These 13 Dresses Are Chic in the Front and "Wow" at the Back

When fashion analyst platform Lyst spots a trend, you know it's worth paying attention to, and last week, the platform reported that cut-out and backless dresses are on the rise.

"While interest for cut-out pieces has been consistently high since May, searches for 'open-back dresses,' in particular, are up 18% since the start of June," the website stated in its weekly data report. "Shoppers are viewing backless satin dresses as well as voluminous open-back dresses. Searches have increased by 70% and 55% respectively over the last month. SIR the Label's Alena Open-Back Dress and Cult Gaia's Serita Dress have been popular in searches over the past couple of weeks."

We've also noticed the gradual proliferation of the cut-out dress on the feeds of Instagram's best-dressed fashion people, and the arrival of summer well and truly ushered in a wave of back-baring straps and dramatic, plunging silhouettes. We are also happy to report that the trend is available at every price point: from H&M's monochrome midi (one of the editorial team members has already bagged themselves the style in both colourways) to Dodo Bar Or's eye-popping printed iteration. One thing we know for sure is that this is one summer dress trend that is sure to turn heads. Scroll down to see and shop our cut-out-back dress edit.

I love the intricate straps on this cute H&M midi dress, which comes in a very 2021 shade of brown. 

Marianne from the Smyth Sisters makes a good case for investing in SIR the Label's original Alena Dress. 

Shop cut-out-back dresses:

Up Next: We Went Into an Actual Store and Fell in Love With These 19 Dresses