Summer party dresses: up your glamour game

How to navigate ocassion wear in a heatwave? These party dresses will dial up the drama

Summer party dress
Left, Dress, £8,200, by Chanel. Legging boots, £2,150, by Balenciaga. Earrings, £195, by Completedworks, Right, Dress, £2,030, by Salvatore Ferragamo. Earrings, £195, by Completedworks. Fashion: Jason Hughes
(Image credit: Valentino)

Slowly but surely, the pleasurable prospect of dressing up again is becoming a reality. But what do you do when all we can remember is how to snuggle into our sweatpants? From cocktail dresses to wedding guest dresses, there's a host of event get-ups for diving into this summer whether you're enthused about something streamlined or keen to show off dramatic and embellished forms.

Here, we present the strongest silhouettes for summer and beyond, from brands including Balenciaga, Valentino and Fendi.

Balenciaga: the chainmail party dress

Party dresses in gold chainmail by Balenciaga

Dress, £6,650; top, £350; legging boots, £2,150, all by Balenciaga

(Image credit: Valentino)

Encouraged to embrace all out adornment? Look to the French maison's gold linked chainmail dress which will jangle as your get down on the dance floor.

balenciaga.com

Hermès and Jil Sander: the leather dress

Party dresses in black leather by Jil Sander

(Image credit: valentino)

Party dresses in black leather by Hermes

Top, Dress, £1,340; gilet belt, £860; bag, £2,030, all by Jil Sander by Lucie and Luke Meier. Shoes, £225, by Aeyde. Bracelet, £625, by Maviada. Dining chair, £1,000, by Carlo Scarpa, for Gavina, from Béton Brut. Bottom, Dress, £9,600, by Hermès. Shoes, £705, by Prada. Earrings, £235, by Completedworks. Tights, £37, by Wolford

(Image credit: Valentino)

Embrace luxurious fabrications after months of simply wearing cotton and jersey. Hermès and Jil Sander recommend minimalist and calf and ankle grazing dress shapes, with sumptuous leather accents.

hermes.com

Loewe: the voluminous dress

Party dresses in voluminous shapes by Loewe

Dress, £5,500, by Loewe. Shoes, £705, by Prada. Earrings, £1,227, by Maria Frering

(Image credit: Valentino)

Turn up the volume at your first special ocassion. Loewe's two-tone party dresses flirt with dramatic and poufed-up proportions and also features artisanally-inclined knot details.

loewe.com

Emporio Armani: the transparent dress

Party dresses in transparent fabrics by Emporio Armani

Dress, £710, by Emporio Armani. Shoes, £705, by Prada. ‘Phantom’ chair, £950, by Verner Panton, for Densa Basel, from Béton Brut

(Image credit: Valentino)

Embrace the body and opt for gauzy and featherlight fabrics. Emporio Armani's transparent dress is formed from a breezy transparent fabrics, for lighter-than-air luxury.

armani.com

Fendi: the cut-out dress

Party dresses with cut outs by Fendi

Dress, £1,250, by Fendi. Shoes, £705, by Prada. Earrings, £235, by Completedworks. ‘Sleep-O-Matic’ sofa, £5,000, by Marco Zanuso, for Arflex, from Béton Brut

(Image credit: Valentino)

A cheeky cut-out detal witll turn heads. Fendi balances the coy with the classic, with this elegant knitted dress. Its alluring backless detail is scintillating for show offs.

fendi.com

Saint Laurent: the strapless dress

Strapless party dresses by Saint Laurent

Dress, £2,600, by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Earrings, £275, by Vanda Jacintho

(Image credit: Valentino)

A strapless dress boasts a couture level of chic. Discover Saint Laurent's sophisticated style, accented with elegant draping and pleating.

ysl.com

Valentino: the floral dress

Party dresses with floral accents by Valentino

Dress, £5,900, by Valentino. Shoes, £225, by Aeyde. Earrings, £250, by Vanda Jacintho

(Image credit: Valentino)

Floral details always have fine form in spring. Valentino's take on bold blooms has a graphic twist. The Roman maison's party dresses feature precise petal cut-outs. 

valentino.com

With contributions from