Our Top 10 Summer Dresses
We bet you’re as excited as we are that the summer is here and gearing up to be one of long-awaited reunions, fun memories, and, of course, killer summer style. And what article of clothing screams summertime more than the beloved summer dress? This piece is cute, cool, effortless, and easy to dress-up or down according to your needs. In this guide, we will break down the top ten dresses that you’ll want to buy pre-loved on Vestiaire Collective for a sustainable way to source all your warm-weather looks. Summer’s never been more anticipated than it is this year, and in the perfect pre-loved summer dress, you’re going shine as bright as the summer sun.
The Short Dress
The short dress is your go-to when you want to reach for a garment that’s guaranteed to keep you cool. A great example of this style is the satin slip dress. Popular in the ‘90s, this dress has become a timeless look, so we recommend you scoop up a vintage piece from Vestiaire Collective for some sustainable retro glam this summer. Though this piece is comfortable enough to sleep in, we bet you’ll be pulling it out of your closet for multiple occasions during the summer.
Short dresses are versatile when it comes to styling. You can wear one as the centerpiece of a boho-chic look paired with a flowing shawl, and the next day change it up completely by throwing on a leather jacket for a grungy rock vibe. This little dress looks equally amazing with a pair of trainers or some strappy stilettos. Your clothes should reflect the many facets of your personality and this dress keeps up with all of them.
The Midi Dress
The midi dress silhouette falls just under the knees or just above the ankle. This is a look that is more versatile than the saucy mini dress for wear to places like the office or meeting your partner’s parents. That said, an off the shoulder midi, or one with a high slit, can offer a flirty finish if that’s what you’re going for.
Though everyone is dreaming of long summer days, this style transitions flawlessly into other seasons as well. Midi dresses come in a variety of materials to suit different types of weather. A long-sleeve, knit midi is perfect for autumn, but could also come in handy on cooler summer evenings.
A good tip when purchasing a midi dress is to steer clear of hemlines that fall right at your mid-calf. A hem that arrives about five centimetres below the knee or five centimetres above the ankle will offer an ultra-chic silhouette.
The Maxi Dress
A floor-length dress, otherwise known as the maxi dress, is a wardrobe staple. It’s a head-to-toe look that’s perfect for a busy lifestyle. Why? Because there’s no time spent thinking about how to wear it. With a maxi dress, you just put it on and you’re ready to party.
Maxis come in an incredible array of prints and fabrics so you can have fun finding a pattern that expresses your personality. We love a good maxi satin dress for formal summer events, but a floral print maxi will be welcome everywhere, particularly when snapping selfies twirling your skirt to your heart’s content. With such a generous length, the fabric can really be used as a canvas for making a statement.
The Summer Knit Dress
Love the summertime but can’t bear to part with your comfy winter sweaters? You can have the best of both worlds with the summer knit dress. Vogue even called this piece “The Cult Dress of Summer 2021”. But this isn’t a new fashion: the knit dress was actually born in the rollicking days of the 1920s. The knit dress of the 2020s is no forgettable trend.
Whether you are a fan of maxi or midi, top designers have you covered in knitwear. Bottega Veneta offers a knit midi dress blended with wool and silk for a luxurious feel, and the Jacquemus striped knit maxi dress is a colourful head-turner. These are far from being the only luxury brands with knit dresses, though, so head to Vestiaire to check out all our pre-loved options.
The Cotton Summer Dress
For the hottest summer days, a dress is a great choice for keeping you cool while looking stylish. But not all dresses are created equally. Even sleeveless mini dresses can feel uncomfortable if you don’t pay attention to fabric selection. Enter the cotton summer dress. Cotton is one of the most breathable of all fabrics so you go about your entire day feeling completely fresh. This natural material is so light that it’s the perfect pick for summer’s scorchers.
With so many great benefits it makes sense that everyone would want a cotton dress in their summer wardrobe. But cotton has some drawbacks too, like requiring enormous amounts of water and pesticides to grow. For environmentally-minded fashion lovers, look for pre-loved summer dresses or ones made from organic cotton for a more sustainable choice.
