This Beachy Ingredient Is the Secret to 2025's Most-Loved Summer Perfumes
"Summer never gets old, and anything that makes us think of the ocean has the potential to bring joy," David Seth Moltz, perfumer and co-founder of D.S. & Durga, tells ELLE. While salt itself doesn't have a strong aroma, ozonic accords and musky notes like ambergris are often used to give perfumes a salty essence.
"Oceanic notes make perfumes smell more realistic," adds Moltz. Just like how salt enhances flavor in food, salty notes can amplify a fragrance's profile, adding a savory, skin-like quality.
From classics like Jo Malone's Wood Sage and Sea Salt to Glossier's buzzy You Fleur, I sniffed my way through dozens of sea salt perfumes—and tapped Moltz and ELLE editors—to determine which ones are truly worth the hype. Discover my edit below.
Tropical florals and marine notes are a match made in fragrance heaven in this bestselling Ellis Brooklyn perfume. Ylang ylang and tiare flower blend with salty vegan ambergris to create a summery scent that's anything but basic.
'Salt Eau de Parfum is the first day of a beach vacation," Ellis Brooklyn founder Bee Shapiro previously told ELLE. "You wake up early on your own, there's no one on the beach yet, and there's still that morning freshness in the air. It's such a unique fragrance because it's not playing on any oceanside perfume stereotypes. It's this gorgeous, sophisticated take on how the ocean makes us feel.'
Key notes: Ylang ylang, Tahitian tiare, ambergris
Sizes: 0.34-3.4 oz.
Want a subtle way to dip your toe into the sea salt perfume trend? The latest iteration of Glossier's cult-loved You is more summery than its predecessors, featuring sea salt accord and apricot skin atop musky ambrox base notes. Personally, I think it's even better than the original.
'This smells like sunshine and showering after a day in the ocean, without any of notes of sunscreen," adds Beauty Director Kathleen Hou. "It is a very soft fragrance that evokes the feeling of freshly laundered towels... It's very comforting and cozy and the quintessential girlhood scent—this generation's Marc Jacobs Daisy.'
Key notes: Apricot skin, osmanthus, sea salt, cashmeran
Sizes: 0.27-1.7 oz.
Rose Atlantic is an ode to Moltz's favorite summer destination: the New England coast. As a New England native myself, I can confirm this perfume smells just like the region's fragrant seaside roses mixed with salty ocean air. It also boasts impressive longevity and sillage—you'll only need a few sprays for this modern rose scent to linger all day.
Key notes: Lemon, rose, salt water, dune grass
Sizes: 0.33-3.4 oz.
On the hottest days, the last thing you want is a heavy fragrance. Enter this refreshing hair and body mist, lightly scented with honeysuckle, lily of the valley, and pink sea salt. It's designed to have an instant cooling effect—much like a welcome breeze.
"This scent is heavenly," raves one Amazon reviewer. "It's light yet floral and sweet with the perfect balance of salt air, so you smell so fresh when wearing it! This one will be a staple for me."
Key notes: Honeysuckle, muguet, pink sea salt
Size: 3.4 oz.
The original sea salt scent, Jo Malone's Wood Sage & Sea Salt evokes crashing waves on rugged cliffs, blending earthy sage, sea salt, and musky ambrette. To me, it's the quintessential summer office fragrance: sophisticated and memorable, yet not overpowering. (Its eau de cologne formulation is less potent than an eau de parfum, making it ideal for those who prefer a more subtle fragrance.) I keep a bottle at my desk for a midday pick-me-up that won't give my coworkers a headache.
Key notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage
Sizes: o.3-3.4 oz.
Looking for a gourmand perfume that won't turn cloying in the summer heat? Consider Liis's Choux Choux, inspired by the fluffy French pastry of the same name. This irresistible scent features a sea salt note drawn from fleur de sel caramel, balanced by citrus peel, sandalwood, and creamy, lactonic aromas.
