What to Wear for Summer Events | As seen on Genevieve

Summer dressing is tricky at the best of times, but especially for events such as weddings, festivals and parties.
Our unpredictable weather means that it’s always sensible to have a piece of knitwear (and an umbrella!) with you, but blazing sunshine and lingering heat waves make it hard to plan your outfits.

My advice is to get to grips with layering, the best friend of British summer time.
Read on for my outfit suggestions for some of our most anticipated summer events – and why I always carry a cardigan.

WEDDINGS

My go-to look for a summer wedding is a slip dress layered with a cardigan – the perfect layer for outdoor ceremonies and in case the temperatures drop in the evening. There are several combinations you can go for, but I particularly love adding a burst of colour to a neutral dress with my choice of cardigan or opting for matching hues. Contrasting textures help to create an interesting outfit – such as a lambswool marl cardigan paired with a silk dress. Then, to prevent the outfit looking too prim and proper, pair with a pair of statement sandals and contrasting sparkly socks for an added glam factor.

FESTIVALS

Festivals are the perfect opportunity to dress up and wear outfits that you perhaps wouldn’t wear in your usual day-to-day life. A statement dress, tulle skirt or bright burst of colour are among my favourite festival outfits – and I always carry a cardigan for when the inevitable clouds start rolling in. I love bold, fun colours for festivals, and playing around with contrasting tones. This is the perfect opportunity to indulge in colour clashing – such as a green dress, purple cardigan and blue striped socks to match the cardigan’s buttons. For footwear, take heed of the weather reports and bring along a range of options – Birkenstocks for scorching sunshine, wellies for the mud and your favourite comfy boots for all those steps you’re going to get in strolling around the festival site.

GARDEN PARTIES

There is nothing better on a warm summer’s day than eating delicious food and sipping cocktails in a friend’s garden filled with flowers. A simple summer dress in a neutral tone or subtle print would be my outfit of choice, opting for light, breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen. Billowing dresses look great paired with a colourful knitted vest while sleeker silhouettes pair perfectly with a cropped cardigan to keep you warm as the sun sets.

FORMAL EVENTS

More formal events (such as a work dinner or meeting) can be hard to dress for when the temperatures rise outdoors, especially if you are then sat for long periods of time in an air conditioned office, restaurant or conference centre. Again, layering is key. A smart pencil skirt paired with a vest and simple, elegant jewellery is smart enough for your meeting but cool enough for the commute. Simply add a neutral-coloured cropped cardigan to keep warm when indoors.