The "Naked" Dress Trend I'm Actually Buying Into This Summer

I'm about to initiate you into one of the biggest dress trends of the season. 

Ever since the cut-out dress revival in the spring and summer of 2020, skin-bearing dresses have become the most coveted statement piece of the summer. The trend dates back to the '60s, when Diana Rigg donned the infamous cut-out jumpsuit in The Avengers. It then funnelled into the '90s as a playful addition to liberal, slinky dresses.

What re-emerged on the runway as an editorial look is now gracing e-commerce sites as a fresh take on summer eveningwear. Be it lower-than-average scooped backs, perforated side holes or centrally aligned keyhole detailing, the prevalence of cut-outs can't be escaped. The design brings an edgy look to flirty frocks and transforms typical summer ensembles into contemporary styles with one or two mere punctures. There's no one-size-fits-all, either. The cut-out trend comes in a host of variations, from barely-there crevices (no wider than a bra strap) to exposed side panels to O-shaped holes.

Perhaps most famed for its cult style is the aptly named Cult Gaia. Its sultry Serita dress gained cult status with celebrities and influencers alike in the summer of 2020. The release of sweeping side-to-back cut-out styles coincided with the penultimate UK lockdown lifting, and it suddenly became the "going out" dress.

More recently, designers including Staud, Jonathan Simkhai and Christopher Esber are fashioning knee- and floor-length dresses with cut-outs as core pieces in their collections. The high street is following suit. Retailers from Mango to Free People have introduced cut-out pieces to their collections for the second year running. No retailer is left behind on this hot trend—even conservative labels have released styles as an ode to the peek-a-boo creation.

It may be a dominant trend right now, but I believe we'll be revisiting this conversation in summer 2023, too. Keep scrolling to see my edit of the most beautiful cut-out dresses from high-street to high-end.

Cut-Out Dress Inspiration 

Who says you need to stick to midi hemlines? Mini cut-out dresses are a vibe all on their own.

This colour is so 2022—kudos to Lauren-Nicole for picking up on that. 

You can never go wrong with a white cotton dress. 

Cut-out dresses can work for those with minimalistic aesthetics.

This Cult Gaia dress has been crazy popular. 

Shop My Edit of Cut-Out Dresses

Up Next: Suddenly, Everyone's Wearing Dresses With Giant Holes in Them