Produced in partnership with Kmart
Gone are the days when we had to find a different dress for every occasion.
Even royals and celebrities make dresses they’ve already worn look fresh with different accessories.
There are plenty of stunning and affordable summer dresses at Kmart that’ll take you from Christmas Day to New Year’s Eve as well as backyard barbecues and cocktails by the beach.
This is my casual version of the dress for barbecues and picnics. (Rachael Gavin)
My pick of the bunch is the $25 sleeveless A-line square neck mini dress. It’s red and white with floral and shell prints, which makes it work for both Christmas and summer.
Made from linen and viscose it is a lightweight, breathable dress you’ll feel cool in even as temperatures rise.
For parties on the more casual side I’m styling the dress with the $6 chunky white bangle, the $18 white bead handle clutch and the $25 low espadrille wedge heels in white.
READ MORE: The $5 Kmart buy that kickstarted my summer of fun
READ MORE: The $20 Kmart buy that doubled the space in my suitcase
READ MORE: The $5 Kmart buy that’s my new favourite way to unwind
This close-up shows the gorgeous shell, coral and floral details of the dress. (Kmart)
And for more dressy parties, I’ll add the $4 gold starfish faux pearl drop earrings and the $4 smooth gold bangle.
To make the dress work for Christmas Day and barbecues, I’d add a white short sleeve shirt underneath and wear white sneakers – a must when there’s lots of standing around, playing games and hanging out with kids.
The sleeveless keyhole maxi dress in red from Kmart is very festive. (Kmart)
I also love the $30 sleeveless keyhole maxi dress, which is available in red and white and is made of cotton and linen.
The red in particular is a stunning option for Christmas parties and Christmas Day, and also works with heels for fancy events and wedges for picnics and barbecues.
I can see it being a standout on New Year’s Eve when paired with sparkling jewellery and shimmering makeup.
The sleeveless tie-back midi dress looks cute from the back and the front. (Kmart)
Also in the sea theme – which is absolutely huge in fashion right now – is the $35 sleeveless tie back midi dress in the oceanscene print.
The oceanscene print also comes in a short sleeve belted mini shirt dress design for $28, which is a great option for a bit of arm and shoulder coverage for events in the sun.
The oceanscene print also comes in a short sleeve belted mini shirt dress design. (Kmart)
This super cute linen and viscose dress has anchor, crab, cocktail, seahorse and sea-related sayings in red, yellow and blue colours on white fabric.
To style it for various events, take your cue from the colours featured in the print and choose blue, yellow or red accessories.
White sneakers or canvas shoes work particularly well with this dress but for those more elegant events pop on some strappy heels.
Finish with red lipstick and you’re ready to party.
Product prices are current as at December 9, 2025. Availability may vary store to store, please visit kmart.com.au