I've Been Wearing This Summer Staple for 10-Plus Years—8 Fresh Ways to Style It

One thing about me: I'm a sucker for a good sundress. It could be adorned with puffy sleeves, smocked, embroidered, mini length, ankle grazing, simple, or brightly printed. For as many summers as I can remember, I've had a never-ending rotation of sundresses in my closet. Of course, the types of sundresses I've worn have varied as I've explored different aesthetics and lived in different parts of the country, from L.A. to NYC. But no matter what my summer wardrobe looks like, it will always have a few key staples, including the perennial sundress, sandals, swimsuits, and sunglasses.

As I look to build out my summer wardrobe this year, I'm craving some fresh styling inspiration. Naturally, my first instinct was to look to my fashion friends on Instagram who always offer a wealth of outfit ideas, and today is no different. Ahead, I'm highlighting the eight sundress outfits I've screenshotted to re-create myself because of how fresh they make the timeless dress style look. Keep scrolling for the unconventional-but-cool ways I plan to wear mine this season.

Dresses and sneakers are a fashion-person favorite, especially in the summer when a breezy dress and comfortable shoes are a must. For summer 2022, they'll be combining retro kicks with cottagecore-style dresses for a cool contrast of delicate and sporty.

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Sundresses are flouncy, feminine, and flirty by nature, so styling one with socks and loafers lends an academic feel that's really fresh. Up the school-uniform vibe when you add a headband and blazer.

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We talk a lot about matching sets for spring and summer but have yet to consider matching our scarves to our sundresses—until now. This look alone has me beelining to Amazon to order bandanas in the same colors as all the dresses in my closet.

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Fans of Western style are no strangers to pairing their cowboy boots with sundresses, but for anyone who's not as familiar with the combo, it's undeniably fresh.

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Another unexpected shoe choice that just somehow works? Clogs. The shoes ground an airy cotton sundress so perfectly and have me dreaming about spending the summer in a cottage in Sweden.

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My first instinct wouldn't be to throw a blazer over my dress, but that's why this works so well. It's casual but polished.

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Even classics like little black dresses are updated with cool midriff cutouts that bring the piece into the present day.

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Coming up: I Live in Basics: Here's What I'm Keeping, Swapping, and Putting Away for Summer