Though most associate a knit dress with colder season, Sofia Coppola is here to show how this timeless piece can become one of those summer capsule wardrobe essentials. However, it is one of the go-to designs of women who dress very well with very little. Whether or not you identify as a minimalist, you can use their simple outfit formula that embraces one key piece and builds the rest of the story around it.
One of those women who know how to nail minimalism with a bit of flair is Sofia Coppola. The film director, who has built her own aesthetic identity on the basis of a balancing subtleness with femininity epitomises the power of a summer dress – especially one crafted in a beautiful knit. At the most recent Chanel Cruise 2026/27 fashion show held in Biarritz, France, Coppola relied on a beautiful midi-cut knitted dress from the house brand. Its loose silhouette, polo shirt neckline and just-above-the-knee length took a totally simple concept and turned it into one of our favourite looks of the summer – with just one trick…
How to style a summer knit dress, according to Sofia Coppola
Although it looks like a dress, Coppola's Chanel look – originally shown as part of the brand's autumn/winter 2026 collection – is actually a twinset. The top and skirt in a matching, dappled bouclé fabric come together effortlessly and present a classic look that's elevated with just a few fine details. Here are a few lessons to borrow from the iconic film director when it comes to embracing understated elegance of this design:
- Accessories should be delicate. Sofia Coppola included just a few bracelets, a pendant necklace and some barely-there earrings to the mix – and yes, mixing metals is encouraged.
- A pair of low-heeled shoes are your best bet. A signature, Chanel-inspired two-tone shoe will push away from the formality that knitwear sometimes carries.
- Embrace the messy curls. Though it can be sometimes hard to achieve, the perfectly un-done tousled mane gives just the right amount of casual energy to the look.
Another masterclass courtesy of the director of The Virgin Suicides (1999), Lost in Translation (2023) and Marie Antoinette (2026) who knows how to celebrate an outfit without looking overdone. Following in her footsteps, you too can feel like you're just walking onto the front row of a Chanel show – or just the sandy beaches of Biarritz.
