And Now, the 7 Most Popular Dress Trends That Will Dominate This Spring

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Kwaidan, Cecilie Bahnsen, Victoria Beckham, Rodarte)

While I may still be bundled up in a deluge of layers getting through the chilly winter, there’s no doubt my mind is already thinking ahead to the hopeful spring and summer months ahead—along with all the chic trends the new season has to offer. Today we’re honing in on all the coolest dress styles we have to look forward to once the temps start to rise. While the past year hasn’t exactly granted us many occasions to throw on a frock, this year there’s nothing as thrilling on the sartorial front than the thought of slipping on a dress—whether it’s a basic or something more striking—to get us looking forward to the brighter days ahead.

So with that in mind, I turned to the S/S 21 collections to analyze what styles will dominate this spring and summer. From open backs to floral prints, take a peek below at the silhouettes that we can expect to see on fashion girls everywhere.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Nanushka, Givenchy, Victoria Beckham)

Skin is in for spring 2021—as revealed in a myriad of styles and silhouettes in the spring collections including sheer fabrics, side cut-outs (more on that below), and striking backless dresses—perfect for the warmer months ahead.

Shop the trend:

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Kwaidan, No.21, Sportmax)

Our basics get an elevated update this spring. We saw plenty of sleek, basic maxi dresses reign supreme in the S/S 21 collections—a chic no-think option that's easy to slip on with sneakers and sandals alike.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Isabel Marant, Batsheva, Rodarte)

Ok, so florals for spring may not exactly be groundbreaking, but this year sees fresh and fun iterations of the print—with "tacky florals" in bold motifs and vibrant hues set to dominate.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Gabriela Hearst, Hermes, Christopher Esber)

Dare to bare? Dresses with side cutouts were spotted all over the spring collections—getting us excited for a fresh silhouette to sport this summer.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Alberta Ferretti, Chanel, Jacquemus)

Nothing says summer quite like a pretty little white eyelet dress. Spotted everywhere from Chanel to Jacquemus, the sweet frock will be your go-to once the temps start to rise.

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(Image credit: Cecilie Bahnsen, Loewe, Christopher John Rogers)

From balloon skirts to puff sleeves—voluminous silhouettes added some welcome playful drama to the spring looks. The perfect antidote to our everyday sweats.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Dior, Fendi, Valentino)

Sheer fabrics will feel refreshing and exciting to slip on this spring—a welcome contrast to our dressing habits this past year. Seen in all colors and lengths, expect to see the transparent fabric on all your favorite fashion girls.

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Up next, these will be the most popular skirt trends of 2021.

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith Jones is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear who specializes in shopping content and trend stories with high-affiliate impact. She shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands for every budget. Previous to working in fashion, Judith worked as a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) sharing her passion for travel and culture.