So now we have it, the summer weather we’ve been feverishly praying for, but the reality is quite difficult to dress for. Between the soaring temperatures and general lack of air conditioning, we’ve been in heatwave survival mode, making morning outfit prep all the more challenging. Having made it through spring’s deceptively chilly start in blouses and jeans, now is the time to reach for something a little lighter, and there is one key piece in mind that can rise to the occasion. Goodbye jeans and trainers, hello light layers and shorter hemlines, this season the perfect summer outfit comes down to dresses and flat sandals.
Chic yet casual, effortless yet polished, dresses are the easiest instant outfit to pull on on the summer days that warrant fuss-free style. While our focus over the last few months has been on the changing lengths of the skirt, we’ve been overlooking the prowess of a well-cut dress, and after Celine, Chloé and Stella McCartney made talking points of statement dresses this season, we’re ready to welcome them back to our rotation with open arms. Whether you lean towards the romantic puff sleeve, slinky slip, or minimalist midi—there’s no dress code (pun intended) that there isn’t the perfect style for. And so, to help you navigate the huge number of new summer dresses on the market, we decided to try on some of the market leaders to bring you the pieces that our editors were genuinely impressed. Keep scrolling to see our pick of the best summer dresses in 2026.
The Best Occasion Dress
“Whilst I may be a bit of a colour-phobe, the alluring draw of this sunshine-hued dress is undeniable, even for me. This asymmetrical linen dress will see me through all my summer soirees and holidays, and also comes with a silver floral broach should you want to add a chrome accent to the shoulder for statement occasion dressing.” Eleanor Vousden, Beauty Editor
Maje
Asymmetrical Linen-Blend Dress
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