THE SUMMER DRESS

There are several things I look for when seeking out the perfect, versatile summer dress. Not just a dress that's pretty - a dress that is also practical. The swiss army knife of summer dresses. My list of requirements reads something like this; 
Must be; airy, breathable and an appropriate length so I won't fear I'm flashing the world. Preferably printed to minimise the look of inevitable coffee and chocolate stains. Also preferably wedding or summer occasion appropriate in case I'm ever in a pinch and need to be garden party ready with minimal notice. 
I'm pretty sure this powder blue, polka dotted dress from Laura Ashley fits the bill. It's 97% cotton so my airy and breathable bullet point is well and truly ticked there. I also love the cascading polka dots - they aren't predictably placed which is something that really stood out to me about the print and makes it a lot more fun. It's also definitely fitting for several summer occasions; from barbecues to dog walks, garden parties to the races - just pop a fascinator on top and you're transformed! 
On this occasion, I threw on a wide brimmed straw hat and a little round back (which mirrored the polka dots quite nicely I thought) and I was ready to wander around the gardens of a local stately  home and indulge in a slice of cake - all without worrying that the tiny Victoria Sponge jam stain on my skirt was suuuper obvious. Printed dresses are really quite heroic - the saviour of all little, annoying stains that usually happen 5 minutes after leaving the house.
What do you look for when searching for a summer dress? Do you have a list of requirements or do you throw caution to the wind and grab whatever takes your fancy? 
Dress: Laura Ashley.
Thank you to Laura Ashley for sponsoring this blog post.