8 Stylish Oversized Looks for Summer 2016

These flowy, drapey pieces will dominate your summer ’16 wardrobe

There’s no denying that styles this summer have a distinctly one-size-fits-all vibe. The cocoon coats that we fell in love with last fall have heavily influenced the shape of summer 2016 with echoes of drapey, oversized silhouettes.

While particularly liberating after a few seasons of second-skin skinnies, the new flowy aesthetic should not be taken as an open invitation to be sloppy. This look isn’t as easy as simply going up three sizes. While overall shapes may be billowy, there’s still enough strategic tailoring happening to ensure the fit shouldn’t overwhelm the frame.

Comfort aside, the versatility of this trend should be of particular interest anyone who has to make a limited wardrobe perform double or even triple duty, taking a look from day to evening to weekend.

If you want to embrace the athleisure trend, swap out your flats for a pair of cute sneakers and make it a sporty day. Going to the office? Dress it up with a statement necklace and heels. On the weekend, bring the whole look down a few notches with Birks and a sun hat.

Click through for eight of my favourite flowy pieces this summer…

Enzuvan black-and-white printed dress with pockets, $249

South Korean label Enzuvan has a global following of fashion mavens who crave street style with avant-garde edge. This black-and-white printed dress is the perfect summer chameleon and, really, in Vancouver is probably wearable all-season. It’s easily as at home with a pair of wellies as it is with sandals.

Available at Middle Sister Boutique, 2137 West 4th Avenue

Banana Republic off-the-shoulder poplin dress, $110

This Banana Republic shift combines the oversized look with another big summer trend: off the shoulder. If you’re new to this style, this a great option for a no-fuss, on-trend, dressed-in-two-seconds-flat wardrobe workhorse.

Available at Banana Republic

Elevenses Santa Ana romper, $138

Clever, huh? This one-piece romper has an overlay on top to make it look like a separate trapeze shell. No fussing around with this adorable outfit. But the asymmetrical hem and keyhole back prevent this from being too cute.

Available at Anthropologie

Wilfred Kaarlo dress, $215

This classic shift from Aritzia features a couple of summery elements. It’s made from airy linen and decorated with intricate floral cut-outs along the front and shoulders. A tidy row of buttons down the back complete the vintage feel to this summer standard.

Available at Aritzia

Free People Deck Chair Kimono, $196

This cotton and linen Free People layer is part-vest, part-cape, part-kimono, part-robe. Really, it’s a blanket—a pretty, stylish one, and one that will serve you well on those chilly summer evenings either in the Okanagan or on the island.

Available at Plenty

Melow midi dress, $185, Cropped cardigan $115

Designer Mélissa Bolduc is well known in Montreal for her complex yet comfortable designs. With deceptively simple lines, her sophisticated pieces deftly support pleats, darts and asymmetry that magically adjust to flatter almost any body shape—entirely made in Canada to boot.

Available at Middle Sister Boutique, 2137 West 4th Avenue

Gap crochet tier dress, $89.95

This crochet-yoke dress from the Gap is the epitome of easy summer dressing. Substantial enough for the day, it also makes for a chic cover-up at the beach.

Available at the Gap

Chiffon maxi dress, $25.99

A high-low maxi with a sheer overlay (and an opqaue slip, don’t worry) gives this trapeze dress from Old Navy dimension and texture. Don’t be tempted to buy a smaller size; keep things looking modern and youthful by retaining the oversizied, relaxed silhouette.

Available at Old Navy