I Have This Thing for White Dresses—Here Are the 6 I Wear on Repeat

Everyone has that one piece of clothing they’re guilty of buying one too many of. Maybe it's one too many pairs of jeans? (Guilty.) Or white T-shirts? (Double guilty.) Or maybe you have a thing for white dresses? (Well, three’s a guilt-ridden charm!) Undeniably, my penchant for white dresses exceeds all my other sartorial obsessions now that the air is balmy, the sun is in fine form, and summer has officially arrived. And nothing says summer quite like a breezy and beautiful light frock. For the beach, for vacation, for the weekend, and for work, a white dress can solve any dressing dilemma.

Whether it’s a plain linen midi dress, a pretty broderie anglaise mini, or a flattering wrap silhouette, this season I’m drawn to dresses that are effortless but have the ability to be dressed up or down with ease. Bonus if they have simple yet striking detailing—puff sleeves and smocking are my jam right now.

Below, I’m sharing some of my favorites I’ve been wearing on repeat lately as well the chicest picks I’ve been eyeing for the sunny season ahead.

casual-white-summer-dresses-280733-1561069242806-main

(Image credit: @joiedejude)

This is one of my absolute favorite white dresses for summer. The lace detailing is delicate and romantic while the linen fabric is perfect for sweltering heat. I also love that you can dress this up or down easily with the simple addition of heeled strappy sandals and earrings. The pinched waist is also super flattering.

Shop similar:

casual-white-summer-dresses-280733-1561086959623-main

(Image credit: @joiedejude)

Romantic ruffles! Flattering smocking! Pretty puff-sleeves! Sign me up. This sweet little mini is the perfect vacation dress made of lightweight linen to beat the heat the in style. Celebs and fashion girls have been loving the charming frock (Irina Shayk was recently spotted in the sage green version in Florence.) Be warned: It is rather short, so I'd recommend pairing it with sporty sandals rather than heels.

Shop the dress:

casual-white-summer-dresses-280733-1561070189890-main

(Image credit: @joiedejude)

This flattering wrap dress has been in my closet since last summer and is a versatile and pretty frock to take you from beach to bar. I occasionally wear it open as a chic cover-up over my swimsuit, or I pair it with nude heels or espadrilles to take me into the evening.

Shop similar:

casual-white-summer-dresses-280733-1561088185001-main

(Image credit: @joiedejude)

I absolutely adore the beautiful billowy sheer sleeves and the chic neckline of this flattering fit-and-flare dress. It's perfect for summer evening soirées paired with chic kitten heel mules. It exudes an air of elegance yet is still perfectly suitable for more casual affairs when paired with flat sandals and shell jewelry.

Shop the dress:

casual-white-summer-dresses-280733-1561089572013-main

(Image credit: @joiedejude)

I like to call this my sleep dress–meets–farmers market frock. The billowy tiered dress is perfect for relaxed settings when you're looking for something effortless and you don't want to think about sucking in the whole day after a plate of pancakes at brunch. Give the bouncy dress a cool-girl edge by pairing it with chunky, sporty sandals.

Shop similar:

casual-white-summer-dresses-280733-1561090632123-main

(Image credit: @joiedejude)

Okay so this is definitely not a dress I wear on repeat. It's far too nice and delicate for weekly use. But for a special summer event (fancy summer parties, baptisms, engagement parties, weddings—as in your own because—it would make for one really pretty casual wedding dress), this is absolute perfection. The lace detailing is exquisite (it almost looks vintage), and it incites so many compliments every time I wear it. Trust me, you'll feel so incredibly pretty in this stunner. If you're looking for a special white dress, this is it.

Shop similar:

Shop more of my favorite white dresses for summer:

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.

Up next, the most captivating dress trend of summer 2020.

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for nearly a decade. Judith started on the Shop Who What Wear team, creating content and managing a team of merchandisers for the Who What Wear shopping app. She later crossed over to the editorial team, where she shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands in her shopping-focused stories and social takeovers. She has become one of the top affiliate earners during her six plus years at Who What Wear. Before working in fashion, Judith was a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) and shared her passion for travel and food. She studied at the prestigious London Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. She later studied fashion merchandising and design, which laid the foundation for her career in fashion.


Read full bio