Always high on appeal, a pretty dress is the ultimate throw-on-and-go piece to see you through the summer. See an edit of THE GLOSS editors’ favourites below …
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A pretty dress? It’s a veritable wardrobe saviour. Whether you’re going all out for a garden party, packing for your holidays or searching for a feel-good outfit for dining alfresco, the right dress is a real multi-tasker. What’s trending now? Earthy colours that speak to languid Mediterranean days are popular. Think: shades of cream, beige and olive, in natural fabrics like cotton and linen. Elsewhere, there’s a nod to vintage sleepwear: slip dresses in classic prints like polka dot take centre stage, complemented by maxi dresses replete with romantic ruffles.
Bandeau styles are firmly on trend for summer, both with and without spaghetti straps. If this isn’t for you, another new shape to embrace is the drop-waist, a redux of 1920s style, we’re seeing them paired with textural details such as quilting and shirring which, as they skim the body, can be quite flattering. Shop an edit of the best summer dresses below.
Blue ruffle lace-trim dress, €189, at Mint Velvet.
Black polka dot dress with V-neck and lace insert, M&S Collection, €54, at Marks & Spencer.
Beige linen puff-sleeve midi dress, €99, at & Other Stories.
Green smocked strapless organic cotton dress, Faithfull, €210; www.net-a-porter.com.
White floral cotton maxi dress, Posse, $495; www.modaoperandi.com.
Yellow satin slip dress, €89.95, at Zara.
Light pink smocked maxi dress, €34.99, at H&M.
White Dominique lace-panelled dress, $595; www.loefflerrandall.com.
White Iris cotton midi dress, Rixo x Ciao Lucia, €345; www.rixo.co.uk.
Black Isobel swan print dress, Kitri, €340, at Arnotts.
Beige Tencel pleated dress, €150, at Cos.
White cotton cheesecloth shirred maxi shirt dress, €280; www.meandem.com.
Floral print one-shoulder cotton-poplin dress, Matteau, €267; www.theoutnet.com.
Sunflower yellow Monette linen dress, €348; www.thereformation.com.
Black textured ruffled dress, €49.99, at Mango.
Olive green bandeau dress, €145; www.neverfullydressed.com.
Ecru linen and cotton shirt dress, €230; www.sezane.com.
Black and white Akeyla polka dot dress, Baum und Pferdgarten, €359, at Brown Thomas.
Cream striped dress, Selected Femme, €121; www.zalando.ie.
Floral print shirt dress, €49.95, at Zara.