Fifty plus summer dresses
Summer is finally here and chances are you've been rifling through your clothes trying to find something casual, easy-to-wear and stylish to fit the change of season. Not been having much luck? Maybe it's time to treat yourself - but, before you do make sure to check out our guide to summer fashion for over 50s. From shirt and t-shirt dresses to tunics and shifts, there's something to suit all shapes, styles and budgets. But don't leave it too long - in this heat, these great finds are sure to fly off the shelves.
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The T-shirt dress
Ah, the oh-so-easy T-shirt dress. Though you can get wear out of it all year round, we think summertime is the best season for it, as you can show it off in all its glory. These dresses are super versatile in that they can be worn as casual daywear with sandals or slip-ons, or dressed up with heels and that fancy bespoke necklace you recently bought for a more glamorous evening look. Whether it's a maxi T-shirt dress or a beach-style T-shirt dress, there's every length and fit going to suit a range of body shapes and tastes, not to forget the fantastic variety of prints currently on the high street! As for materials, we aren't quite yet melting in blazing heat, so you can be a tad more flexible with the types of materials you choose. Don't worry so much about jersey, nylon or silk until the temperatures start rising...
From left to right: Winser London v-neck linen t-shirt dress, £99, John Lewis; Selina fairtrade dress, £55, White Stuff; Tall Monochrome Spotted T-Shirt Dress, £22, Dorothy Perkins.
From left to right: Women mercerised cotton a-line t-shirt mini dress, £14.90, Uniqlo; Modern short sleeve ringer t-shirt dress, £26.97, GAP; Sena embroidered jersey dress, £65, Boden.
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The tunic dress
Whoever designed the tunic dress clearly knew what women want - something that doesn't cling to lumps and bumps but also doesn't end up resembling a family-sized tent. However, back in the 21st century, they're a stalwart item in many women's wardrobes, a fail-safe to make you look effortlessly stylish, even on a bad day. Cover up problem-arms with three-quarter sleeves or accentuate your curves with a tie-waist. Complete the look with sandals or wedges or leggings if you're feeling a tad chilly. Are you after a bold, floral print or a more muted, seamless linen? Look no further than the best selection of fifty plus tunic dresses from the high street right now...
From left to right: Wallis blue swirl border print tunic dress, £40, Debenhams; Oceanfront tunic, £69.95, Seasalt; Evangeline linen tunic, £75, Boden.
From left to right: Navy and multi daya check swing tunic dress, £59, Debenhams; Killiow tunic, £59.95, Seasalt; Yumi curves blossom tunic with ruched sleeve, £40, JD Williams.
The shirt dress
The trusty shirt dress suits tall, small, plus-size and petite - and everything inbetween. They look great loose and above the knee, but can be just as stylish longer in length with a cinched waist. They are the ideal fifty plus summer dresses, particularly for those not wanting to show off too much skin (arms tend to be capped-sleeve or longer) and they're suprisingly cool, particularly if made from linen or lightweight cotton. The classic denim-look shirt dress, complete with a tie waist, exudes laid-back chic, and the selection of abstract prints in the shops this summer are perfect for those with a quirkier dress sense. If you're looking for a summer dress which will take you from a sunny picnic to an alfresco dinner, you've met your match, so save a space in your retirement wardrobe for one of these...
From left to right: Pencil box dress, £69.95, Seasalt; Multi colour sunflower print shirt dress, £35, Dorothy Perkins; Indigo denim shirt dress, £35, Dorothy Perkins.
From left to right: Tall multi coloured check print shirt dress, £34, Dorothy Perkins; Pure cotton floral print shirt midi dress, £45, M&S; Khaki tencel shirt dress, £25, Tu - Sainsburys.
The shift dress
Long thought to be the garment which can transform anyone from scruffy to chic, the shift dress seems to have quite a bit of competition these days - as you've already seen! However, there's no disputing that this uncomplicated design, which hangs from the shoulders and flows over the waist with little definition, flatters all forms. The classic shift dresses are sleeveless, but these days designers have introduced sleeves to accommodate those fearsome of flapping bingo wings. Petite women should look for styles that have even the smallest hint of tailoring at the waistline so to avoid getting swamped by material, but for everybody else, relish wearing a dress which allows you to go slightly overboard at lunchtime whilst looking à la mode!
From left to right: Linen blend shift dress, £35, Next; Multicoloured floral print shift dress, £25, Tu by Sainsburys; Linen rich leaf print shift dress, £27.50, M&S.
From left to right: Denim spot print denim shift dress, £38, Roman; Tall multi colour geometric print shift dress, £22.40, Debenhams/Dorothy Perkins; Billie & Blossom blue tile print shift dress, £28, Dorothy Perkins.
Images: Shutterstock