A winter wardrobe is something that I've always found easier to put together than a summer one. As much as I love the warmer weather I often find it more challenging to really find my style in the summer and to pick pieces that I love. One area in particular that I have always struggelled with is dresses. I don't always feel my most confident in dresses for a number of reasons, and finding one that fits me well can be a bit more difficult as anything shorter than a midi always looks incredibly short on me. So many people can rock that look but it just isn't "me". Over the past few summers I have been able to select a few dresses that have served me well throughout the season, for more formal events and causal sunny weekends. They're comfortable, timeless and most importantly I feel confident in them.

The first place that I have started when looking for the perfect summer dress is working out what I want it for. Is there a particular event in mind like a wedding or Ladies Day, is it for the office or do you just want something for weekends and holidays? Once you've narrowed this down it becomes a lot easier to focus on what you want from the dress. Naturally during the summer the high street is saturated with so many dress options. Starting by narrowing down all of the options out there helps to make the whole process of finding your perfect dress less overwhelming. It's also important to consider your budget as this will help you to focus further on what you want. Personally I prefer to invest in winter staples and save more on my summer wardrobe so I tend to keep most things under £50 and stick to the likes of Zara, Mango and Topshop. However, if you are looking to make more of an investment or want a more formal occasion dress you may b e willing to or may need to invest a little more. 

Once you have decided the occasion that you want your dress for you can start thinking more carefully about what you want from the dress itself. Work out which styles make you feel comfortable and confident, and if you aren't sure then take yourself shopping (or do a large ASOS shop) and try a variety of styles on. Often we will see things that will look great on other people but may not suit our shape in the same way, alternatively you may write a specific style off without giving it a fair chance. Trying everything on gives you a non-comital way of experimenting and really seeing what you love, what makes you feel your best and what can be left in the changing room. This is the point at which I also consider whether I am looking for a more trend-led piece or something more timeless. Trends are a brilliant way to experiment with our style and try something new but generally I like to purchases dresses that I will be likley to wear year after year and then rely on my accessories to update the look. I'm also mindful of which trends are likely to suit me and which ones aren't. It can be easy to get caught up in the Instagram hype of the latest trend but it's always worth taking a step back and asking if it will suit you but also whether it will work within your current wardrobe. Backless dresses and mini skirts may look incredible on so many people, but they neither suit me nor make me feel comfortable and confident so I've learnt to steer away from these and instead opt for something longer and often more tailored. 

It's possible that once you've decided on the occasion and style that you want that you may end up realising that you don't really want a dress at all, and that's where jumpsuits come in. Not stricly dresses but sometimes it's necessary to think slightly outside the box and I think jumpsuits can fill the gap in your wardrobe perfectly. Personally I think jumpsuits are the ultimate answer for anyone who wants the effect of a dress (particularly a midi or maxi) but just doesn't feel comfortable in dresses. Over the recent years I have found some excellent jumpsuits that look just as formal, or comfortable, as their dress counter parts but that leave me feeling much more confident if I simply don't want to wear a dress. 

Finding your perfect summer dress can seem like an impossible task. Whilst it's great that there are so many options available it can also make the whole process seem overwhelming and take away from what should be a fun activity. I've found focussing my search and making those key decisions before I start properly looking to really help me find dresses that I love and enjoy pulling back our summer after summer. Online shopping lends itself to this process of shopping, with more filters to use than you ever imagined, but if you are more of an "IRL shopper" then just make sure you have a clear idea of what you want before heading into the shops.