Summer Dressing: Linen & Easy White Dresses

• You only need a handful of pieces: linen pants, a mini dress and a floaty linen dress. It’s easier to throw on an outfit if you have a smaller selection to choose from – and Marie Kondo would agree.
• Stick to linen to keep you cool during hot months. It’s a breathable material, dries fast and gets softer every wash.
• Keep colours to neutrals plus one bold print or hue per outfit. Think fresh, light colours. White and cream is always our Summer go-to.
• Dress it up with a sleek thong, raffia bag and gold jewelry. You can even add a splash of colour and more personality with little accessories – bandannas are having their moment.

If there's one piece to buy first, make it linen pants. They're light, cool and relaxed, and the fabric gets softer with every wash, so the pair you buy now will feel even softer in February than it does today. Go wide-leg or straight for an easy silhouette that skims rather than clings.

Linen pants are the hardest-working piece in a summer wardrobe. For casual summer days, you can create a relaxed look with a plain white tee and sandals. If you’re going for a long lunch, just swap in a fitted singlet and layer some jewellery. Neutral shades like sand, cream, beige, stone and white go with almost everything else you own, which is why you'll reach for them on repeat. If you want a little more polish, look for a pleated front or a drawstring waist with a flat front panel.

Style tip: Roll the hem once or twice and wear them with flat sandals for a relaxed, holiday feel. For evening, a slim leather sandal and a tucked-in top sharpen the whole look in seconds.

The best dresses for an Australian summer are linen dresses, white or cream dresses and an easy mini dress. For daytime, wear it with flat sandals and a straw bag. For the evening, swap in a heeled sandal and a clutch for a completely different outfit. A mini in a bold print or a bright block colour makes a statement straight away, while a simple style in a neutral feels more sophisticated

Style tip: If you need something for the races, a garden party or an outdoor wedding, look for a mini with structure: puff sleeves, a square neckline or a tiered skirt. The shape does the work, so you can keep the accessories simple.

Nothing says summer like a classic white dress. White looks fresh against sun-kissed skin and photographs beautifully. Cream is softer and often more flattering, so if stark white has never felt like you, that's your shade. Both work with silver or gold jewellery, and both come alive next to tan leather and natural textures like raffia. A good white dress is one you never have to think twice about.