The Monochromatic Dress
Perhaps it goes without saying that everyone needs a little black dress. Made famous by Coco Chanel in 1926, it is one of the few truly essential pieces in any closet. But while a LBD exudes class and sophistication, it’s not the only monochrome dress out there. A monochrome outfit is a timeless choice and an easy way to look striking and put-together. Monochrome has long been the choice of powerful women from Jackie Kennedy in the 1960s to the all-purple ensembles of both Michelle Obama and US Vice President Kamala Harris at the US Inauguration this year.
Far from being boring, a monochrome dress is a bold choice for those who want, and deserve, to be seen. While you are free to accessorise however you wish, pairing your dress with shoes in the same colour, though not necessarily the same shade, will make an especially dramatic and pleasing ensemble. So which colour will be your colour of the summer?
The T-Shirt Dress
There is something so comforting about wearing oversized clothes. And even though we’re starting to leave the house more, it seems we are loath to give up our comfy clothing habit. Enter the T-Shirt dress. It’s about as comfortable as you can get while maintaining serious summer style. This is a dress you’ll want to wear all day and night. And if you want to wear it to bed, too, you can!
While this dress is a great casual option, we love a long silhouette accessorised with a belt. Since it can be dressed-up or down, it’s a suitable pick for any occasion, from the beach to the office to after-work soirees. With a preppy collared neckline, it’s also the perfect dress to grab for any business Zoom meetings.
The Sustainable Summer Dress
With so many amazing styles available, it’s likely you’ll want a few different dresses for the summer season. That makes it especially important to shop in an environmentally responsible way. At Vestiaire, we make it easy for you to shop sustainably by offering a huge selection of pre-loved dresses. There are also several sustainable brands that create beautiful designs with a focus on minimising harm to the environment, such as Vivienne Westwood and Ganni.
Ganni is one of our favourite environmentally responsible brands. Coming from Denmark, Ganni makes dresses with that cool Scandi style that we love with options for maxi, midi or mini lovers.
While Vivienne Westwood might have made a name for herself in punk couture in the 1970s, these days she is a pioneer in eco-friendly fashion. Using recycled fabrics and sustainable production methods, dressing sustainably has never looked so good.
The Statement Summer Dress
People are getting ready to be seen out again and if you want to make a big splash in your re-entry into society this summer, you’re going to want a statement dress. Memorable pieces like large prints, puffed sleeves, and tie dye are all ways to embrace and celebrate that we can once again have fun in the sun.
Summer clothing has always favoured floral prints, and there’s just nothing better than huge flowers to brighten your day. And speaking of bright- why not go bold with a neon coloured bodycon à la Khole Kardashian? There are so many dress options to help you stand out from the crowd this summer, and if you want to make a fashion statement while also making a stand for the environment, buy your statement summer dress pre-loved on Vestiaire Collective.
The Vintage Summer Dress
When you think about the very best dress styles, you can’t forget the classics of the last several decades. There was a time not so long ago when women were only allowed to wear dresses and while we are thankful we have more options these days, we still cling to the great dress styles of the past.
The fit and flare swing dresses of the ‘50s that fell just above or below the knee are an enduring favourite. With a penchant for polka dots this is a style for the fun and flirty. The countercultural movement of the ‘60s gave rise to dresses that were more flowing and free, like the sheath dress. The pencil dress was another popular look from the ‘50s and ‘60s that has enjoyed a contemporary update thanks to fashion houses like Alexander McQueen.
Shopping for a vintage dress on Vestiaire opens up a world of possibility for you to score a completely unique, pre-loved treasure that is as beautiful today as when it was first designed.
Dresses are the quintessential item for the summertime. But with the invention of knitted dresses, this is a piece that might be transitioning to year-round wear. And we support this! Dresses are comfortable, easy to wear, and can even save you time. With single piece outfits, it’s simple to put together a look.
Whether you are shopping for a dress for the summer or anytime of year, you can make a more sustainable consumer choice by buying your dresses pre-loved on Vestiaire Collective. Fashion Activists like you know that avoiding overconsumption is an important part of being a conscious shopper, but with dresses it can be hard to choose just one look. After all, there are very different occasions for wearing a mini dress versus a knitted dress. Buying pre-loved allows you to get all the pieces that you crave with minimal carbon impact. It’s a great way to build a collection that you love mindfully.
Thanks to our large and growing community of fashion lovers, you are sure to find a pre-loved dress for all your summer gatherings that will make you look incredible. We bet you’ll feel incredible, too, knowing that you made a purchase that puts the planet first.