Coastal Summer Outfits with a Sardine Dress

Summer is a great time to pull out a sardine print dress. While the print can add character to an outfit wearing a novelty print from head to toe can be a little much. If you wear a sardine print dress pair it with simple more subdued pieces.

Think about where you’re going and what you’ll be doing, A dress can be appropriate for a leisurely lunch but maybe not for an evening soiree, Formality can determine the types of prints you should wear. If the dress has a bold print simple pieces can make the look more wearable.

Be Picky

• Let the illustrated dress be the focal point.
• Choose an outfit mood to fit your plan.
• Keep formal dress codes in mind.
• Use simple pieces to make the look wearable.
• Think about what kind of print and overall mood you want.

What Makes a Sardine Print Suitable for Summer?

A repeated fish print can be hard to style. A small subtle sardine motif can be easily styled with simple pieces. Competing prints can be tricky and can make a fish design feel harder to wear.

A simple print can often be styled more easily and wearable than several fish prints.

Consider the amount of visual interest you’d like the dress to have when deciding on a print scale and color palette, An all-over repeat feels more energetic while a single placement gives you a quieter focal point, Avoid wearing a busy print with a strong motif along with a busy print with several novelty prints.

Consider print scale and color palette

Think about your motif in terms of the garment- a smaller repeat can read as a textural pattern from afar and larger motifs can be noticed more easily. Choose coastal colors to create a summery feel but color palette doesn’t need to coordinate with your accessories. A solid bag and shoes let the print make a statement without making the outfit too ‘on point’.

Match fabric and cut to the weather

Fabrics used to make dresses can be cotton linen viscose and polyester blend and their feel can vary by weave and construction, Check the fabric composition lining and how the dress was constructed to see if it allows for ease of movement, A flowy dress in a lightweight fabric can feel nice in the heat but a lining can take away ease of movement and impact airflow.

Not all fabrics are created equally, Check how the garment is built as well as what the label calls the fabric, A lined skirt will feel different from an unlined one, The same goes for bodices, Once you have decided what the print feels right on check the length and fit to find a silhouette that works with your plan.

Finding the Right Length for a Sardine Dress

A midi hem is a good length if you want to cover more than a mini skirt but not be a floor length skirt, A midi hem falls between the knee and ankle, The right length depends on your comfort and the measurements of the garment,Think about your daily activities, Sitting and standing for a long time can also be impacted by the hem length and the garments ease of movement.

Different Lengths for Different Occasions

A mini dress can be great for a quick daytime activity but think about whether or not you can comfortably sit or bend in the dress, A sardine dress with a midi hem can also be great for a daytime activity and possibly a walk if the length allows for a long strides. A maxi sardine dress can be great for a coverage at a resort or a long evening activity. Be aware that a long hem will require attention when using stairs.

• Length
• Useful setting
• Movement consideration
• Shoe pairing
• Mini
• Beach cover-up or brunch
• Think about bending and sitting
• Flat Sandals
• Midi
• Brunch or walk
• Nice long easy stride to check hem
• Sneakers or sandals
• Maxi
• Dressy sunset dinner or vacation
• Watch hem while going up stairs
• Flat sandals or low wedges

Check proportion and extended size

Check measurements and compare to your measurements on brand’s size chart to ensure it’s the right size. Plus size or extended size means different things to different brands so look for a defined waist relaxed fit or other details to see how it may fit.

A dress will not define how comfortable you are wearing it. You will have to wear it to see how it feels to be in and move around in it. Choose the amount of ease you are comfortable with and judge if the dress will give you the fit you are comfortable with based on the measurements listed. Based on your choice of fit and the measured ease build the rest of your look according to how you prefer to be styled.

How Can Men Style a Sardine Dress?

A sardine dress gives the opportunity for self expression in male styling. You can wear what you want based on your comfort level and the cut of the dress. The level of expression in styling is also up to you.

The search may bring up men’s sardine dresses and sardines dresses but the real question is how does it feel? See how the dress feels with the pieces that you tend to gravitate towards and decide if you want the print to stand alone or allow space for a cardigan.

Wear the dress as the main piece

Think of the dress as the main piece and keep the rest of the outfit simple, These are just a few ideas to get you started.

-A simple sandal with a dress

-A sneaker with an overshirt and dress

-A simple tee and dress with a piece of jewelry

Layer for a more relaxed outfit

An overshirt or tee can change the look of the dress and allow space for a cardigan. Check the dress and see if it has room. If it doesn’t the layering piece will just bundle up.

