7 A List-Approved Ways To Wear A White Dress This Summer

Nothing says ‘summer’ like the perfect little white dress

Published on24 05 2016

Whether you're a fan of breezy boho maxi dresses or dramatic eveningwear, nothing says effortless summer dressing like the perfect white dress. This season, we're taking our sartorial cues from A-listers like Sienna Miller, Emma Watson and Solange to bring a little simplicity to our holiday and occasion wardrobes.

Plus, we've scouted out the most covetable white dresses on the high street right now...

1. The white lace mini

Emma Roberts wears a white dress ©Getty Images

The white lace dress was a mainstay on the catwalks for S'S/17, with designers playing with different textures and finishes, from detailed broderie to breezy crochet. Sure, white might not be the most practical of sartorial options for a festival, but when it looks as good as Emma Roberts' lace mini dress, worn to Coachella earlier this year and paired with retro round sunglasses, we're willing to risk it.

2. Off-the-shoulder

Emma Watson wears a white off-the-shoulder dress ©Getty Images

A firm fixture on the catwalk for the past couple of seasons that has also made the leap to the red carpet and (praise be) the high street, the off-the-shoulder neckline isn't going anywhere for S'S/17. After a Beauty and the Beast press tour spent wearing a succession of appropriately princessy (and, of course, eco-friendly) gowns, Emma Watson kept things simple for a recent appearance at the Tribeca Film Festival: the actress opted for a Bardot-style all-white dress by Burberry. Take notes for your next special occasion (though wedding guests should maybe steer clear...)

3. The simple slip dress

Sienna Miller wears a white slip dress ©Getty Images

For a fuss-free evening wear option, consider the all-white slip dress as worn by Sienna Miller to last year's Serpentine summer party. Thanks to the simplicity of the slip's 90s-inspired shape and the statement-making colour (or technically, non-colour) block, you can keep your accessories minimal.

4. Grown up boho

Gwyneth Paltrow wears a white dress ©Getty Images

Gwyneth Paltrow often opts for pastel shades (her iconic Ralph Lauren Oscars gown immediately springs to mind...) or even all-white ensembles (remember her Tom Ford dress-and-cape combo, another brilliant Academy Awards fashion moment?). Typically, though, she tends to choose fitted, structured styles, which makes this floaty, 70s-influenced style a definite departure for the actress.

5. Angelic embellishment

Solange wears a white dress ©Getty Images

We already know that Solange wears an all-white look like no other (remember those wedding photos?), but let's just take a moment to bask in the glory of this white Chloé gown, with its embellished gauzy overlay and statement sleeves. Heavenly. Naturally, the high street has followed suit: head to Zara and Topshop for similar styles.

6. The dramatic maxi dress

Selena Gomez wears a white dress by Coach at the Met Gala 2017 ©Getty Images

For this year's Met Gala, Selena Gomez side-stepped the outré Comme des Garcons dress code to opt for this romantic show-stopper of an evening gown, designed with Coach's creative director Stuart Vevers. While we can't all keep a major designer on speed dial (Selena is the current face of the brand, after all), we can look to the high street for similar styles: head to favourites like Mango, Zara and H&M to find floaty, sun-friendly maxis that will deliver just as much drama.

7. Monochrome layering

Olivia Palermo wears a white dress ©Getty Images

When the British weather just can't make up its mind, take your cues from our street style favourite Olivia Palermo: layer a simple white ensemble with black accessories and outerwear to make monochrome work for summer.