Finding the right combination for summer dresses

By Nadine Hantke Aug 12, 2010, 14:22 GMT

Berlin - Dresses have their heyday in the summer. They are available in all imaginable shapes and lengths and made from different materials and nearly every colour.

But they become eye-catching only when they are combined with the right shoes, jackets and accessories. Some combinations are not an option at all.

'Dresses are the must-haves of the summer,' said Elke Giese of the German Fashion Institute in Berlin. Whether styled like a T-shirt, an overcoat, a tunic or a blouse, 'this summer has something in a dress for every taste,' said sales consultant Valeriya Tuchina of Berlin. The summer dress is so popular because it is universal and versatile.

'There's almost no limit to the imagination when combining summer dresses with other garments and accessories,' said Giese. You just have to to think about how the dress should be interpreted. Shoes are the most important factor in setting the tone.

'I can make a dress look elegant by wearing it with high heels. Worn with flip flops, the dress becomes casual, with Chucks, sporty and with ballerinas, girlish,' said Giese. A dress in the style of a blouse worn with high heels can look chic, while a floral-patterned dress worn with linen shoes creates urbane flair.

'Dresses with miniature flowers look good with flip-flops, ballerinas, clogs or Espadrilles,' said Francois Picot, art director of the international fashion school Esmod in Berlin. He prefers to see other types of dresses with high-heeled shoes. 'Sandals with heels look good with nearly every dress. They hurt the feet, but they simply are pretty. Gutsy women can even wear stilettos.'

A floral dress can be combined with a leather biker jacket or a large knitted jacket just as well as it can be paired with linen shoes. Jeans jackets are enjoying a revival this year and look perfect with a romantic floral dress or one with ruffles. He also likes a T-shirt dress worn with a blouse. This is how a jacket, like shoes, can create a contrast.

'A micro blouse makes an extra large shirt dress tantalising,' said Picot. And he also likes contrasts when it comes to colours. 'A white dress doesn't have to be combined with white shoes. Red shoes would look a lot better.'

A belt is a must to go with formless T-shirt and blouse dresses. Wide belts are worn almost like a corset, accentuating the waist. T-shirt dresses also look well combined with leggings and sneakers.

'Long belts can add a sporty accent to tunic and shirt dresses,' said Alexander Radermacher of Igedo, an organizer of international fashion trade shows. Additional accessories are a matter of taste. 'This season women should wear a jersey scarf as an accessory or nothing at all,' Picot said.

Giese likes to see women wearing large jewellery. Bracelets and necklaces should be large, striking and with a hint of ethnicity included, she said. African-inspired and made from natural materials such as wood are examples she names. She said sunglasses are another accessory to select carefully. The are important not only to protect the eyes from the sun, but they should also look well with one's hair. Tuchina advises people to buy accessories whose colours match.

'They should be harmonious and underscore the overall look,' she said.