By Erica and Karen

In summer, we like to wear dresses. Sometimes flowy dresses, sometimes tailored. Often white. Always as simple as we can find.

We found a few good ones when we went looking. This from Lafayette 148, is just what we have in mind. Clean and floaty. Or this, from Frame at Saks. Effortless and unadorned. (We’ll adorn it with colorful chunky jewelry.) M.M. LaFleur’s elegant slip of a dress would be perfect on a hot day. And on a hot day when we need to look polished this chic number, from Lattelier, would do the trick.

Of course if you wear white every day people may think you are losing your sense of fun, so you may want to mix it up with some color. A long, cool blue shirt dress is elegant. As is this trim washed silk from Eileen Fisher. We were also intrigued by this listing in Etsy—a billowy dress you can order in many different colors. The light blue is lovely, and the mint green refreshing.

Sometimes we do want vibrant color, and when we do, we think of Gabrielle Carlson. Check out the dresses in this lookbook. White with an overlay of colored chiffon is most au courant this year, and she’ll make you a gossamer chiffon overdress in all kinds of jeweled colors—as well as black and white.

Sometimes neon actually feels cool too. You would evoke a summer lawn in this short neon green shift. And a summer flower in this long one. Pick peony or strawberry! And if you want to say floral more directly, delicate frocks from Nordstrom, like this, or this, would work, and if you want sleek, try this fromJonny Was at Niemans.

One thing we don’t want is fussy. We are never trying to channel Little Women or Anne of Green Gables as these dresses do. Shapeless piles of fabric with puffs and ruffles are the antithesis of elegant dressing. And cool dressing.

The point is—once you get the shape and the fabric right, the rest will work. Modern silhouettes. Clean lines. Flounce and ruffle free. Light and fluid fabric.

Bring on the summer!