It's Not Just You: These 10 Summer Dresses Are Legit Going Viral

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With summer well underway, it's the perfect time to dive into the season's defining fashion items. Each season, we can expect to see several popular items on our favorite fashion people and celebrities, and summer 2023 is really delivering here. Today, I'm highlighting the 10 viral summer dresses breaking all kinds of social media feeds, causing quite a stir in the comments, and, unsurprisingly, quickly selling out of stock.

Together, the season's popular dresses point to the direction fashion is headed, which, in this case, is toward sophisticated, classic, and quiet-luxury style. Whether it's Kylie Jenner in a decidedly refined halter-neck number from Alaïa or Sofia Richie wearing a simple T-shirt dress from The Row, the viral dresses of the summer are chic, elevated, and timeless. Keep reading to see and shop the top 10 frocks of the moment while you still can.

Alaïa Halter Dress

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(Image credit: @kyliejenner)

Everyone on the internet is talking about Kylie Jenner's style transformation, especially us. It's hard not to see how she's pivoted from her once-signature body-con dresses to a more refined and elegant aesthetic. Nothing epitomizes her new style more than the halter-neck Alaïa dress she wore on vacation last month. Paired with simple Loewe sandals and The Row Margaux Tote, the sophisticated silhouette had us racing to find a similar style to recreate it ourselves.

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Loewe Anthurium Dress

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(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

Loewe and its larger-than-life anthuriums have single-handedly redefined the meaning of a floral dress. And quite frankly, the zoomed-in prints do feel groundbreaking. Stock is already dwindling across the internet in all colors of the maxi dress, so I think it's safe to say they've been a hit.

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Helsa Rosette Dress

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(Image credit: @hoskelsa)

While attending the film festival in Cannes, Elsa Hosk modeled a showstopping dress with a plunging neckline and delightful rosette detail from her namesake brand, Helsa. The rosette trend is one that just won't quit, and this dreamy maxi might be the chicest iteration on the theme we've yet to see.

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Frankie's Bikinis Christa Ruffle Dress

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(Image credit: @palomija)

Just when I thought milkmaid dresses were on their way out, they rush right back up to the top of my feed. Lately, I can't scroll for more than five minutes without seeing this pretty concoction from Frankies Bikinis. It comes in black and white and a mini and maxi version. It looks amazing on everyone who wears it. I don't understand how, but I'm not questioning it. I'm simply adding it to my cart.

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The Row T-Shirt Dress

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(Image credit: @sofiarichiegrainge)

While Sofia Richie's favorite T-shirt dress may come courtesy of The Row, it's a look you can replicate at nearly any budget. Maxi lengths continue to lead this year, so it's no surprise that Richie's simple white number was an instant hit. She styled it here with a leather belt, ankle boots, and a shoulder bag, but the versatile style can be worn any number of ways.

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Free People Onda Tube Dress

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(Image credit: @anna__laplaca)

I'm not exaggerating when I say that my DMs were overflowing with inquiries when I posted this outfit to my Instagram Stories. Drop-waist dresses are having a moment this summer, and while I may be biased, I think this easy Free People number is the perfect way to tap into the ballerina-inspired silhouette.

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Mirae Surfin' Dress

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(Image credit: @alexalkatz)

Not all the dresses going viral this summer are of the simple variety. French label Mirae is behind this epic surfer-print number, and it's not hard to see why the tank dress is raking in the likes on social media. 

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Dissh Cass Linen Midi Dress

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(Image credit: @jaclynalexandra)

If you're not already indoctrinated into Dissh's cult following, let me introduce you. The Aussie brand is all over my feed this summer for its effortless linen pieces, but especially for its one-shoulder Cass dress that's just begging to be packed for a vacation.

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LPA Concetta Halter Minidress

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(Image credit: @piabaroncini)

LPA founder Pia Baroncini told Who What Wear that she designed her summer collection with Sicily in mind and that Italian energy comes through the strongest in the brand's halter minidress.

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Solid and Striped Delta Dress

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(Image credit: @styledsara)

Smocked dresses are a summer staple at this point, but it's this one from Solid and Striped that has all the fashion girls in a grip right now. It's a simple enough style but details like a micro checkered print and open back make it a tad cooler—and covetable—than the rest.

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Senior Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.