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9 Summer Dress Trends To Acquaint Yourself With Now
Be it slinky ’90s-esque slips or sporty racerbacks, there was plenty of summer dress inspiration on the spring/summer 2021 runways that can be applied to our wardrobes now.
Fresh takes on the trusty LBD were seen across the board. Jacquemus’s ethereal showcase, set against the backdrop of an oscillating wheat field, championed daring peekaboo cut-outs, while resident midriff-flossing maestro Christopher Esber presented various risqué threaded dress styles.
For some designers, going “out out” was the main inspiration. This desire for exuberant eveningwear translated into frou-frou feather trims, zingy prints and sequins galore. Dreamy daytime dresses, spun from breezy cotton-poplin, were interspersed between bombastic tulle creations at Molly Goddard, while homespun rainbow knitted maxis swept the floor at Gabriela Hearst.
Read more: A Definitive Guide To The Best Summer Dresses Available Now
Below, inspiration from the spring/summer 2021 shows to inform your next summer dress purchase.
1/9The peekaboo dress
Dare to bare? Peekaboo cut-outs and criss-cross straps were key dress features, seen at Christopher Esber, Jacquemus and Supriya Lele.
Supriya Lele sleeveless double twist dress, £830, available at Farfetch.com; Christopher Esber wrapped tie-around halterneck dress, £844, available at Farfetch.com; Johanna Ortiz cutout cotton-blend maxi dress, £289, available at Net-a-porter.com; Zimmermann cut-out dress, £1,050, available at Net-a-porter.com.
Above: Christopher Esber spring/summer 2021.
2/9Stripy knitted number
Nothing spells out confidence quite like big-hitting bold stripes. Wales Bonner’s range of Brixton knits are spun from a snug, form-fitting ribbed fabric – suitable for both daytime and evening – while you won’t want to take off Christopher John Rogers’s innately flattering stripy maxis (as worn by Mona Tougaard on British Vogue’s April 2021 cover.)
Missoni crochet-knit maxi dress, £1,032, available at Net-a-porter.com; Christopher John Rogers open-back striped ribbed-knit midi dress, £830, available at Net-a-porter.com; Mango knitted cotton-blend dress, £36, available at Mango.com; Wales Bonner Brixton striped ribbed stretch-cotton chenille midi dress, £425, available at Net-a-porter.com.
Above: Gabriela Hearst spring/summer 2021.
3/9A ray of colour
The future is colourful. Vivid palettes have been a failsafe mood-booster throughout the pandemic, so there’s no surprise that designers want to keep the morale positive for spring/summer 2021. Expect paintbox hues, Crayola brights and pastels.
Bottega Veneta cotton-blend mini dress, £1,320, available at Net-a-porter.com; Cecilie Bahnsen matelassé-organza maxi dress, £920, available at Matchesfashion.com; Galvan sweetheart-neckline stretch-woven midi dress, £695, available at Selfridges.com; Proenza Schouler cut-out crepe maxi dress, £1,205, available at Matchesfashion.com.
Above: Versace spring/summer 2021.
4/9The “out out” frock
Finally, we’re allowed to venture “out out” and beyond the confinements of four walls. With this new celebrated freedom comes an enhanced dress code. Don’t be shy – get your groove on with sequins, feathers and ruffles this party season.
16 Arlington feather-trimmed mini dress, £995, available at Net-a-porter.com; David Koma chain-embellished one-shoulder dress, £1,210, available at Matchesfashion.com; Halpern striped sequinned satin mini dress, £432, available at Net-a-porter.com; Paco Rabanne mirror-effect dress, £2,540, available at Pacorabanne.com.
Above: Burberry spring/summer 2021.
5/9Fresh takes on the trusty LBD
Enter: the greatest transeasonal wardrobe-binder. Up there in the hall of fashion essentials, the humble LBD received a makeover this season. Mini, midi or maxi; offbeat or elegant – take your pick.
Jacquemus open-back ruched twill maxi dress, £610, available at Net-a-porter.com; Versace embellished satin dress, £2,750, available at Versace.com; & Other Stories puff-sleeve midi dress, £85, available at Stories.com; Paloma Wool one-shoulder dress, £225, available at Libertylondon.com.
Above: Jacquemus spring/summer 2021.
6/9Sporty spice
Hello, your alternative to trackies. Sporty dresses – aka dresses made from jersey or track fabric with athletic design flairs – are a comfortable way to graduate from your favourite sweatpants. Style with trainers for maximum sports chic.
Miu Miu cut-out mini dress, £1,610, available at Mytheresa.com; Prada colour-block gabardine dress, £1,550, available at Brownsfashion.com; OpéraSPORT strappy mini dress, £139, available at Endclothing.com; Staud cut-out dress, £213, available at Mytheresa.com.
7/9Zingy prints
Set aside your beige and muted loungewear and introduce a healthy dose of sprightly prints into your repertoire. From florals to animal prints and geometrics, be fearless with your pattern choices.
Borgo de Nor printed dress, £460, available at Matchesfashion.com; Charo Ruiz lace-trimmed printed cotton-blend voile maxi dress, £394, available at Net-a-porter.com; De la Valli ruffled floral-print recycled georgette maxi dress, £475, available at Net-a-porter.com; Dries Van Noten printed cotton-blend dress, £661, available at Mytheresa.com.
Above: Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2021.
8/9Effortlessly breezy cotton
If figure-hugging dresses don’t take your fancy, floaty cotton buys are for you. The breezier, the better. Look to Molly Goddard’s spring/summer 2021 showcase for alternative styling inspiration: she paired her simple white styles with stripy sweater vests and fuzzy footwear from her Ugg collaboration.
Mango tiered maxi dress, £30, available at Mango.com; Lug Von Siga floral-print cotton-blend midi dress, £540, available at Matchesfashion.com; Rhode cotton mini dress, £335, available at Selfridges.com; Ganni cotton-poplin shirred dress, £225, available at Ganni.com.
Above: Molly Goddard spring/summer 2021.