Key notes: Citrus peel, cream, fleur de sel caramel, sandalwood, vanilla
Size: 1.7 oz.
If you're a fan of aquatic, slightly soapy perfumes, Salt Air is worth a sniff. Combining driftwood, sea salt, cotton blossom, and water lily, it's a fresh-out-of-the-shower-skin scent that's as soothing as lapping waves.
'Every time I smell this fragrance, I feel like I should be driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in a convertible," says Beauty Editor Katie Berohn. "To me, this fragrance is Los Angeles in a bottle—vibrant, sexy, and a little unexpected.'
Key notes: Sea salt, seaweed, water lily, cotton blossom, driftwood
Sizes: 0.33-1.7 oz.
Made to mimic the scent of perfumed skin after a dip in the ocean, La Mar blends creamy coconut, salt water, jasmine, gardenia, and tuberose. While I haven't had the chance to try it just yet, it seems like the kind of intoxicating fragrance you'd wear while lounging in a private cabana at a five-star resort in the Maldives. Bonus: Its quartz-capped bottle easily doubles as decor.
"It's light and feminine, wearable enough for everyday and special enough for date night," notes one Bloomingdale's reviewer.
Key notes: Jasmine, sea water, tuberose, gardenia, coconut
Sizes: 1.3-2.5 oz.
Salt-forward fragrances ooze sex appeal, since they often evoke the scent of lightly sweaty skin. Described as a "savory skin musk," Eauso Vert's Salvia Salvia smells like humid air after a tropical thunderstorm.
"Salt and mineral accents along with Mexican herbs, like salvia and clary sage, make this scent stand out,' Hou adds. An earthy base of labdanum and ambermax give it depth and longevity, lingering well beyond the six-hour mark on my skin. It's complex but not overwhelming, making it ideal for year-round wear."
Key notes: Mexican green lime, sea salt, sage, labdanum
Size: 1.7 fl. oz.
"Salted Muse smells fresh and a little earthy (in a good way), like that first whiff of ocean air you breathe in on a beach day," says Commerce Editor Sarah Maberry. "There's something a little brine-y about it that makes you want to go back for another smell." If your signature cocktail is a dirty martini, this fig and olive tree-infused scent is a must-try.
Key notes: Sea salt, olive tree, cedar
Sizes: 0.33-3.4 fl. oz.
Like vanilla soft serve on a scorching afternoon, this fragrance mist is equal parts creamy and refreshing. At first spritz, it's pure nostalgic vanilla sugar, but it dries down to cozy sandalwood, keeping it from veering too saccharine.
It also happens to be one of the longest-lasting body mists I've ever tested. I love how it transforms on my skin throughout the day—I can still catch whiffs of it well into the evening.
Key notes: Vanilla, sea salt, sandalwood
Size: 8 fl oz.
After its collaboration with Chloe Sevigny, niche perfume brand Regime des Fleurs has stayed on my radar for its unique, evocative fragrances. Inspired by midnight beaches and bioluminescent surf, Nitesurf Neroli features a rare smoked seashell accord that makes it one of the most distinctive floral perfumes on the market. It's an ethereal scent I love reaching for on sultry summer nights.
Key notes: Neroli, salty mist, citrus, smoked seashells, ambroxan
Size: 2.5 oz.
David Seth Moltz is a perfumer and co-founder of D.S. & Durga.
Lauren Gruber is a seasoned commerce writer and editor with over four years of experience covering lifestyle topics, specializing in beauty and fragrance. For this roundup, she consulted a scent expert about the sea salt perfume trend and tapped her fellow editors for their recommendations. After conducting extensive research on the topic, she personally tested nearly every scent on this list to round up the 12 best sea salt perfumes.
