I love summer dresses but is it worth getting a lot when it's never really summer in the UK?

[poshsinglemum]

Can't afford a foriegn holiday this year either

I absolutely love summer dresses and have lots but it's only sunny and WARM for about two weeks a year so I feel like I should be sensible and buy lots of jumpers and cardis.

How many summer dresses do you own?

For me owning a pretty floaty dress transports me to a different place and makes me feel like I'm on holiday even when I'm not. It takes me away from the monotony of drudgery.

I have 4 and hardly ever wear them.

Maybe a couple of times each every summer. Even last year on holiday in Majorca i still just wore three- and that was in the evening going out to dinner.

I don't think it is worth spending a lot but you do need a couple for if it gets too hot for anything else.

I have lots of Summer dresses. The trick is to always buy a matching cardi and then you can wear them a lot more.

As shopalot says you'd get more use from them if you had some wrap tops/cardis/jackets to go with them.

I'm because I look like a bad transvestite in floaty dresses.

i love a good summer dress and get lots of use (with cardi, and, if needs be, tights) though i tend to go for heavier weight fabrics with linings. this summer will be on maternity leave too...yay...

this one i have been lusting over, but it it is too expensive and nowhere i can try on in the shop the model looks gorgeous in it

but then i don't do the whole capri pants/ jeans thing at all so its dress/skirt or nothing

I bought this two weeks ago. Even looking at the dress in my wardrobe makes me feel all summery and cheerful. After this dreadful winter, I just know we'll have a hot, long summer

Therma underwear?

I absolutely adore dresses and have loads! In winter they get worn with tights/leggings and boots, with a long sleeved t-shirt underneath (in a funky colour that goes with the dress) and a cardigan over. Then on spring/autumn days they get worn with funky colour tights and maybe a cardi over. In summer they just don't get worn unfortunately as I have leg issues . I justify having loads as they either get bought in sales or charity shops

Lots of dresses is just the easiest way to dress in the summer, and you can get really nice ones on ebay for very little - I wear them all summer for work with a selection of cardigans and just feel really together and cool when the weather is hot.

I have a problem with the legs thing with Summer dresses. In Winter I wear lots of dresses with opaques but in Summer my legs are pale and pasty.

I'm not falling into that trap this year. I don't need a summer wardrobe FGS! I'll make do with the bits I have from last year (plus some new sandals) for any really hot days we are lucky enough to have. Otherwise, it's business as usual.

Well cornsilk I don't have the pasty legs but I have very hairy legs (!) we're talking waxing and then at least 20 mins per day with eplilator!!!!! And latterly now I'm middle aged - varicose veins and cellulite.

Agh - for that reason I've just sold all my little summer dresses!

amelia is right - what do you wear on your legs when its too summery for opaques and your legs cant stand going bare to the office? I am thinking of trying nude micronets but still unsure.........

i am Ok with bare legs/knees for holiday/beach etc but not in civilisation

LOL at bran i cant wear these pretty floral tea dresses as they look matronly on middle aged women with large norks. so its plain colours and no frills for me

Unfortunately the nude tights aren't an option for me as I have varicose veins (and have had since I was a teenager - only 30 now and they're awful! )

Eggy lovely dress but I have boobs and would need to wear a flippin cami under it (like most dresses!)

How old are you Ameliameerkat? Am wondering if i am too old for the leggings with dress look!

I'm 33 and wear summer dresses all year round! Over leggings/jeans and boots in winter, have just moved into cropped leggings and wedgy mules this week, optimistically grabbing the tiny amount of sunshine between showers. I have quite a few little cardis to dress them down/warm me up and a couple of short fitted cotton/linen jackets (kind of Edwardian.)

Think scruffy glamour - showstopper little dress/print/colour and maybe a wowee necklace/handbag/hair accessory, then dress it down. Think Lily Allen cocktail dress and sneakers. I actually went to a wedding on Sat in black and white patterned wellies with a little dress, black leggings and shrug.

And with deep v-neck dresses/tops why not wear a cami under? Get a few stretchy strappy vests to wear under things and show a bit, try New Look, M&S or Uniqlo.

After three lousy summers I have the same dilemma - only ever wear a summer dress on holiday or on the one or two hot days we get. tbh I think unless it's really sunny and warm a floaty summer dress always looks a bit 'where is the garden party/wedding'? It's also incredibly underdressed English shivering in a summer dress and cardi with goosebump legs. And being ahem, slightly older than Gladioli I can no longer get away with the ditsy dress/grunge look like I did in the early 90s...