It's Official: This Highly Classic Minimalist Dress Is Set to Be the Season's #1 Buy

From midi and maxi to strapless, white dresses are the summer staple to have on your roster.

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(Image credit: @tylynnnguyen/@monikh/@_jessicaskye)

Fashion decrees that everyone should consider owning a little black dress, but there's an equally viable case to be made for the little white dress. Not that it has to be little (especially if you're wearing your LWD in the city rather than at the beach), but as long as it's crisp and bright white, then you're good to go. There's just something unapologetically summer-like and optimistic about this shade, be it lacy and whimsical or linen and minimalist. What's more, the basic warm-weather staple was a pretty big deal on the spring and summer 2026 runways.

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(Image credit: @_jessicaskye)

"Much like the majority of the new-season collections, here we have another summer staple, but one that designers have reimagined in line with the 'keep it simple but never boring' mantra," says Who What Wear UK's fashion editor, Remy Farrell.

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(Image credit: @monikh)

Below, you'll find an edit of the best white dresses to invest in now that'll see you through the summer. Before that, however, feast your eyes on the ways influencers wear their little white dresses for all the white-dress outfit inspiration you need.

Shop the Best White Dresses for Summer 2026:

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Maxine Eggenberger
Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s Deputy Editor and has over fourteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and authoritative content for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, talent interviews self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their search and keyword planning, works closely with the fashion and beauty team on strategy and continues to pen many of her own articles. Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine's contributed to publications including Grazia, InStyle Marie Claire, Elle and Look, amongst others.