I might be a fashion editor, but the reality is that I don't own that many designer pieces. I'm very frugal and give every purchase I make serious consideration, more often than not talking myself out of spending anything at all. At least, anything that doesn't feel absolutely worth it. However, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate designer clothing—far from it. In fact, I think my lack thereof has meant I don't take any designer pieces that I do own for granted; their shine and appeal never fade. I believe anything high-end should make you feel the same way, which is why I regularly take time out to unearth the very best designer pieces for you, and today, it's all about dresses.

Rosie HW wows in a shimmery Saint Laurent dress.

Whether you're heading to a winter wedding or looking for the perfect style for a weekend away, dresses are at the fashion forefront right now, and there's certainly no shortage of beautiful options to consider. However, when it comes to finding the best designer dresses, unlike when you invest in a bag and want it to be classic, I believe a designer dress should be more of a showstopper. You know, the kind of statement "wow" dress that'll get everyone talking.

Karina knows the power of an amazing dress, as proven here by her bold ruffled style.

But which designer dresses are the best this season? I went on a deep dive; these styles made me come up for air.

Shop My Edit of the Best Designer Dresses:

The Best Casual Designer Dresses:

The Best Designer Mini Dresses:

The Best Designer Silk and Satin Dresses:

The Best Designer Gowns:

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

For the best part of a decade, a particular brand has been gaining steady momentum and garnering a cult following, culminating in a very star studded couple of years that have led to its meteoritic success. Although you will have almost certainly seen (and loved) the cut-out dresses and stylish separates favoured by some our favourite fashionable women, it might only be now that you are hearing the name Christopher Esber.

The designer has been dominating fashion week in his native Australia since the 2010s, but it was an endorsement from red-carpet darling Zendaya that brought his look to the mainstream, and it didn't take long for a whole host of celebrities to follow. 

Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber, Katie Holmes and Solange Knowles all count themselves as fans of the Esber's instantly recognisable take on deconstructed ruching and draping, with subtle sensuality becoming the brand's signature. Eventually landing on Net-a-Porter in 2020 and catering to a new, wider customer base, Christopher Esber is now in the wardrobes of It girls everywhere and features regularly in our Instagram scrolling sessions. 

Take note, dress fans and tailoring aficionados. We have a feeling you'll be seeing even more of Esber's brand of relaxed elegance this summer, as his sweeping maxis and floaty shirts easily suit sunset parties, dinners and weddings in sunnier climes. 

While we anxiously await to see what Christopher Esber does next, keep scrolling to see our favourite recent looks from the designer on celebs and influencers alike and exactly where you can shop some of the best bits from the current collection.

More of Our Favourite Christopher Esber Looks

Lucy Williams proves that there's no better colour for a trip to Greece than Santorini blue. 

This outfit perfectly exhibits why tangerine orange is taking over this summer.

This look was the second time Dua Lipa chose a Christopher Esber LBD. (That's long black dress.) 

The classic white cotton shirt, with an extra point of interest, of course. 

Shop Our Favourites From the Christopher Esber Collection

Up Next, Experts Agree: These Autumn/Winter 2023 Fashion Trends Really Count

It’s not clear who or what decides which brands will be the most talked about of the year. Really, it comes down to a heady (and often random) mix of things like instant catwalk buzz; influencer, celeb or fashion-girl backing; award nods and impressive designs. Nailing one of these can lead to a murmuring under the surface, but nail all of them (which often happens in a domino effect) and you’ve got yourself an officially ‘buzzy’ brand.

It's important to note: a buzzy label is not necessarily always new, or a high-end designer that has the cash to get its products seen. It can be either of those, but it can also involve a lesser-known high street brand coming to the fore, or a resurgence of a previously overlooked label that needed time to grow into its identity. Look at Totême for example, which launched back in 2014 and hit peak ‘buzzy’ status in 2021. 

What we mean to say is ‘buzz’ ebbs and flows in the fashion world, and it’s down to a cocktail of talent and luck who ends up with the crown(s). One thing’s for certain, though, the following 7 brands have claimed the title for 2022. From Nensi Dojaka’s ‘naked’ dresses to Connor Ives’ upcycled, breakout designs and Peter Do’s debut catwalk collection which spiked the brand's page views on Lyst by 376% in 24 hours. 

Keep scrolling, then, to see and shop all the buzziest brands the fashion crowd will want to be wearing in 2022…

1. CONNOR IVES

After graduating from Central Saint Martins in only 2020, Connor Ives is already on his fourth collection, has dressed stars like Adwoah Aboah and Vanessa Bryant for the Met Gala and counts Rihanna as a fan. He was also shortlisted for the 2021 LVMH Prize and is part of Net-A-Porter's Vanguard initiative for 2022— If that's not buzzy, we don't know what is. 