Once you have the desired outfit check how it all looks and feel before you head out, If you prefer not to layer the dress you can always wear simple sandals or flat shoes or accessorize with simple pieces, After you determine how you want to wear the outfit check the details and listing to see if it aligns to your standards. Then you’re ready to buy!

What Should You Check Before Buying One?

Take a closer look at the listing beyond the photos, Description and measurements often have the most important info, A picture may be worth a thousand words but it can be staged to manipulate how something looks, For example a dress may look short but in reality the model could be wearing heels and the dress could be longer. There are a lot of factors that affect how something looks and those can be explained in the measurements.

There are design and construction elements that need to be explained to be able to reference how a dress may wear. For example “Original Sardine Dress” has an unfilled category. The seller may have an idea of what “original” may mean but the buyer doesn’t.

Check the Product Listing Closely

Go through the checklist before adding a dress to your cart.

Garment measurements: How long is it? What is the circumference? Comparing measurements to actual garments may help to envision how it will look. For example measurements may be the same as a dress already owned or it may be different to align with your personal preference. Fabric composition and lining may also help to see how a dress may wear. Care instructions tell you how to clean a dress or if it’s dry clean only, Return terms may differ if you want to return it for a refund or exchange.

Compare Competitors

Both Anthropologie and SHEIN may sell a sardine dress but that doesn’t mean that one of those retailers won’t also sell a different style of a sardine dress. Every item is offered by an individual seller so descriptions sizing and policies may vary.

It can be easy to get hung up on styled product photos but garment measurements are concrete details and are often listed. Return policies are usually listed and give parameters to what extent you can return an item if it doesn’t fit, Once you have all the details you can decide what kind of shoe and layers you want to wear with it. Keep in mind the kind of setting you want to wear it for.

How Can You Style It for Beach Days Brunch and Trips?

For beach days wear a light button up for a more modest look and to protect your arms from the sun. A tote is easier to throw on and off when going in and out of the water. For brunch a light cardigan adds a nice touch and a cross body keeps your essentials on you. Sneakers and an overshirt are great to help you keep dressed for the sun. Use a tote to carry sunscreen and other items.

Use the setting not a trend rule to decide how dressed up the final combination should feel.

Conclusion

Easy? Choose the correct outfit for the day. Aim for a fit that’s comfortable enough to let you move, Aim for a look where the printed sardines get the focus and carry the outfit. Aim to not over accessorize. You’ll look better and feel better if you take the extra step to pick something that’s perfect for your plans instead of asking every element to carry the outfit and get the focus.

FAQ

Can I wear a sardine print dress to a wedding?

Of course. Keep in mind what the event and invitation’s dress code says. Pick something that fits the description. In general something with more of a casual dress code can likely have a print. More formal events call for solid colors. Keep in mind that if you’re going to a wedding any statement print can be overstated if you’re not careful and less is often more.

What shoes go with a sardine print dress?

If the plan is to just hang out on the beach flat sandals would be the way to go, If there is a decent amount of walking planned for the day sneakers could come in handy, Choose shoes that work best for the surface or the activity for that matter like the comfort and support of a good sneaker for a long walk on the coast, If you are dressing to go out to a formal dinner or an event pay attention to the expectations of the venue to decide if a more appropriate and dressy shoe is needed.

Should I go up a size with a sardine-print dress?

Compare your measurements to the size chart to see if you need to go up. Generously fitted clothes are a good excuse to size up if the fabric doesn’t allow for much movement. Check measurements for the bust waist and hips to see where the fit is affected. If a bigger size is needed the additional fabric could affect more than one of those areas.

Is it ok to wear a sardine print dress to work?

Yes as long as the print and the dress style conform to your work’s dress code. An accessory like a cardigan or blazer can work to play down the print and shoes can work to ensure office appropriateness. Each workplace has their own standards for dress so don’t make assumptions about an unknown workplace. Use your own workplace as your standard instead.

Is it ok to wear a sardine print dress after summer?

You can absolutely wear a sardine print dress after summer. Cardigans and overshirts can be added layers to make the print appropriate for cooler weather as well as changing your shoes to a more winter-appropriate pair. Consider what the temp is going to be like and if you’re going to be outside for a long time you may want to wear a warmer layer. Prints are a great way to be bold in your outfit and bring a fun pop to an otherwise serious outfit.