The Most Wanted · Summer Dresses
The Only Summer Dresses You Need
Four dresses, not a rail. If you cannot name why you own it, you do not need it.
Four dresses, not a rail. If you cannot name why you own it, you do not need it.
A summer wardrobe fails by accumulation. White eyelet, floral midi, linen shirt-dress, occasion silk — each one justified, none of them worn twice.
The only dresses you need are the ones that survive a second week: a white that is not bridal, a dark that works after six, a print that does not look like upholstery, a linen you can sit in.
The mistake is buying a dress for a photograph of heat. If it only works on a blistering afternoon with a tan, it will spend August on a hook.
Edit to the ones you would pack if the case only held four.
Mine is the Toteme Cotton-poplin Midi, White. It does dinner and it does the last train.— K.W., Editor-in-Chief
Linen or eyelet, a sandal with a sole, no hat unless you need one.
Dark silk, a jacket you can carry.
A seventh floral because this one is 'different.' It is not.
Every piece in the edit — tap to shop the whole look.
The white dress is summer's eternal essential, and this year it comes rendered in the prettiest broderie anglaise and eyelet. After seasons of minimalism, fashion wants a little romance again — cutwork, scalloped edges, and airy cotton voile that catches the light. Dôen leads with its lace-trimmed voile, while Matteau, Sea and Toteme offer the clean, crisp versions that read instantly expensive. Nothing says summer quite like a beautiful white dress, and nothing is easier to wear.
Daphne voile mini, white. Not bridal. A flat sandal.
Gardener broderie. Eyelet that looks inherited, not new-white.
The Paule maxi. Broderie, long. Jacket at night.
Broderie mini in black. The eyelet that is not innocent.
Matteau broderie midi, white. The one if you keep a single eyelet.
Toteme poplin midi. White that is a dress, not a statement.
The Jacob smocked voile. Volume. Small jewellery.
The lace-trim dress is having its biggest moment yet, the delicate detail that turns a simple slip into something special. Layered over jeans or worn alone with a flat, it is the fashion set's favourite way to soften an outfit this summer. Posse leads with its gingham and cotton takes, while Borgo de Nor and Dôen bring the romantic, vintage-inspired versions. It is lingerie-inspired dressing at its most wearable — pretty, easy, and quietly seductive.
Marylin gingham and lace. Pattern plus trim — shoe simple.
The Danielle in black. Lace on cotton. Dinner.
The Cordelia. Lace and voile, ivory. Evening summer.
The Julia floral mini, pink. One print. No floral bag.
This is the dress you reach for without thinking — the day-to-night midi that works for the office, the market, and dinner alike. The appeal is effortlessness: a beautiful cut in linen, ramie or poplin that needs nothing but a sandal to feel complete. Dôen's tiered Benoit, Gabriela Hearst's linen Magritte and Róhe's clean midi lead the way, joined by Matteau's endlessly wearable shapes. It is the hardest-working dress in the wardrobe, and the one you will live in all summer.
The Benoit tiered ramie. Floral that moves. Flat shoe.
Róhe cotton midi in red. Colour instead of print.
The Magritte linen, blue. Hearst. Pack this if the case only holds four.
Poplin and knit maxi. Two textures, one colour. Clever, so stop decorating.
Polka-dot cotton and silk. The print dress. Black shoe.
Shirred poplin mini. Structure. Can do town.
The Vitti, belted white poplin. A waist. Good.
The Ama stripe maxi. One stripe dress. No striped bag.
The resort dress is built for the best week of the year — printed, breezy, and made for packing. Whether in embroidered cotton or knotted linen, these are the dresses that photograph beautifully against blue water and whitewashed walls. Cala de la Cruz, Alémais and Emporio Sirenuse lead with their vacation-ready prints, while Matteau and SIR. keep it elegantly pared-back. It is the dress that makes the holiday, and the one people will stop you to ask about.
The Lucca printed linen, brown. Holiday print, serious sandal.
The Nara, cutout, green linen. The cut is the jewellery.
The Acacia print, blue linen. Australian print energy. Plain shoe.
The Elida embroidered cotton. Positano bones. Town if the shoe is right.
Halter maxi, gathered poplin, brown. Shoulders out, jewellery in.
Rochelle knotted maxi, yellow. Butter length. One colour.
For the summer wedding, the gala, the dinner that calls for something more — the occasion dress delivers. This season it comes in fluid silk and poplin halternecks, the neckline of the moment, in colours that feel joyful rather than staid. Pucci's printed silk and Toteme's scarf-detailed midi lead the charge, while Bernadette brings the full romantic drama. It is the black-tie alternative the fashion set is reaching for — elegant, a little bold, and never boring.
Toteme scarf halter, neutral. The scarf is sewn in. Do not add another.
Marilyn poplin halter, blue. Long, clean, a little formal.
Pucci pink silk, asymmetric halter. The print is the dress.
Pucci multi. Louder than the pink. Black sandal, no extra print.
Silk midi. The occasion dress if the eyelet already did the day.
Every piece in this edit, by the houses behind it. Explore them all.
One perfect dress, and summer takes care of itself.— ESVRA