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The Fashion Memo

The Dress Guide: 5 Styles To Take You Through The Season

From sleek, office-ready shirt dresses to red-carpet-worthy gowns, these are the new-season styles to add to your wish list – along with styling tips on how to wear them best. By COLLEEN ROSS

Fashion editor Millie Parry
Fashion
Modest silhouettes – such as a long-sleeved maxi – are ideal to take you from day to night

A dress is the quintessential investment piece – a closet icon that designers are constantly reinventing to create fresh and timeless iterations for every new season. Whether it’s a figure-skimming, lingerie-inflected mini dress for a romantic dinner date, or a bohemian-inspired maxi dress for your summer vacation, there’s always a dress to suit the occasion. Here, we’ve combed through the spring/summer 2026 collections to bring you the best styles for all of the season’s key moments.

9-to-5

When it comes to your workday closet, dresses are an effortless addition, and the sleekest styles demand very little in the way of accessorizing – think loafers or kitten-heel pumps and a tote. A turtleneck dress is the perfect silhouette to wear on repeat to the office, or whenever you want to feel your most confident. Calvin Klein Collection’s ‘Willow’ version from the runway exudes timeless elegance and will segue neatly into eveningwear with a few accessory swaps. Elsewhere, Toteme makes a convincing case for red being the perfect business solution with its gathered wool-crepe maxi – just add heeled thong sandals and a baguette bag to complete a chic city look.

  • CALVIN KLEIN COLLECTION
    Willow textured-crepe turtleneck midi dress
    €1,100.00
    Select a Size
    36
    38
    40 - out of stock
    42 - out of stock
  • JIL SANDER
    Ruffled checked cotton-poplin midi dress
    €1,645.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36 - out of stock
    38
    40 - out of stock
    42
  • TOTEME
    Slouch Waist gathered wool-crepe maxi dress
    €497.00
    Select a Size
    32 - low stock
    34 - out of stock
    36 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
  • KHAITE
    Iryl open-back draped crepe maxi dress
    €3,980.00
    Select a Size
    0
    2
    4 - out of stock
    6
    8 - out of stock

Off-duty

In warmer weather, a dress delivers instant downtime style, and this season’s favorite off-duty picks have low-key appeal – think simple slip dresses and versatile midi silhouettes. At once trending and timeless, Tom Ford’s silky maxi is patterned with playful polka dots and has pretty lace trims. Echo the romantic feel by styling it with ballet flats and a Jane Birkin-esque basket bag. Alternatively, for something with a resort-ready twist, try Chloé’s silk crepe de chine slip dress – a NET-A-PORTER exclusive – with strappy sandals and layered gold necklaces.

  • LOEWE
    Striped chiffon and ribbed jersey maxi dress
    €2,800.00
    Select a Size
    x small
    small
    medium
    large - out of stock
  • TOM FORD
    Open-back lace-trimmed polka-dot silk-crepe maxi dress
    €2,945.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    38 - low stock
    40 - low stock
    42 - low stock
    44
    46
  • DRIES VAN NOTEN
    Ruffled polka-dot cotton-blend mesh midi dress
    €1,695.00
    Select a Size
    34 - low stock
    36
    38
    40
    42
    44 - low stock
  • CHLOÉ
    Lace-trimmed silk crepe de chine maxi dress
    €1,890.00
    Select a Size
    34 - out of stock
    36 - low stock
    38
    40
    42
    44 - out of stock
Slip-on-and-go shapes in lightweight fabrics are a no-brainer for relaxed, off-duty style

Vacation pieces

Dresses need to offer versatility to earn their space in your suitcase – think easy cotton styles or floaty maxis that drift effortlessly from beach to bar, and designs that double as cover-ups. Brands that specialize in resortwear should be your first port of call: Pucci’s halterneck style is designed with an archival print and has a beautiful asymmetric drape, while Etro’s ruffled paisley maxi – another NET-A-PORTER exclusive – will look stunning in beach-front photographs at sunset. Finally, no vacation lineup is complete without a bohemian mini dress. Wear Missoni’s crochet-knit version with a floppy hat and sandals for lunch by the sea or trips to the farmers’ market.

  • PUCCI
    Asymmetric printed silk-twill halterneck dress
    €1,500.00
    Select a Size
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42
    44
    46 - low stock
    48 - low stock
  • ETRO
    Ruffled paisley-print chiffon maxi dress
    €1,990.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    38
    40 - low stock
    42 - out of stock
    44
    46 - out of stock
    48
    50
  • DRIES VAN NOTEN
    Ruffled polka-dot cotton-blend mesh midi dress
    €1,695.00
    Select a Size
    34 - low stock
    36
    38 - low stock
    40 - low stock
    42 - low stock
  • MISSONI
    Striped metallic crochet-knit mini dress
    €890.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    38
    40
    42
    44 - low stock
    46 - low stock
    48
For after-dark elegance, this season is all about slinky silhouettes and shimmering finishes

Evening elegance

Come evening, this season is all about slinky silhouettes, romantic details, vivacious prints and plenty of shimmer – all are perfect for sundowner soirées and will pack a punch at after-dark events. Meeting the criteria, Saint Laurent’s open-back maxi dress is cut from lustrous satin that beautifully skims your figure, while Toteme’s gathered lemon-yellow midi would work beautifully for a city or destination wedding. Whichever style you choose, pair with sculptural silver earrings and low-heeled mules to keep things effortless. Elsewhere, Stella McCartney’s bright blue mini is the perfect choice for dinner parties – simply pair it with an oversized jacket and mules.

  • FFORME
    Cotton and silk-blend maxi dress
    €960.00
    Select a Size
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42
    44
    46 - out of stock
  • SAINT LAURENT
    Open-back draped silk-satin maxi dress
    €3,500.00
    Select a Size
    34 - low stock
    36
    38 - out of stock
  • STELLA MCCARTNEY
    Ruched jersey mini dress
    €894.00
    Select a Size
    34 - out of stock
    36 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42 - out of stock
    44 - low stock
    46 - out of stock
  • TOTEME
    Gathered jersey midi dress
    €410.00
    Select a Size
    xx small - low stock
    x small
    small - low stock
    medium
    large
    x large - low stock

The main event

For weddings, garden parties and formal affairs, high-octane is the order of the day, with designers embracing the head-turning possibilities the dress has to offer. If it’s instant impact you’re after, seek out a single shade, like Kallmeyer’s exquisite ‘Matilda’ gown in royal purple, or Elie Saab’s acid-yellow gown. Alternatively, keep things classic with Balenciaga’s black maxi dress. The first look to appear on the spring/summer 2026 runway, it comes in an artfully draped silhouette inspired by the brand’s iconic ‘Sack’ line from 1957. Elsewhere, Rodarte offers a darkly romantic choice for a bridal shower or destination wedding. Complement the black lace trims with matching sandals.

  • KALLMEYER
    Matilda ruched cape-effect jersey gown
    €920.00
    Select a Size
    x small - out of stock
    small - out of stock
    medium - out of stock
    large - out of stock
  • ELIE SAAB
    Lace-trimmed silk-blend gown
    €3,120.00
    Select a Size
    36 - out of stock
    38
    40
  • RODARTE
    Lace-trimmed silk gown
    €1,789.00
    Select a Size
    0 - out of stock
    2 - out of stock
    4 - out of stock
    6 - out of stock
  • BALENCIAGA
    Draped silk and wool-blend crepe maxi dress
    €4,500.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36
    38 - out of stock

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