I Think I Just Found the Prettiest Dress Trend of 2023, Hands Down
Maybe it's just me, but I'm really leaning into romantic silhouettes this summer. While I'm always down for a good outfit involving flared jeans or flowy trousers, I've been leaning more and more toward pretty dresses—specifically drop-waist silhouettes.
I was skeptical of this trend at first. Low-rise silhouettes are scary, and my entire closet is filled with high-waist styles I can't let go of easily. But when I tried on Free People's viral Onda Tube Midi in-store, I was sold. After seeing it on a few of my favorite influencers who come in all different shapes and sizes, I decided to take the plunge and embrace the deep V. The result? An adorable style that's gotten me so many compliments. At least three Who What Wear editors bought this dress, too, and if that isn't a sign of a budding trend, I don't know what is.
Below, shop the best drop-waist dresses that I can't stop dreaming about. From cotton frocks to elegant, summery styles, these 24 dresses are sure to live rent-free in your mind.
If you're looking for a dressier alternative that still feels extra comfortable, this other Free People pick is sitting pretty in my cart right now.
I've included this tank dress in so many stories, and each time, I fall more in love.
If you're buying this gorgeous linen dress for an Italian summer, I'm super jealous.
This two-toned dress is, by far, one of the prettiest on this list.
After buying this last week, I have to firmly say it's one of the only dresses I can't wait to wear.
Did someone ask for the prettiest black-tie wedding guest dress?
I just know I'm going to see Kendall Jenner wearing this on a tropical vacation later this summer.
After this was sent in our editors' Slack channel, I instantly knew this dress was going to go viral.
This summery brand has to be one of my favorite emerging designers at the moment.
Next, I'm a Fashion Editor, and I Think You Should Bookmark These 99 Summer Dresses
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitiated). At Who What Wear, Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joining Who What Wear, Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)
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