Last summer’s love affair with longer lengths won’t be going anywhere this season. The runways for spring/summer 2011 showed floaty floor-lengths in an abundance. No-one did it with more glamour than Alber Elbaz at Lanvin but covetable looks were seen at J.Mendel, Erdem and Gianfranco Ferre.

Wear these ground skimming gowns with flat sandals for effortless summer chic. For alternate evening look go for a gown featuring this season’s red carpet must-have feature; a sexy split. Floral prints/block colours/delicate nudes; you can’t go wrong.

Vionnet’s split-sleeve silk gown £1,650 will make an eye-catching look available at net-a-porter.com. A more demure choice is See by Chloe’s pretty chiffon maxi £360 also from net-a-porter.com. Finally French Connection’s draped Darcy dress for £97 will make a summer staple.