From stylish, beach-ready alternatives to well-put-together workplace outfit heroes, summer is the season of the sundress. Although the item dominates our closets anytime the weather warms up, there are some notable modifications each year that keep our warm-season look current. Whether your seasonal mood board leans more toward Mediterranean paradise, garden party elegance, or coastal happiness, this summer’s trends include unusual materials, colorful designs, and sumptuous embellishments that let you live your fantasies. The top 13 summer dress trends for 2025 are listed below, along with styling advice and unique product recommendations.
1. Marine Life Motifs
One of 2025’s biggest trends to yet is the fisherman aesthetic, as you are already aware. This style has taken a literal turn for the summer, with patterns of sardines, lobsters, and other animals appearing on our favorite sundresses. Whether you’re wearing it for a fun afternoon of breakfast and shopping or for a vacation, the outfit adds a whimsical touch to your summertime ensemble.
Styling Tip: Pair your dress with on-theme accessories, like fisherman sandals and net-inspired handbags, to take the playful seasonal energy to the next level.
2. Maxi Magic
Audree Kate López, a stylist based in New York City, predicts that maxi dresses will be popular this summer. “This summer, you’ll see a mix of printed, cotton, linen, and silk styles,” she says, adding that maxi dresses were the most popular dress trend last year. One of my favorite summertime silhouettes is this one as it’s loose, breezy, and appropriate for both a formal dinner and a beach cover-up.
Styling Tip: Maxi dresses might seem more formal, but López assures us they go with everything. “[They can be] styled with strappy sandals, sneakers, or even heels,” she says.
3. Polka Dots
One of the most popular patterns of the season is the return of retro-inspired polka dots, which can be seen on some of the most adorable summer dresses. This design will make you grin whether you choose the timeless black-and-white or a trendy summer hue like baby blue.
Styling Tip: Lean into the nostalgic energy by pairing your maxi dress with other retro-inspired favorites, like cat-eye sunglasses and ballet flats.
4. Mini Moment
Mini dresses, on the other hand, are always a striking choice. “A mini is always a good choice,” says Kyla Flax, head of styling at Anthropologie. Minis’ flirty charm and whimsical appeal make them ideal for both important occasions and informal get-togethers. You can wear them to rooftop parties, weddings, and brunch dates with friends. The best part is that they make it easy to go from day to night.
Styling Tip: Like maxi dresses, mini dresses are easy to dress up and down with a little accessorizing. For a more casual look, opt for fashion-forward sneakers, like Adidas Gazelles; for a dressier appearance, consider platform strappy sandals or chunky heels.
5. Amalfi Aesthetic
This year, the Amalfi coast’s abundance of lemons and retro vibes are leading the way in the escapism that summer always encourages. You can’t go wrong with a breezy butter yellow midi dress with a vintage-inspired style or a playfully elegant citrus design the next time you need a dress on a hot day.
Styling Tip: To feel like an old Hollywood star filming a romance movie, go full glam with the accessories. Think floppy sun hats, The White Lotus-approved handbags, and sweet kitten heels.
6. Drop Waists
As you may have observed, waistlines are becoming noticeably smaller on both dresses and denim these days. “Don’t discount the drop waist silhouette that has made a comeback this year if you detest low-rise jeans,” López advises, adding that tube top mini and midi versions are particularly well-liked. “The drop waist can lengthen your frame and is a fashion statement.”
Styling Tip: The drop-waist dress is another versatile silhouette you can adapt to any occasion. “What sets this trend apart is its effortless pairing with flat or casual shoes,” Flax says. “Whether it’s a sleek pointed-toe flat or a laid-back fisherman sandal paired with socks, this combination adds a chic perspective to the statement dress.” If you want to dress it up, Revolve chief merchandising officer, Divya Mathur, suggests opting for heels. “Style it with classic thin gold hoop earrings, a small neutral shoulder bag, and brown or nude open-toe heels,” she tells us.
7. Eyelet Details
Want to give your summer attire a delicate touch? Eyelet is something Flax like to add to the mix. “This summer, eyelet dresses are really popular,” she explains. “They’re the preferred option for all warm-weather excursions due to their delicate patterns and lightweight fabric.”
