The best dresses for summer 2024

It’s officially summer dress season – and we’re finally getting the weather for them. The joy of summer dresses is that they come with connotations of holidays, fun adventures and an unmistakable free-spirited feeling. 

That feeling of a floor length dress swishing around your ankles is very summer-specific. It gives an instant hit of easy glamour in one easy step. The beauty of the maxi is its versatility – throw on for everyday and just add extras to dress it up. This season find wrap styles with a vintage feel, easy jersey stripes (you will live in these) and gingham checks (very on-trend). And an all-black maxi will always come in handy – look for cute details like tie-waists or ruffle sleeves.

In search of something to uplift your summer wardrobe? Then pick a print – if it’s colourful, even better. Prints add immediate vibrancy to your look and they stand alone – you don’t need to add much else to feel fully dressed.

Then think about what shape you want – the formality of a shirt dress becomes more relaxed when it's presented in leopard print, while 1970s-inspired tiered styles are the perfect companion to retro ditsy florals (think Laura Ashley-style). Minimalists might like more abstract prints and relaxed silhouettes.

The midi has been the length for several seasons now and for good reason – it’s long enough to look elegant but not so long so as to create a potential problem with footwear. And if you’re thinking about wearing a heel sometime soon, or dressing up for a do, the midi is ideal.

Strong contenders at this length are your loose and floaty numbers at the more casual end of the spectrum, to more polished wrap or tea dress styles at the going-out-for-a-nice-dinner end. 

If you can’t get your legs out in the summer then when can you? And don't panic, shorter lengths are more flattering than you think. Choose something floaty or A-line for a more streamlined silhouette.

There’s something nice about the 1960s vibe that comes with a mini dress, too – very Brigitte Bardot, or latterly, Alexa Chung. And if you feel like you’re baring too much flesh then you can opt for longer sleeves or a higher neck to balance it out. 

Think the smock is not for you? Think again. This is the comfort blanket of dresses – it will take care of you when you’re not feeling your best, when you want to devour the buffet and not worry about your waistband, and also give you that freeing feeling only achieved by wafting around in something voluminous and bohemian.

Again, prints are big in this style – see paisley and gingham – or you may prefer more minimalist shapes in cooling linen or jersey. 

When it really hots up, it’s good to have something strappy to reach for – plus it's handy for catching some rays without being encumbered by sleeves. The 1990s slip favoured by Kate Moss back in the day is a timeless style, as are sundresses – whether plain or printed – with spaghetti straps. Try a jersey dress for supreme comfort, and if you want to feel dressier, go for something with feminine frills. Loose styles tend to be more flattering – and they’re certainly more comfortable – in sunny weather. And don’t forget you can throw over a blouse when you feel the need for extra coverage.