10 summer dresses to love

Top summer dress picks from 10 hot Vancouver and Canadian designers.

Credit: flora&fauna

Summer lovin’ for the one-piece wonder from 10 hot Canadian designers

Summer is, hands down, my favourite season. Basking in the gorgeous sunshine, sipping drinks on the patio—really, do I have to explain?

Having said that, enjoying summer is a lot of work: all the different sunblocks to apply for the face, body and hair; regular pedicures for sandal-ready toes; increased gym time to get rid of leftover winter flab; and not to mention the much more diligent waxing needed!

Which is why summer dresses are awesome.

For all the other things that require extra time and effort, the summer dress is just get-up-and-go. Pull one on and you instantly look polished and put-together. Then if you like, you can change up the look in different ways by adding accessories like necklaces, bangles and belts. Sweet!

Here are just 10 of the summer dresses I love this season, all by Canadian designers (eight Vancouver-based), all made in Canada. Vancouver is brimming with incredible dress designers, and there’s just no way to list them all, so if there’s one you love that I missed here, add it below!

Hurray for summer!

Market Dress, Smoking Lily Reclaimed hosiery dress by Sans Soucie

The Market Dress by Smoking Lily

Look at that gorgeous royal blue on this cute jersey dress! And the cut is flattering to all body shapes.

Available at Smoking Lily (3634 Main Street) and online.

The Sepia Tea Dress by Sans Soucie

Hand-dyed and made from reclaimed hosiery, this figure-hugging dress is simply extraordinary.

Available at Etsy.com. Other one-of-a-kind pieces available at The Velvet Room Boutique.

Summer Dresses - Broken Doll Summer Dresses - Nixxi

The Anna Dress by Broken Doll Clothing

Can’t help but be entranced by the gorgeous colours of this Boho-chic number. Love the layering detail at the top, too.

Available online. Select pieces available at

The Velvet Room Boutique.

The Breeze Dress by Nixxi

The pretty white dress, with its clean and simple lines, gains dimension with a subtle undertone. The pocket details add a touch of sweet playfulness.

Available online and at Body Politic.

Summer dress - Lilikoi

The Signe Dress by Lilikoi (Nelson, BC)

I like the subtle but distinctive detail along the side. Plus, the halter neckline and drop-waist help elongate the torso visually. Made from viscose from bamboo, organically grown cotton and Spandex jersey

Available online. Select pieces available at Planet Claire.

The Button Dress by Ella Peru

Cute as a button! But bold at the same time with its shock of colour pastiche. You can’t help but make heads turn in this beauty!

Available at Hum Clothing, Planet Claire and Ingenue (2821 West Broadway).

 

Summer dress - Elroy Apparel Summer Dress - Flora&Fauna

The Mikado Print Dress by Elroy Apparel

This breezy tank dress is all about casual chic. The neutral tone also allows you to go wild with colourful accessories (if you want). Made from 100 percent organic cotton.

Available at Planet Claire, Dream, Ingenue,

Shop Cocoon and Twigg&Hottie.

 

The Symbiosis Dress by flora&fauna

Love the billowy asymmetrical hem line! Perfect for long walks on the beach. Made from 66 percent viscose from bamboo, 14 percent organic cotton, 14 percent cotton and 6 percent Spandex.

Available at Hum Clothing.

 

Summer Dresses - Narcissist Eve Gravel Moon Dress

The Hilary Dress by Narcissist

The modest V-cut, the wider shoulders and the sophisticated black-and-white pattern come together to form a most flattering hour-glass silhouette. Even better, it’s wrinkle-free!

Available at Narcissist (3659 Main Street) or online.

The Moon Dress by Eve Gravel (Montreal)

I absolutely adore this dress! Très chic and ravishingly feminine with the ruffle details.

Available at Forsya Boutique.