The 4 Summer Dress Trends Selling Out, According to Buyers

We don’t meet too many summer dresses we don’t like. ’Tis the season for breezy silhouettes, pretty (but not cumbersome) details, and tons of outdoor get-togethers—fancy or informal—that call for a festive look. And if you agree, perhaps like us you might be seeking a little direction on how to best shop summer dresses from an inside source. We went to four.

While we have no problem spotting a great piece, we asked a few e-commerce insiders about which styles are most in demand and which we shouldn’t sleep on (aka they’ll probably sell out quicker). And across the board, from mega multibrand retailers like Shopbop and single-label experts in plus-size clothing like Eloquii, we heard all different responses.

Below see what the leaders at four of our favorite summer dress destinations have to say about the trends they can’t keep in stock.

“Floral, floral, and did I mention floral? Dark to light colors, oversize to liberty prints—our customer is loving floral-print dresses this summer in every silhouette.”

— Caroline Maguire, fashion director at Shopbop

“This summer is all about the sleeve, and our customers are loving dresses with this unexpected detail. From flared arms and ruffles to puffed styles and kimono sleeves, we can’t give her enough!”

— Julie Carnevale, chief merchant at Eloquii

“This summer we’re obsessed with linen dresses to keep us cool through hot summer days. Not only is it super comfortable, but it’s also super sustainable. Linen comes from the flax plant and on average uses 75% water than cotton.”

— Yael Aflalo, founder and CEO at Reformation

“Clients come to FWRD for our curation of exclusive styles from the hottest designers including new and emerging brands. This summer our customers are buying ultra femme, sexy dresses. Hemlines are short, embellishments are loud and details are to be noticed!”

— Rebecca Brewer, buyer at FWRD

Next see our stunning July cover shoot with actress Zoey Deutch.