How to Dress for Indecisive Weather
So you want to wear a dress, but you also want to outwit the UK’s changeable weather. Liberty shows you exactly what to wear over dresses this season
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How to Dress for Indecisive Weather
So you want to wear a dress, but you also want to outwit the UK’s changeable weather. Liberty shows you exactly what to wear over dresses this season
By: Maddi John
It's finally summer and to most this means it's time to pull our summer dresses out of hibernation and find the nearest pub garden, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. A UK summer isn’t quite as reliable as a week in the Caribbean, so while dresses may be the sartorial order of the day, our changeable weather calls for one thing: layers. Which ones? How many? We've got you, this is the Liberty guide to what to wear over dresses this summer.
Read More: The Dressing Room: Liberty's Trending Dresses
Lightweight Shirting
Just like a basket bag, a linen or light cotton shirt is an essential element to any summer wardrobe. Smart yet casual, versatile and breathable, there’s a certain ease to layering a shirt over a dress. For a Liberty-approved look, opt for an oversize silhouette, like and leave it unbuttoned or tie the front up at your waist to add some structure to looser, longer dresses.
Read more: Off the Cuff: the Shirt of the Moment
Cosy Knitwear
Sweaters and cardigans make for perfect cover-ups on brisker days. Far more modern than those your grandmother adored, the latest raft comes complete with cute, colourful patterns and soft knitted fabrics. Wearing something simple or monochromatic? Add a bright and bold knitted vest on top. Or if you’re looking for more of a neutral staple to suit any of your summer dresses, try Ganni's Cotton Cable Open-Back Top, £195.
Read more: The Best Summer Dresses
Tailored Jackets
Ah, the tailored jacket. The classic, silhouette-sharpening wardrobe staple that can be just as easily dressed up as it can be down, it offers just the right amount of warmth to ward off an unexpected breeze. For a look that errs on the more casual side, you can’t go wrong with the sunny yellow Farm RIO Blazer, £205, a lightweight contemporary jacket that’ll leave you neither too cold nor too hot. If the moment calls for something a touch more formal, look no further than Ganni's Striped Blazer, £375, a sculptural jacket with elegant lines.
Classic Denim
Suitable for both day to night, the denim jacket is inherently versatile and this season’s iterations come both cropped and oversized: it’s up to you. Style over a summer mini dress with white trainers for daytime comfort, or give a more elegant dress a little edge but layering denim on top. Looking for a relaxed fit? FARM Rio's Jungle Flow Embroidered Denim Jacket, £300 is an all-around winner.
Read more: Fashion School: How to Style a Denim Jacket
Timeless Trench Coats
Last but certainly not least - the beloved trench coat. A timeless staple in your wardrobe and perfect for transitional weather as a light layer when the weather gets worrisome. With waterproof and breathable fabric, the trench is a lifetime investment and a forever favourite you'll love wearing this season and beyond.
Read more: Discover How to Wear Summer Clothes in Winter