Styling Tip: Eyelet is a versatile textile pattern that can work for casual brunches as well as slightly dressier dinner parties. “An eyelet dress can be paired with a woven bag, gold jewelry, and a pair of wrap-up sandals to truly enhance that summer feeling,” Flax says.
8. Voluminous Silhouettes
Are you prepared to feel like a queen? Put on a voluminous silhouette for a striking, fashionable look. “Volume, please,” shouts López. “I adore an A-line silhouette, puff sleeves, a full skirt, and additional ruffles.” However, you are not required to choose all of those components at once: Wearing a maxi tent dress, puff-sleeve mini, or ruffled strapless dress can be an easy way to embrace this trend. Whatever you decide, it’s all about the exaggerated drama.
Styling Tip: “In my opinion, this is the city girl’s version of cottage core—it’s whimsical, romantic, and so fun,” López says. “It’s like playing dress-up and works perfectly with an opposing shoe, like chunky loafers or super strappy sandals.”
9. Subtly Sheeri
In addition to jelly shoes and a plethora of other translucent items, sheer dresses are popular for the summer of 2025. Less really see-through shapes and somewhat more subdued stylings are popular this year. However, those are undoubtedly still in existence, so you should be able to find anything you’re interested in.
Styling Tip: “Sheer and lace dresses are not going anywhere, so style yours as a beach cover-up or layer the dress over briefs or mini shorts and your favorite bralette,” López says. As for accessories, Mathur recommends pairing your sheer dress with a white clutch and strappy heels for a peak summer take on the see-through trend.
10. Shirt Dresses
In recent months, shirt dresses have become more and more popular due to their effortless yet stylish appeal as well as high-profile appearances on celebrities like Anne Hathaway. “A shirt dress will always be a summertime staple because it’s breezy and easy,” adds Flax. “The shirt dress provides a tailored appearance for every occasion, with options ranging from relaxed and more flowy cuts to crisp, cinched waists.”
Styling Tip: An easy way to elevate any shirt dress? A statement belt, of course. “Try styling it with a belt or two,” Flak encourages. “Shirt dresses can be classic and clean or styled with boots and belts for a boho feel.”
11. Kitschy Prints
Despite the versatility of solid-colored dresses, we’re seeing an increasing number of quirky patterned silhouettes on our feeds this summer. “We’re seeing prints of food and beverages, as well as nautical details, as part of the Italian summer trend,” López explains. However, this is not the cheugy, out-of-date tropical vacation prints that your parents and grandparents wore. It’s stylish, enjoyable, and I really should plan a trip to Italy right away.
Styling Tip: Vacation-ready prints tend to be create a more casual vibe on their own, but with the right shoes and jewelry, they can be date night-ready in a cinch. Consider pairing your favorite kitschy dress with gold heels and hoops for an effortlessly chic update.
12. Colorful Metallics
Do you want your everyday life to be a little more glamorous? Or perhaps you simply enjoy dopamine dressings that are bold. Colorful metallic dresses are a must-try in either case. Although metallics have been popular for some time, López predicts that summer will bring more vibrant metallics, sequins, neon colors, and fresh designs.
Styling Tip: “I love the idea of wearing a colorful metallic dress as a ‘daytime party dress’—you can balance out the look with sandals, boots, or a sneaker,” López says. “I like to keep jewelry minimal and hair ‘undone’ for that effortless look.”
13. Art Class Aesthetic
López draws our attention to the art class aesthetic for a fun and imaginative summer clothing trend. “Fringe, ruffles, feathers, beading, sequins, and 3D embellishments are some of the major texture elements we’ve seen on the runway the past couple of years—it’s giving fashion meets art,” she says. “This summer and into fall and winter, beaded trim, beaded embroidery, and beaded details will be the main features you see.”
Styling Tip: The art class aesthetic is all about infusing your imagination into your outfits. There are no rules when working with these dresses: Opt for an ultra mini layered over bike shorts, or embrace the chaos even further with denim underneath. Alternately, you can rock an over-the-top mini or midi dress with knee-high gladiators for an artsy, boho vibe.
