The Dress Trends Fashion Insiders Are Wearing This Summer

Nothing captures the ease and simplicity of minimalism better than a crisp, clean-lined dress – it delivers maximum impact with very little effort and acts as the perfect canvas for one or two sculptural accessories. “I’m always looking for dresses that feel easy the second you put them on,” says New York-based fashion editor Coco Schiffer. “I love simple silhouettes like slip dresses, column shapes or anything slightly oversized that moves with you. If the fabric is beautiful and the shape feels effortless, I know I’ll wear it on repeat,” she adds. British content creator Brittany Bathgate agrees: “I’m drawn to simple designs with an unexpected twist and always look for beautiful fabrics with interesting movement and structure,” she says. Purists will love Calvin Klein Collection’s black ‘Artemis’ dress, while those who like to dabble in color will find the perfect compromise in Khaite’s ‘Taja’ maxi in crinkled gold voile from our NET SUSTAIN edit. As for finishing touches? Takes cues from Bathgate by choosing either “a cuff, a large pair of earrings or an interesting pendant” to complete your look.

If your idea of a summer romance is wearing a floaty dress replete with ruffles and bows, then prepare to fall in love with the styles in our edit. Dôen’s Regency-inspired ‘Emmaretta’ midi is made from organic cotton decorated with painterly blooms and has a feminine smocked bodice, while Alessandra Rich’s tea dress has a sweetly ruffled neckline. “I love romantic dresses because they practically style themselves; you don’t have to overthink the rest [of your outfit],” says New York-based actor Frances Aaternir. “My go-to brand is Dôen, everything is so flattering and I adore their prints. I also love pieces by Faithfull and Rixo.” Dress your favorites up or down depending on the occasion, opting for strappy sandals or ballet flats during the day and a low-heeled mule in the evening.

“I think maximalism is often misunderstood as just an overload of elements that turns into visual chaos, but that’s definitely not how I see it,” says Brazilian content creator Vicky Montanari, who approaches maximalism in an expressive yet carefully curated way. “It’s all about creating a connection between the elements. If you’re mixing different colors, they should still relate somehow, whether they’re complementary, within the same palette or variations of the same tone,” she adds. Stylist Tina Leung, meanwhile, says, “More is more!” She follows a gut feeling, committing to the colors, textures and prints she naturally gravitates towards and doesn’t hold back. As for accessories? “I love mixing more playful pieces with more classic or understated ones, that contrast often makes the look more interesting,” says Montanari. Follow her lead by styling Missoni’s crochet maxi dress with a color-pop bag in red or cobalt blue.

Effortless and free-spirited, the beauty of a boho-inspired dress is how easy it is to make your own. The flowing silhouettes and playful textures of styles like Etro’s paisley-print maxi and Zimmermann’s ‘Indra’ cover-up can easily be personalized with a beaded necklace, raffia bag, headscarf – or all three – as tastemakers like Mafalda Patrício and Janelle Lloyd demonstrate. “Bohemian-style dresses are seasonless. I’ll reach for the same dress in the fall that I wore throughout spring and summer, but swap sandals for knee-high boots and a great coat and it looks just as chic,” says Lloyd. Her go-to brands for dreamy boho designs include Chloé, Zimmermann, Ulla Johnson and Alix of Bohemia.