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Elle
3 hours ago
- Elle
'The Summer I Turned Pretty': Lola Tung Is Ready For What Comes After Summer
Tyler Joe All clothing, accessories, and fine jewellery, Chanel. It's sweltering hot in the sun-drenched, top-floor café on the Lower East Side that Lola Tung is using as her makeshift dressing room. The electric fans do little to battle the July humidity, and the bottled water for the crew has gone lukewarm. The actress feels the heat, too, as she changes from one Chanel look into another for her ELLE photo shoot, but she powers through. After all, she thrives in the summer. At 22 years old, Tung is the star of Prime Video's The Summer I Turned Pretty , the wildly popular TV show based on Jenny Han's bestselling book series of the same name. The television adaptation debuted in 2022 and introduced her as protagonist Isabel 'Belly' Conklin, a teenager caught in a love triangle between two of her longtime family friends: Conrad Fisher (Christopher Briney) and his younger brother, Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno). With a literary fan base, a cast of good-looking newcomers, a soundtrack filled with Taylor Swift songs, and a love triangle that could rival Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, TSITP had all the makings of a pop culture sensation. And sure enough, it shot to the No. 1 slot on the streamer when it first premiered, even bringing a resurgence in popularity for Han's books and, as if she could get any bigger, Swift's own music catalogue. Tung, who was born and raised in New York and attended the famous LaGuardia School of Performing Arts, was a freshman at Carnegie Mellon when she was cast as Belly—her first on-screen role ever. Since then, she has skyrocketed to It-girl status with the wardrobe and followers (4 million on Instagram, but who's counting?) to match. 'When we were filming the show, people were like, 'Your lives are going to change,' and we were all like, "I don't know what you're talking about,"' she says later over Zoom, reflecting on earlier seasons with the cast. 'It's really wonderful to know that there are people who love the show so much and that your work means something to [them].' As evidenced by social media posts from fans, the viewers aren't just the YA demographic, but also women in their 20s and older, even moms who watch the series with their kids. (Belly's mother, Laurel, played by Jackie Chung, also has her own arc in the series.) There's just something universally irresistible about a summer coming-of-age romance set on the beach. The world couldn't help but dive in. Three years later, TSITP is back for its third and final season. As viewers lock in for one last vacation at Cousins Beach, Tung is saying a bittersweet goodbye to her breakout role and looking ahead to what's next. 'I've loved getting to play [Belly] for so long. It's kind of like graduating,' she says. 'I'm excited to show a different part of myself—and even have people see me in a different world.' Until then, fans are savoring every last episode of TSITP we have left. Tyler Joe If you had heard the screams coming out of Bryant Park last Wednesday night, you would have thought there was a live concert taking place. In reality, it was a premiere screening of The Summer I Turned Pretty season 3. Crowds gathered on the grass with blankets, snacks, and friends in tow, cheering when the cast made an appearance and gasping along at each plot twist. 'I've never experienced that ever in my life,' Tung recalls. 'There were just so many people.' Viewers had a lot to chew on in these new episodes : Belly is now a junior in college and four years deep into a relationship with Jeremiah. However, things don't really seem to be settled between her and Conrad, even after they broke up years ago at prom. She and Jeremiah face an obstacle in season 3, episode 1, when Belly learns that he slept with another girl during a spring break trip to Cabo—twice! The circumstances of the hookup are murky; in classic Ross and Rachel fashion, Jeremiah thought he and Belly had broken up during an argument before the trip, whereas Belly believed they were still together. A dramatic series of events follows: Belly and Jeremiah fight at a frat party. She slaps him. He tries to win her back. Belly's brother, Steven, gets into a car accident and suffers a possible brain injury. After Steven wakes up safely from his coma, Jeremiah apologizes to Belly profusely at the hospital, and then proposes to her. She says yes. 'Young love is intense,' Tung says during another call days after the premiere. While fans and haters alike might classify this intensity as chaos, she walks me through how Belly is handling all of the ups and downs. First, the fight with Jeremiah: 'I think it's just pure shock for Belly,' Tung says of her character's headspace. 