I Keep Seeing This Summer Dress On Instagram – I Was Relieved To Find It Was From The High Street

Unless you've been away on holiday (consider us jealous), you've likely faced the familiar dilemma of getting dressed for a heatwave in the last month, which means you've been on the hunt for a breezy dress to see you through stuffy tube journeys and alfresco brunches with ease. Naturally, we've been scouring the collections at our favourite dress brands, from Nobody's Child's trendy picks to Reformation's investment styles.

However, lately it seems that the city's best-dressed have been unexpectedly gravitating to Abercrombie & Fitch's dress selection. Far from its classic Americana and surfer chic aesthetic, the high street retailer has undergone a more sophisticated transformation. Case in point, the now-cult favourite Emerson dress, or perhaps the chic linen mini that's been a Team Grazia staple. Now, another frock has entered the chat, and it's gotten the style set's attention: the Dipped Waist Smocked Dress.

A prime contender for the 'dress of the summer' title, the seemingly simple dress has been cropping up on my social media feed, and it’s not hard to see why. Tapping into this season's standout silhouette with its dropped waistline, it features a comfortably smocked bodice which flares out into a subtle A-line skirt, which adds a touch of volume and oodles of charm to the classic style. Made entirely from cotton, it’s the kind of throw-on piece that keeps you cool when the weather is balmy, a god-send considering we've been facing record-breaking temperature highs in the UK this summer. No wonder, then, that I've been seeing it around the city in every iteration possible.

As with all its bestsellers, Abercrombie sells the smocked dress in a carousel of prints and colours, including a strawberry red gingham pattern, a white striped design and a sleek black version, though the latter is (unsurprisingly) out of stock. If a mini isn't quite your taste, the dress is also available in a midi version that boasts plenty of alternative patterns and colours, from a trendy polka dot print, as well as a sunny yellow stripe with subtle retro charm like Damson Madder's Mia dress.

Styling any version of this dress requires pleasantly little effort. All you really need to think about is footwear, and for daytime, retro sneakers bring a cool-girl edge while evening plans require something sleeker, like perhaps a pair of heeled flip-flops. Alternatively, you could add a Western flair with a pair of cowboy boots.

Shop: Other Styles Of The Dipped Waist Smocked Mini

@jessicarosehayhurst and @tallblondebell

Emma Richardson is a fashion commerce writer for Grazia. She was previously a fashion and beauty commerce writer for Heat and Closer, and has contributed digital content for a variety of lifestyle brands. Emma finds much of her inspiration in celebrity style, with Sienna Miller often being a major influence, and loves a pair of ballet pumps and a trusted trench coat.