7 Fresh Summer Trends That Fashion Insiders Are Swapping Their Staple Dresses For

Ask anyone for their go-to outfit during a hot summer, and I’d be willing to bet that the most popular answer is “a white midi or maxi dress”, and don’t we all have at least one in our wardrobe? There’s nothing wrong with the classics of course, and I would never advocate throwing away a perfectly good piece of clothing, but the same dress that had me so excited when I first bought it is now starting to feel a bit “samey”, and I’ve been busily searching for an alternative. In my role as resident fashion editor at Who What Wear, I pay close attention to a lot of street style for out new outfit inspiration, and this year I noticed one trend in particular—fashion people have stopped relying on summer dresses.

Controversial, I know, but gone are the days when you couldn’t move for floral maxis—from London to Lisbon, social media’s best dressed are packing separates in their suitcases. And please, don’t shoot the messenger.

I could talk about my love for dresses for hours on end, but with this new found realisation, I’ve decided to talk about the seven summer fashion trends that have replaced them instead. Some are old favourites (linen is a wardrobe staple for a reason), others are brand new for 2024 (there’s one 90s throwback that no-one saw coming), but from trousers to skirts (and a healthy selection of shorts), these are the pieces you’ll spot the most now you to know what to look out for.

So, whether you’re a dress devotee keen to keep your outfits are up-to-date, or you’ve already stocked up on mix-and-match bottoms and are in the need of some outfit inspo, keep scrolling to see and shop the seven anti-dress trends that the fashion crowd are wearing on repeat in 2024.

1. LONG SHORTS

Style Notes: The long and short of it is, we’re leaving micro hemlines in 2022, and this year is all about the Bermuda. Denim, tailored, linen or cotton, the longer the shorts, the better—all you need to complete the look is a simple white tee or tank top and a pair of comfy flats and you’ve nailed off-duty dressing to perfection.

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2. COLOUR-POP TROUSERS

Style Notes: Remember when dressing up meant “jeans and a nice top”? Allow me to introduce the equally chic, top-and-a-chic-trouser. Stick to keeping your outfit simple (like Tylynn’s perfect use of black [pictured above]), and let a statement trouser do all of the talking. There’s no need for wacky prints or gimmicks when a pop of colour looks so expensive, and whether you opt for pastels, jewel tones or brights, this easy formula is guaranteed to invite compliments.

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3. MAXI PENCIL SKIRTS

Style Notes: Make way, chic new skirt shape coming through, and if you were wondering how to do summer in the office, this could well be the answer. Maxi skirts always look elegant, but these streamlined, column skirts are like the grown-up big sister of the boho skirt, but are more laidback than the OG pencil so you can wear them on weekends too. Did I mention how great they’ll look in autumn too?

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4. SLIP SKIRT

Style Notes: It’s always satisfying when a trend you bought into years ago is still going the distance, and for me it’s the satin slip skirt. For the last 4 years I’ve worn the same black slip on repeat because it’s genuinely one of the hardest working pieces in my wardrobe. Parties, shopping, dinners, work—these skirts do it all, and I’m screenshotting Leasy’s shirt + skirt + sandals combo for later [pictured above]. It’s effortless but elegant, a winning combination that i’m determined to get down to a fine art.

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5. CAPRI PANTS

Style Notes: It just wouldn’t be a complete 2024 rundown without mentioning capris, the trouser formally known as the “pedal pusher”. And yes, when we first heard the news we were uncertain as how to pull them off as women over the age of 7, but now it’s clear that capris are so much more than the trousers were wore as pre-teens. In the right hands, calf-grazing pants can be the refined alternative to casual baggy shorts, just be sure to stick to sharp tailoring to keep the look as elevated as possible.

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6. LINEN CO-ORD

Style Notes: It feels wrong to call linen a “trend” as it sticks around year-in, year-out, however, doubling up on linen in a matching co-ord has felt remarkably fresh over the last 3 years, and cool girls everywhere are pairing matchy-matchy shorts and trousers with oversized shirts as part of their summer rotation. Don’t worry about sticking to white though, with more options on the market than ever, you can find matching linen in just about every colour under the sun.

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7. Sport Shorts

Style Notes: ICYMI, tenniscore has been enjoying a very stylish revival as of late. Preppy jumpers, pleated skirts, caps and all-white ensembles have been filled my feed, but the stand out item? The humble (and very retro) track short that looks best with tees, polos, cardigans and an often a white tube sock and matching trainers. We aren’t likely to work out in this ‘fit, but no one else needs to know that…

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