Your Ultimate Summer Dress Guide Is Here!

Come every spring, the runways are abrim with flowy diaphanous textiles and sultry silhouettes, serving some serious summer outfit ideas to cool off in the heat. However, in the world of seasonal dressing, types of summer dresses remain a beloved cliché. Nothing beats rocking an easy-breezy dress amidst the warm weather. Whether a maxi or mini number, summertime dresses allow breathability and comfort without compromising style! Especially if you find wearing pants an uncomfortable and sweaty affair, building a capsule wardrobe of different types of summer dresses will serve you throughout the season. 

While new trends are always exciting to witness and try on, this year’s Spring-Summer 2024 fashion shows were dominated by designs featuring vintage and timeless elements, from esteemed labels. From frills to florals and more – 2024’s trending summer dress style is all about keeping it simple yet statement. No matter what plans occupy your social calendar, these runway-inspired summer outfit ideas will help you steal the spotlight when the temperature soars high. 

Return of Lace

Delicate laces and tulle have been a summer favourite for centuries. This trend originated in the 1600s somewhere in Europe, then travelled far and reached royal courts, gaining immense popularity in its due course. Owing to its delicate and lightweight nature, lace has always been a summer fashion essential that was considered highly luxurious. Brands like Stella McCartney and Luisa Beccaria presented dreamy lace one pieces this season that capture the mood of balmy summer dress style perfectly! Pristine lacey dresses are an impeccable choice for tropical getaways as well as laid-back brunch dates, like the multi-tiered piece from Summer by Priyanka Gupta. Spotlighting dainty embroidery, this ivory dress is reminiscent of fairy tales. Style it with statement diamond or moissanite earrings along with a contrast colour clutch and you’re all set to steal the limelight. 

Crochet Crushing

One of the older art forms in the world, crochet is yet another super elegant and airy pick for summer dresses. A well-crafted crochet dress can become an equally good beach wear and night-out fit, making them a timeless investment. Just like lace, crochet pieces, too, are works of art that can help you garner compliments wherever you go. Ulla Johnson and Ermano Scervino’s spring-summer 2024 lineup saw breathtaking crochet designs perfect for summer soirées. A very close resemblant of the pastel yellow crochet dress from Scervino’s collection is the halter maxi dress from the Indian label Kritika Murarka. Summery tropical print paired with a crochet plunging neckline makes this piece a must-have in your wardrobe! Consider styling it with a beaded silver necklace to achieve that perfect boho look. 

 3D Florals

While ‘florals for spring’ is definitely not groundbreaking, as per Miranda Priestly (from The Devil Wears Prada), embroidered 3D florals surely are! This summer, swap your plain old floral prints for 3D embroideries to add more charm and character to your summer dress look. From Tanner Fletcher, Simon Rocha, Bluemarine to Marni and more – intricately crafted flower buds woven onto the base fabric have been a major hit on the spring-summer 2024 runway. Contemporary Indian label Mishru’s serene white midi dress is an excellent example of a 3D floral dress that exudes artsy elegance. Due to its statement look, the dress needs very minimal styling. Either go with big studs or a stone bracelet to enhance the look. But if you’re feeling a little playful, pairing it with a pair of hot pink heels can be a real game-changer!

Roaring Ruffles 

Ruffles are a fun way to amp up your fashion game! If you have to attend a host of garden parties or wine-and-dine gatherings this summer, consider adding ruffle dresses to your closet instead of plain silhouettes. Chloe’s multi-layered white ruffle dress is a true-blue showstopper, and a close resemblance of it is the butter-yellow chiffon lace ruffle dress from Deme by Gabriella. Style this one-shoulder number with shoulder-duster earrings and make heads turn whenever you step foot in a room. 

Sheer Drama 

Summers are incomplete with drapes of sheer fabric, swaying with the light breeze. Lightweight, airy and oh-so-dreamy, sheer dresses are summer’s gift to every fashionista! Every year, the globe’s biggest brands showcase sheer numbers for the summer season, proving that this trend is here to stay! This year, labels like Bluemarine, ROTATE, and Kernemilk have showcased multiple designs in sheer fabrics, but ADEAM’s artistic craftsmanship stole the show. In the Indian fashionscape, Gauri and Nainika’s corset pencil dress is a true piece of art that takes the sheer trend to the next level. With delicate sequins and an off-shoulder style, this piece is an investment-worthy piece. Other brands offering sheer dresses in India include Saaksha and Kinni, Urvashi Kaur and Nidhi Yasha. 

Though there are many different types of summer dresses in the market that is flooded with seasonal trends, it is essential to buy pieces you can wear time and again. No matter which silhouette you invest in, make sure it is not just another runway blockbuster but also suits your personal style. In order to make your purchases as timeless as possible, go for classic colours like shades of white, pastel blue, yellow or neutral tones like beige. While stark colours might run of style over the years, these hues will always remain in vogue.