From mini to maxi, elegant to casual, gorgeous sporty dresses have come a long way. What’s more, it’s an effortless style that is easy to recreate at home. The versatile nature of the sporty dress certainly makes it a wardrobe (and suitcase) staple. 

Whether you’re going for a casual daytime look or something with a more edgy vibe for the evening, this athletic number can be dressed up or down – whatever the occasion.

Match your sporty dress with high heels, boots, or flats for an elegant overall look. Unless you’re after the “just-off-the-tennis-court look”, make sure you choose your footwear carefully. Sometimes less really is more, so don’t put your foot in it by overdoing the sporty style with white trainers, high-tops or slip-on boat shoes. Aim for a more playful image by pairing a vibrant skater dress with a colourful pair of trainers.

How you mix and match your sporty dress can make or break your outfit.The good news is that this choice of dress can be matched with so many different items (depending on what sort of look you’re trying to create). A mesh fabric top layered over a neoprene skater dress will add a girly touch to your outfit. Complete the feminine look by combining with a pair of ankle-strap heels.

If you’re a city slicker and are after a more urban-inspired look, combine a floaty dress with a comfortable hoodie and accessorize with a bold pendant necklace and lace-up boots. Team a bomber jacket made from lightweight fabrics (such as satin and tulle) with your sporty dress and you will be guaranteed to ooze those athletic vibes. The possibilities really are endless…

Avoid blending into the crowd by making a statement with your outfit. Details such as mesh inserts, cut-away shoulders, buckles and zips are guaranteed to catch the eye. To create an edgy look, pair a bodycon dress featuring cut-away shoulders with high-heeled sandals. Don’t distract from the dress’s detail by opting for a handbag over a shoulder bag. For a more sophisticated look, match a sweatshirt dress featuring a full-length zip with buckle-up ankle boots and a blazer.

For those of you daring enough to make a bold statement, why not take the risk and brave a sporty dress with large geometric print? On cooler days, simply add a monochrome jacket to this sporty style.

Although sporty dresses can be worn all year round, they’re still more of a summer basic than a winter staple.

By pairing your sporty dress with a stylish hat, you’ll not only add the finishing touch to your outfit; you’ll also shade yourself from the summer sun. For a sporty-inspired outfit, skater dresses can be combined with a varsity-style jacket, trainers and cap. Slouchy athletic dresses are essential for a cool, laid-back outfit – team one with a perforated leather-look backpack, a hoodie, high-top trainers and a fedora hat.

A loose-fitting maxi T-shirt dress looks great in the summer when styled with a wide-brimmed floppy hat, large tote, canvas shoes and oversized sunglasses. Add layers to your outfit with a cardigan, cinched jacket or an oversized shirt. Opaque tights and leggings work well with sporty dresses and are ideal if you want to cover your legs or it’s a bit chilly outdoors.

Just like in sports, athletic dresses are all about gold, silver and bronze. Bodycon sporty dresses are guaranteed to flatter the female figure, so why not make the most of your femininity by dressing it up with classic heels, a clutch and elegant jewellery for an evening out, or style it with a cropped jacket and ballerina shoes for a daytime look. Adding a bit of bling to your look will certainly make you stand out from the crowd.

Even a relaxed T-shirt dress will look great with a bold statement necklace. Add a touch of rock chic to your T-shirt dress with a black denim jacket, ankle boots, and some more edgy jewellery. Skater dresses featuring mesh inserts not only look sporty, but highly elegant too. Wear with heels, sparkling jewellery, and a clutch for a romantic dinner date.

If bold accessories are not your thing, dress it down with a messenger bag and trainers for an about-town look. When choosing your shoes and bag, select colours that complement your dress.