5 days ago
6 Summer Dress Styles To Wear With Your New Boat Shoes
Boat shoes are proving themselves to be a top shoe trend of summer 2025.
The nautical shoe, whose most recent resurgence was catalysed by Miu Miu's SS24 collegiate collection, has almost replaced the loafer as most popular shoe in ELLE UK's head office thanks to its practicality and ease.
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However, as we move into summer, and swapping out our denim jeans for dresses, some staff members are struggling with how exactly to style their boat shoes. With deck shoes' Indie Sleaze and Sloane-y overtones, they can be tricky to do right, that's why we've put together some outfit recipe suggestions to help.
From shirt dresses to silky slips, here are our suggestions. All you need to do is add a pair of slim socks and anchors away.
Take your boat shoes to the boardroom this summer with a shirt dress. Arket's striped cotton version will keep you cool through the warmer months, and can be layered over jeans and white vest come Autumn.
If you were wearing your boat shoes with denim jeans then a denim dress is a natural next step. Ganni's mini dress, complete with drop waist peplum, will give a girlish charm to your outfit.
Broderie Anglaise has to be one of the most whimsical fabrics to wear in summer, and this maxi sundress proves the point. Pair with an earthy-hued boat shoe (and maybe a suede jacket?) and you're living the boho dream.
If you enjoy the 'wrong shoe theory' then a dreamy slip dress paired with a formal boat shoe is the look for you. Mango's seafoam iteration would look great with some bunched up socks, a beat up bag and lashings of necklace and bracelet charms.
For those who typically avoid trends, try a minimal maxi dress, like this one from Cos, with a masculine-shaped, suede boat shoes. Pair with a blazer and you can take this outfit to the office.
When the weather turns, or you find yourself on a sunny isle miles away, consider a cotton voile nightie-style mini with you sun-bleached Miu Miu shoes. Some simple gold jewellery, sunhat and basket bag will complete the ensemble.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