Connor's collections also makes use of deadstock fabric and upcycled clothing to create covetable yet sustainable pieces. 

2. NENSI DOJAKA

If you've read any other article on Who What Wear this season, you've probably already heard of Nensi Dojaka. The talk of London Fashion Week and firm celebrity and fashion-girl favourite, Nensi won the coveted LVMH prize in 2021 with her strappy 'naked' tops and dresses, and launched a huge trend in the process. So we can only expect her star to rise even higher in 2022. 

3. CIAO LUCIA

Launched in 2017 Ciao Lucia is, in their own words, a label 'for the girl, on eternal vacation'. Who What Wear US Editor-In-Chief Kat Collings is a big fan of their unique separates and adorable dresses and Emily Ratajkowski has recently been spotted wearing the designs. So you can bet this one's going to be all over your feeds this summer. 

4. COPERNI

The Parisian label counts celebrities like Bella Hadid and Maisie Williams as fans and was named as one of Lyst's 'brands to watch' for 2022 in their Year in Fashion report. The clothing is space age and sexy but it's the structured shoulder bags everyone's talking about, increasing in demand by 90% year on year according to Lyst. 

5. MACH & MACH

The buzz around Tbilisi-based Mach & Mach has been building for a while now but we're predicting these shoes are only going to get bigger for 2022. Who What Wear US Senior Editor Kristen Nichols named them as one of her 'Next Major Designer It Shoes' and there isn't a fashion we girl we know who wouldn't want a pair. 

6. PETER DO

Peter Do has had insiders excited about its beautiful minimalist pieces since it launched in 2018, but the designer's star has really begun to shine since they showed their first catwalk collection for September's NYFW and seriously wowed the crowds. The designs are a perfect fit for SS22's 'low key luxury' trend, so expect bigger and better things only from this brand in the future. 

7. CHRISTOPHER ESBER

Christopher Esber and his sexy yet sophisticated designs have been popular with the fashion crowd for some time now— there wasn't a day of fashion month we didn't see someone wearing his pieces in the crowd. But since ribbed knitted dresses, draping and stringy straps (all his design trademarks) are huge trends for 2022, we can only imagine this brand's buzz growing in the new year. 

Next Up: The Only 17 Looks You Need to Know About for Spring/Summer 2022

A brand-new decade only began a few months ago, and already the world has changed so significantly, it's hard not to contemplate what the rest of 2020 might have in store. Will we be able to see our friends again? Will we ever return to the office? And when exactly will we be able to take that much-wanted European vacation?

Though despite the fact there are many unknowns about what the rest of the year may hold, when it comes to fashion, fortunately, there's a little less guesswork involved. From seasonal runways to trend forecasting and search analytics, we have so much information at our fingertips which thankfully allows us to make informed predictions about the year ahead. 

You might be wondering which colours will be popular or which clothing items are set to have a resurgence, and luckily, we've already answered those questions here and here. 

Or you might simply want to know which brands to look out for this year, in which case, you've certainly come to the right place, as our friends at Lyst and Moda Operandi have already crunched the numbers and collated the data on that exact query. 

Whether it be through an increase in search or an increase in sales, the eight brands below are predicted to be on the rise for 2020. Some of the names may already be in your wardrobe, and some might be completely new, though either way, we suggest you keep these on your radar. 

Cecilie Bahnsen

It's hard to talk about Cophenhagen-based designers without mentioning the name Cecilie Bahnsen. The fashion industry and our Instagram feeds were abuzz with dreamy dresses last August after the designer presented her spring 2020 collection at Copenhagen Fashion Week and the content hasn't let up since. Not to mention searches for the brand increased by 38%, according to Lyst. 

Rotate Birger Christensen

According to Lyst, in the last six months, searches for Rotate Birger Christensen have increased by 27%. It's hardly surprising given the fact we saw this brand (and its instantly recognisable puff-sleeved dresses) all over fashion month last season and have already spotted it on several members of the fashion set this year. 

Molly Goddard

Known for its larger-than-life designs, Molly Goddard's collections evoke a sense of whimsical playfulness. Evidently, the aesthetic translates very well in the real world, as according to Moda Operandi, the brand saw a 270% increase in sales over last season and according to Lyst, a 46% search increase year on year.

Christopher Esber

While already established in Australia, Christopher Esber is now gaining a fan base internationally, too. According to Moda Operandi, the brand has seen triple-digit sales growth in the last season. 

Pyer Moss

Pyer Moss's S/S 20 runway presentation, which featured a 70-plus person choir, was undoubtedly one of the most talked-about moments of last New York Fashion Week. According to Lyst, following the event, the brand saw a 226% increase in search, and we can only imagine that momentum will continue.

