesses have tight margins and can’t offer the type of returns we’ve become accustomed to with Amazon.

Final Verdict on Red Dress?

It’s a winner in my mind (if you understand the return policy, your style preferences, and sizing). This brand’s aesthetic so closely mirrors my own, choosing what to order is a challenge. It’s a go-to spot for uniquely feminine attire and a great option when you want something extra special. Have you tried the brand? Would love to hear about you experience!