Hello sunshine: this summer's hottest sundresses

If there's an optimum month for shopping, July certainly isn’t it. Our dear old high streets have an unfaltering ability to hide everything that’s remotely pretty beneath cut-price tat with a date of birth to rival the Northern Line. But what to do when you actually, you know, want to buy something? Is there a step-by-step plan to guide you through the wasteland that’s the shops in July, to let you escape with a summer purchase that you won’t have to wait until September to wear?

The solution, which is every bit as simple as it sounds, is the sundress. The only sensible purchase to be made during this tricky little interlude, and the joy of such a breezy wardrobe addition is that it never dates. A companion piece, set to be dug out of drawers and suitcases during the balmy nano-second we know as the Great British Summertime, this dress has proved irresistible to every woman I’ve ever met. And rightly so: after all, whether you wear a navy jumper and jeans all year long or not, a sundress — in whatever form you desire — is the wardrobe equivalent of a gallon-load of optimism. In fact, when chosen wisely, the sundress is practically wearable melatonin.

For those in need of a booster, I’d suggest beginning your search for a frock away from the humdrum of the high street. Modestly priced luxury labels Mother of Pearl and Kitsuné have a host on offer this summer, as does the gorgeous House of Hackney, which counts creating the perfect printed dress as part of its USP. If you’re tall and lean, I’d suggest investing in a full-skirted slip dress from their high summer collection — it will make for the ultimate summer wedding attire.

As a general rule, avoid posh fabrics; the perfect sundress should withstand all sorts of elements, including eight hours rolled up in a ball at the bottom of your beach bag, and the pear cider fight you will inevitably indulge in at the park one weekend.

Provided you can bear a stint of rummaging through the sales rails, Topshop has a host of lovely sundresses on offer this season — the store’s leaf-print style is among our favourites — as does Swedish brand & Other Stories, which has a short-sleeved cheesecloth frock in store at the moment for the delightful price of £19. Oh, and be sure to stop at Zara — have a stiff drink beforehand to set you up for the sales hysteria — where a stunning palm-print dress awaits you.

Suddenly shopping in July doesn’t seem so bad after all.