Perfect summer dresses

Below the knee
Sleeves and below the knee in a stretchy, accommodating fabric. Fenn Wright Manson, £89, houseoffraser.co.uk
Photograph: PSC Photography

Quite thick cotton, lined. Extremely graceful and suited many members of the dress jury. Gant, £159, gant.com
Photograph: PSC Photography

Grown-up but not frumpy and a really flattering fit. Betty Jackson, £324, 020-7589 7884
Photograph: PSC Photography

Something of the 30s sportswoman here that makes this linen dress appeal. Hobbs, £79, johnlewis.com
Photograph: PSC Photography

A 70s classic, great for the beach or city, with a very easy shape. Muji, £35, 020-7323 2208
Photograph: PSC Photography

Elegant, with a skirt that swirls. Fenn Wright Manson, £139, fennwrightmanson.com
Photograph: PSC Photography

On the knee
An animal print without crassness, and a gentle shape. Gérard Darel from Fenwick, £215, 020 7629 9161
Photograph: PSC Photography

Full-skirted and Hepburnesque at the neck. Soft, cool cotton and nicely lined. Laura Ashley, £68, 0871 230 2301
Photograph: PR

Nothing moves so well as a knife-pleated skirt. Good for day or evening. Pied a Terre, £90, houseoffraser.co.uk
Photograph: PSC Photography

Stretchy, figure-hugging and eyebrow raising when on. Will suit power dressers. McQ, £190, 020 7608 9100
Photograph: PR

Dress of the season for budgets that can cope with it. Prada, £525, 020-7647 5000
Photograph: David Levene

Subtly flared skirt with a good swish factor. And from a surprising source. Coast, £135, coast-stores.com
Photograph: PSC Photography

Says seaside and boats, but without any nautical naffness. Anthropologie, £118, anthropologie.eu
Photograph: PSC Photography

Cool and classic with a laidback feel. Monsoon, £45, monsoon.co.uk
Photograph: PR

Great coverage yet still feels like a summer dress; experience proves it works any day of the week. Gap, £39.50, 0800 427789
Photograph: PSC Photography

The skirt is paper-stiff (it even crunches) and resolutely A-line. A knockout. Height helps. Cos, £65, 020-7478 0400
Photograph: PR

Above the knee
The print alone merits inclusion. Note the cutout at stomach, though, and consider a vest. Topshop, £35, topshop.com
Photograph: PR

Bright and zingy with proper sleeves. Full Circle, £70, fullcircleuk.com
Photograph: PR

This brand does great mini dresses. But we do mean mini. Sessun, from Urban outfitters, £108, urbanoutfitters.co.uk
Photograph: PR

Deckchairs and parasols, with a slightly swingy fit. Miss Selfridge, £39, missselfridge.com
Photograph: PR

A tea dress so sweetly cut you can forgive it for not being made of cotton. Marks and Spencer, £39.50, marksandspencer.com
Photograph: PR

Oliver Bonas has become a star in the dress market. Lovely fabric. Oliver Bonas, £55, oliverbonas.com
Photograph: PR

Looks as if it has walked straight out of Carrie Bradshaw’s wardrobe, back when the wardrobe was good. Zara, £39.99, 020-7534 9500
Photograph: PSC Photography

A classic summer print, easy and wearable. Zara, £35.99, 020-7534 9500
Photograph: PSC Photography

As close to Prada as it is possible to be with a price difference of £500. Lovely in fit and feel. River Island, £34.99, riverisland.com
Photograph: PR

Maxi
Great colour, and it avoids the boho cliches into which so many maxidresses fall. Malene Birger from Fenwick, £175, 020-7629 9161
Photograph: PR

A maxi dress that doesn’t make difficult bra demands. Not at all hippyish. Marilyn Moore from Fenwick, £269, 020-7629 9161
Photograph: PR