Island Glamour

Long Dresses are Perfect for Resort Fun and Relaxation!

1. Shirred Flounce Dress $29, Newport-news.com

2. Hanalei Hawaiian Long Dress $55, alohaz.com

3. Knit Babydoll Dress $27.80, forever21.com

4. A.B.S. Leaf Print Jersey Maxi Dress $68.99, macys.com

5. Maxi Curvy Jersey Dress $89, victoriassecret.com

6. Natalie Anne Long Halter $253, livenatty.com

7. Eight Sixty Print Knit Maxi Dress with Braided Halter $75, Nordstrom.com

8. BCBG Max Azria Red Chiffon Floral Print Halter Dress $205.99, bluefly.com

9. Smocked Full Sweep Dress $32.50, wetseal.com

10. Ruby Safari Long Dress $37.99, overstock.com

As the summer starts winding down, ankle length dresses are rising in popularity! But this season's long dresses are no longer just for evening revelries, instead, they were specifically designed for casual day wear.  These ankle length dresses are for any lady who feels like portraying a little island glamour now and then.  Since it is summer and the days are cooling off slightly, anything that has to do with the tropics, flowers, ocean, beach, sand, and whatever else resembles cool breeze, is key to conquering this summer's trend of long dresses.

We Want Length!

In order to pull off a long dress this summer, you must rely on a couple of set rules to make sure you are doing this trend justice

• Island Glam Rule #1:  The length of the dress must have a long, sweeping factor - anything above the ankle will not do. Seek at the ankle or an inch or two below for best results (especially since you may want to pair them with wedges or espadrilles!).
• Island Glam Rule #2:  Lightweight fabrication is a definite DO. Who would want to wear heavy fabric weighing down on their entire body for a whole day? No one! So make sure you choose a dress that is either in cotton, polyester/spandex, rayon, or silk chiffon.
• Island Glam Rule #3:  Your dress has got to emulate flowing in the ocean breeze! This summer, get a skimming dress that has enough strut, whether with flounce or draping flow, and ensure that your dress is roomy and voluminous up to your ankles.
• Island Glam Rule #4:  Paint on summer with graphics and color! This is one of the more important things to look out for when purchasing your summer long dress. You'll want something that screams, “Summer is here and I'm enjoying it!” So opt for an allover print of floral, foliage, beach, paisley, etc. or splurge on tropical island solids:  brown, sea green, ocean blue, sand, etc.
• Island Glam Rule #5:  Sleeveless is in! If you're going to rock the long dress, do it with baring shoulders. It's summer, so it's okay to show off a little skin, and this style looks great with long dresses:  halter, spaghetti straps, tie necks, thin to medium size straps, etc.

Learn those five basic rules and catch the island vibe in a breezy silhouette! Try on an ankle length island inspired dress with fresh strappy sandal flats, sandal thongs, flip flops, or even wedges. It's simple, trouble-free, and subtly sexy!

Article Written By: Venessa Estrellado; Venessa is a graduate of FIDM in Los Angeles , CA and enjoys writing and creating pages for Divavillage.com.