Suddenly, Everyone Is Wearing This Chic Summer Dress—Now I Want One Too

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(Image credit: @writtenbyavalon)

Wear a bandeau top and a matching skirt for the appearance of a dress.

In addition to languid frocks, tailored skirts and denim in excess, bandeau dresses and strapless silhouettes have shaped up to be one of this and last season's most esteemed trends. And they’re here to stay. The debut, or rather revival, of this trend comes hot on the tail of Y2k and bears relevance to the tube tops that I was accustomed to for a large proportion of my teen years, so spotting it ready-to-wear is peak nostalgia. The tube top trend was cemented last year, but this season’s iterations are elevated and boast intentional details. TOVE’s Lauryn dress set the precedent for the elaborate bandeau dresses that followed suit this summer.

The styles once reminiscent of the ‘90s supermodel era have been given an overhaul and are now available in modern silhouettes for the summer. 2023's creations include many cuts made from humble jersey, drop waist styles with full skirting and of course the popular bodycon fits. There’s a bandeau dress for all tastes and occasions from bridal (courtesy of Magda Butrym, for example) to easy day dresses. 

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I adore décolletage-bearing style elements and to my delight, this demure style is being championed far and wide. And as a lover of extended hemlines, I also appreciate how flashes of skin balance generous swathes of fabric. Due to the versatility of strapless styles, bandeau dresses are apt for occasionwear and they’re an equally flattering pairing with light and fuss-free fabrications. From lightweight cotton gauze minis to voluminous prom-style dresses, bandeau dresses are proving to be an anti-trend piece that will work hard in your wardrobe. 

I spent hours scouting the most timeless bandeau dresses on offer this season. Keep reading for 26 of the most impressive strapless styles on the market this summer. I plan on wearing this style for years to come

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(Image credit: @chiarasatelier)

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(Image credit: @thandimaq)

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Freelance Fashion Editor

Avalon Afriyie is a freelance writer and storyteller based in London. She specialises in sustainable fashion, health and the narratives of marginalised communities. She has a background in fashion show production and styling, having previously worked on The Clothes Show and with the Lyst Group. Since graduating in 2013 with a BA (Hons) in English and contemporary media, she’s worked as a feature writer for an independent publication and a contributor for Quill’s creator network. She now marries her passion for words and style, writing for some of the most esteemed fashion and lifestyle publications,Best Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK and Stylist. Avalon also provides copywriting services, creative consultancy, and visual media for independent businesses, including travel guides, interviews, press releases and blog posts. Her work has been featured on Lush, Contiki, Youswim and Ohne. She spends her days writing to her heart’s content for business and pleasure, shooting on film and dreaming of residing a stone’s throw away from the ocean with her love and a pup (clad in a sweeping frock, of course). She’s currently penning ideas for a book of personal essays and free verse poetry on love, life and the stages in between.