Marina Moscone

As one of Moda Operandi's best-selling emerging designers, there's no doubt that Marina Moscone has solidified itself as one to watch. Specialising in impeccably tailored classics and subtly feminine pieces, this designer should definitely be on your radar for 2020.

Marine Serre

Since winning the 2017 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, Marine Serre has certainly made her mark on the fashion industry. Lyst predicts her brand's popularity will increase even further in 2020, as its search has grown by 32% in the last six months.

Bevza

A lesson in minimalism, Bevza was the designer on everyone's lips after this year's New York Fashion Week shows. The shoes are already selling out on Net-a-Porter and the clothing collection full of slinky "stick of butter" dresses and elegant tailoring is set to be at the top of the fashion crowd's wish list for 2020. 

Christopher John Rogers

According to Net-a-Porter's Global Buying Director Elizabeth von der Goltz, Christopher John Rogers is one of the designers to watch in 2020. The designer won the acclaimed CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award last year and blew everyone away with his jaw-dropping gowns at its A/W 20 show in New York this week. Add these pieces to your wish list and get there before the crowds when they drop. 

Next up, see the colours that are set to dominate 2020. 

Opening Image: @_jeanettemadsen_/

Since relocating from London to Sydney at the start of the year, I’ve been constantly surprised by the reaction of stylish Brits, mouth agape and eyes full of shock, when I tell them the piece they’ve stopped to ask me about is actually an Australian fashion brand. “That’s Australian?” is typically their response when I mention the St. Agni woven leather bag or DISSH dress, just to list a few, I’m wearing hail from down under.

I find this lack of insight, specifically a recognition that these established brands originated on Australia’s sandy shores, a testament to how our local talent transcends our somewhat isolated location to become global institutions in their own right. Australian designers have garnered such a cult following here in the United Kingdom because they’re creating pieces that the market has never experienced.

Style Notes: Who What Wear's Ava Gilchrist wears DISSH's Milano dress, an Australian fashion brand to know that was founded by a mother-daughter duo in the sunshine state of Queensland.

There is a sort of grittiness and dark romanticism that underscores designers who originate from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales because of the culture and history embedded here. In Australia, our overall lifestyle is quite nonchalant and relaxed, which seeps through to what we wear. Silhouettes are understated, sophisticated and never overtly complicated, which is a complete antithesis to the artistic or intellectual designs of leading British designers like Simone Rocha, Sinéad O'Dwyer, 16Arlington or Chopova Lowena.

The Australian fashion brands to know promote an unfussy attitude. These are clothes that can speak for themselves and don’t rely on heavy styling to make an impact. Shapes are breezy, fabrics are light, and the energy is high octane. These principles underscore the brands that cross over, making them a worthy wardrobe addition against the structured tailoring, fitted cuts and functional fabrics you’ll see throughout the city.

Style Notes: Taffy Msipa also wears a dress from the brand; the Gabby midi dress.

Now, thanks to the on-the-pulse buying teams from iconic department stores like Harrods and Selfridges and these Australian brands’ continued international expansion, these languid and dreamy designs are available to shop directly on home soil. (Saving you the hundreds of dollars you’d typically spend on shipping costs and customs fees to import these designs.)

To help you in your shopping endeavours, I’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the top Australian designers to know. Ahead, you’ll of course find household names like the sister-founded resortwear brand Zimmermann and Sydney’s king of skin, Christopher Esber. But you’ll also discover locals-only labels that have begun making a splash or emerging players you mightn’t have realised are Australian, like Posse or Faithfull the Brand. Effortless elegance, incoming…

Style Notes: Hailey Bieber wears a fine-knit top from beloved Byron Bay-based label, St Agni, while in New York.

1. St. Agni

Style Notes: Founded in 2014 among the blissful waters of New South Wales' Northern Rivers district, St. Agni has transcended its beachy alcove to become one of the most revered and formidable patrons of contemporary luxury. Co-founders and designers, Matt and Lara Fells, have remained unwavering in their commitment to a minimalist aesthetic. However, as the brand has grown, this ethos has evolved from coastal staples like slouchy linen trousers to city-ready styles like slick tailored pants, refined knit tank tops and sharp basics.

Shop the Brand:

2. SIR.

Style Notes: SIR originally began under a very simple premise—creating timeless sets, intimates and ready-to-wear. (Hence the name). The brand began in 2014 amid the nascent wave of social media, making it one of the first-ever viral exports to originate in Australia. The lens of the brand is both masculine and feminine, where structured blazers, floor-length linen dresses and a best-selling cut-out silk dress mingle without difficulty. Vintage prints, like baroque florals, and archival-inspired silhouettes, including the '70s wrap dresses or '80s velvet minis and '90s halter necks, set this brand apart, too.

