There was a period of time, roughly between 2015 and 2021, when every summer seemed to yield a specific It-dress: one style that eventually became so ubiquitous and impossible to avoid – online and in real life – that it would start to feel as though we were living in the Matrix (and Zara was the headline sponsor).
Luckily, we seem to have moved on from this repetitive cycle – but that doesn’t mean we can’t stay open to sartorial inspiration from whatever source – be it films, books, nature or the fashion archive. Of course, the runways are always the most failsafe fount of styling ideas, particularly those of designers known for their rich source material and painstakingly considered references: think Alessandro Michele, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons.
So, when it came to identifying the key dress trends of the summer season, we made this holy trinity our first port of call. Miu Miu’s cotton, nightie-style dresses proffered a more unkempt version of 2024’s buxom milkmaid trend – they also recall the vintage cotton nighties that Alexa Chung used to wear with brogues and socks in the early Noughties. In fact, Miuccia seemed to draw on precisely the same vibe (they were styled with ribbed grey socks and brown loafers on the runway), however, the addition of red edging and bug-eyed sunnies brought a sporty edge, too.
At Valentino, Michele spun a very My Fair Lady narrative with his whimsical lace-trimmed polka-dot dresses, which were styled with wide-brimmed hats and lace tights. If you’re not ready to fully lean into your inner all-singing, all-dancing leading lady, try dipping your toe in with Ganni’s sweet corseted minidress, or for a more sultry spin, Alessandra Rich’s spotted lace slip – just add biker boots to balance out the ladylike undertones.
Meanwhile, fashion newcomer Talia Byre made a persuasive case for dresses rendered in Dennis the Menace-style graphic stripes for spring/summer 2025, while Chloé’s Chemena Kamali continues to spearhead the revival of the floaty boho dress. If anyone can convince us to give the tiered skirt another chance, it’s her.
Scroll down to see and shop our full line up of summer dress trends.
Nightie-style dress
Simply stripes
Boho ruffles
The shift dress 2.0
Polka dots
