Roll out the checked blanket and prepare the sausage rolls: picnic season has well and truly arrived! While planning a delicious spread of food might be your top priority, working out what to wear can be just as exciting – especially if you’re meeting up with friends and family you haven’t seen in a while.
From floral summer dresses and vintage smock dresses to easy-to-wear sandals, our guide is full of picnic-perfect outfits to see you through a season of al fresco meals!
What Should I Wear To A Picnic?
Whether you’re heading to your local park, enjoying a trip to the beach or relaxing in the garden, a picnic is a wonderful activity for kids and adults alike. When it comes to what to wear, comfort is key – remember, you’ll need an outfit that will let you sit on your picnic rug with ease.
A picnic is also an excellent opportunity to tick off a few of summer 2020’s trends, from ‘pastel colour palettes and ditsy prints to floaty silhouettes. Find out more below:
Pick Pastel Colour Palettes
Indulge your sweet side this summer by stepping out in a pastel colour palette of lilac, lemon, mint and pale pink. Bringing to mind fresh meadows, sorbets and fruity drinks in the sunshine, pastel clothing is the ultimate pick for outdoor dining.
For extra style points, experiment with colour blocking. Whether you wear head to toe pink, matching blue items or a peach ensemble, just remember to sit on a picnic rug to avoid any grass stains!
Choose Picnic-Ready Prints
There’s no shortage of tempting prints and patterns to wear this summer, from retro gingham and ditsy florals to polka dot designs. Giving your outfit a playful twist, these patterns are also a match made in heaven with other summer trends, such as denim.
Be bold in candy shades and tropical florals, mix things up with a gingham blouse or embrace polka dots with a patterned camisole. The trick to wearing these eye-catching styles is to wear minimal accessories to let your prints do the talking!
Try Floaty Silhouettes
Not only do picnics focus on casual food, but they also call for a casual dress code. To match your clothes to the occasion, opt for relaxed silhouettes like smock dresses, tiered dresses and peasant blouses. As well as ensuring you stay comfy, these floaty shapes are great for keeping you cool during sunny days.
Even so, British weather isn’t always reliable and staying warm can be just as important as keeping cool! With this in mind, make sure you pack a denim jacket or a slogan sweatshirt for when the temperature drops.
Wear Practical Footwear
It’s easy to forget about your footwear – particularly if you plan on sitting on a picnic rug for most of the day. However, since you’ll be exploring the great outdoors, it’s worth thinking carefully about your picnic shoes from a practical point of view. Heeled sandals might seem like a good idea to begin with, but they’re not the best footwear for navigating grassy fields!
For effortless and practical styles, stick to sliders, one or two-strap sandals and trainers. Whether you’re joining in a game of frisbee, popping to the shops for extra snacks or soaking up the sun on the grass, you’ll have no trouble slipping on and off your shoes for different activities.
Add The Finishing Touches
When it comes to picnic accessories, there’s none more iconic than a woven sunhat. Keeping the sun off your face and ensuring you feel the benefits of the breeze, a woven sunhat is a fuss-free way of achieving picnic perfection.
Thanks to its neutral colour scheme, this accessory can also be teamed with all manner of picnic outfits, from sundresses and jumpsuits to embroidered tops and denim shorts. Finish off your look with a pair of vintage-inspired cat-eye sunglasses and you’ll be ready to go!
Stay in style this summer with our easy-to-wear dresses, from midi dresses and casual dresses to seasonal summer dresses.