Shop the Brand:

3. Matteau

Style Notes: Matteau is living proof that sustainability should never compromise on style. Born in Noosa, a luxury beach town on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Matteau makes clothing that is designed to last and not dictated by trends. Using ethically sourced fibres and the industry know-how of the brand's fashion stylist and consultant co-founder, Ilona Hamer (who shares the brand with her sister Peta Heinsen), Matteau personifies the concept of a tropical paradise with broderie anglaise throw-ons, ruched bandeau midi dresses and floaty minis with shirred bodices.

Shop the Brand:

4. Christopher Esber

Style Notes: In the 15 years since Christopher Esber began his eponymously titled womenswear brand, the label has consistently been at the forefront of the sartorial landscape at a pace that makes him on par with some of the biggest luxury houses in the world. Always sensual and fluid, his pieces pioneer and set trends, as is the case with his stone studding, pierced orbit flourishes, wired cut outs, open twist tops and lace trims.

Shop the Brand:

5. Zimmermann

Style Notes: As one of Australia's biggest success stories, it should come as no surprise that Zimmermann arrived on the scene with humble origins. A then-fashion design student studying at one of the top inner-city colleges, Nicky Zimmermann first introduced the brand in the early 90s at Paddington Markets after the clothes she was making during lessons and in her family's garage piqued the interest of her social circle. Fast forward nearly 30 years, the brand has become entrenched in the glamorous wardrobes of the well-travelled jet set. From the beaches of Capri to the heart of Mayfair, where there's an opulent holiday destination, there's a Zimmermann dress to be found.

Shop the Brand:

6. DISSH

Style Notes: DISSH is the name on everybody's lips at the moment, and for good reason. A true compliment earner, the brand prioritises simplicity and elegance with clean lines, thoughtful details and a bright colour palette that rarely deviates from chic neutrals. Suitable for tavernas, sophisticated alfresco luncheons at seafood restaurants and romantic date nights at candle-lit restaurants, DISSH makes everyday dressing an occasion.

Shop the Brand:

7. Faithfull The Brand

Style Notes: Faithfull The Brand is wanderlust in a label. Each collection is inspired by the sights and sounds of a location bearing cultural significance, with the colours of the place's architecture and pieces adorned by their locals distilled and recontextualised under Faithfull's own starry-eyed lens. For designs that make you feel like you're on holiday, invest in the brand's viral Hedy dress, a strapless design inspired by the Greek island of Hydra, stripped polo, which draws influence from the Scandinavian sky in high summer, or linen tops that rival the outfits of St. Tropez locals in the late 50s and early 60s.

Shop the Brand:

8. Posse

Style Notes: A charming softness underscores the designs of Posse, an Australian fashion brand founded in 2016 by Danielle Mulham. Fusing darling leisurewear with quaint one-and-done dresses, Posse's designs are nostalgic but still current, like butter yellow puff-sleeved blouses, gingham shorts, polka-dot tops and striped strapless dresses, like the ones worn by Megan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, and Katie Holmes.

Shop the Brand:

9. Rèalisation Par

Style Notes: There's not an It girl in operation today who doesn't own a Rèalisation Par dress. Originating in Sydney but with a strong presence in both London and Los Angeles, the brand is revered for its flirty cuts, head-turning prints, sumptuous silk fabrics and low-maintenance styling. For days that turn into nights and the woman who isn't ever far from the dance floor, this brand will have a piece for you.

Shop the Brand:

How We Chose

Ava Gilchrist is a Sydney-born, London-based fashion writer with five years of experience in the luxury fashion industry. From sitting front row at Australian Fashion Week, interviewing upcoming and established designers from her native country and keeping her finger on the pulse for emerging trends, Gilchrist is well-versed in the Australian designers to know. Now located in England, she's imparting her knowledge on the stylish brands hailing from down under with Who What Wear readers. This list was compiled based on how well-known the brand is, accessibility in the United Kingdom and if they have a reputable cult-following both here and abroad.

Why Trust Us?

At Who What Wear UK, fashion is our speciality. Our editors have years of industry experience, from reporting on seasonal fashion trends seen at international fashion weeks to working with some of the most recognisable names in fashion. Every item we recommend is carefully selected based on current trends, quality and real-world wearability.

We regularly try pieces ourselves, everything from bestselling jeans to designer shoes, speak to external experts and fashion insiders and stay closely connected to what our readers are searching for. Our advice is grounded in expertise and has to pass our exceptional taste levels—so you can feel confident in every recommendation.