'This is someone who's been her rock for so many years and who she's known her entire life. It can be heartbreaking when you feel like you don't know everything [about someone].' It kind of leads Belly to wonder, What else don't I know about you? Tyler Joe She and Casalegno rehearsed the emotional scene prior to filming. 'It was important to have a level of trust in each other, especially with the slap,' Tung recalls. 'Poor Gavin, he was like, "Yeah, you can slap me." I was like, "Are you sure? Please, I don't want to hurt you!"' Ultimately, they filmed the slap in just a couple of takes. 'I was not about to slap him 50 times otherwise. For some of the angles, I would just kind of wave my hand…I'm used to the stage slap,' she says. Now, onto Jeremiah's alleged infidelity: 'No matter whether you think that he cheated or not, it's wrong,' Tung says diplomatically, pointing to how Jeremiah rebounded with another girl shortly after the presumed split, and then hid it from Belly. 'I personally don't think they were on a break or broken up, because that argument was so quick and everything happened so fast.' However, 'Belly is not completely blameless,' she continues. 'She didn't reach out either. There is a little bit more of a mess in her own head.' 'Young love is intense.' So, how does Belly go from feeling betrayed to getting engaged? She was likely swayed by Steven's near-death experience. 'She's almost lost someone else in her life that's really important to her, and they both experienced a huge loss [Susannah, Jeremiah, and Conrad's mom] years before that—it's still obviously affecting them and their relationship. The thought of losing more people in her life, whether it is Steven or Jeremiah, is just not an option.' She adds, 'Jeremiah is showing up and trying to be there whenever she will let him. I think, in that moment, she's completely overcome with all of these emotions and is in a very vulnerable space. They both are, and they really want to lean on each other, because they do love each other. Even though Jeremiah did mess up, I think when it's put into perspective, it feels so silly compared to literally a life-or-death situation.' Tyler Joe Belly also might also feel a 'little bit of guilt about not mentioning to Jeremiah what happened at Christmas. Even though nothing did happen.' Tung is referring to Belly's own secret: that she spent one Christmas alone at Cousins beach house while she and Jeremiah were dating; except she wasn't really alone. Conrad coincidentally showed up too and stayed over. Nothing romantic or physical happened between the exes, but you can feel there's still something between them. While filming those scenes, Tung and Briney wanted to convey a sense of 'ease' and that Belly and Conrad 'have a certain understanding with each other' as friends. 'It's nice that even after so long, they can sit together and watch a movie, and just exist in the same place without speaking, without having to do anything but just be ,' she says. 'I think those are the most beautiful sort of friendships and relationships.' While a big part of the fandom is still rooting for a Belly and Conrad endgame—I won't spoil how the books end—Tung believes that, at least during that engagement scene, Belly's mind is solely on Jeremiah. 'I don't think she's thinking of Conrad in that moment,' she says. But Belly is aware that she and Conrad will always have an 'unspoken connection.' 'We're human beings. A lot of times, we see what you say, especially if it's mean, and those things stick with us.' And to address the elephant in the room, Belly is also aware of her age. She's 20 when she says yes to Jeremiah, and based on snippets in the season 3 trailer, her mother and older brother are bound to question whether she's ready for such a commitment. 'She knows she's young, but she's also quite stubborn and is making decisions for herself,' Tung says. 'She's like, "I need to do what I need to do for myself to protect myself, and to feel safe, and to feel like I am in control of my story and my life."' While the cast and crew keep further season 3 details close to the vest, Tung cautiously teases that we can look forward to more group dynamics when the Fishers and Conklins reunite in future episodes. 'That will always be complicated, when all of them are together,' she says. Much like Han's To All the Boys I Loved Before trilogy, The Summer I Turned Pretty is fiercely beloved—sometimes to an extreme degree. As viewers debate between Team Conrad and Team Jeremiah with such enthusiasm and fervor, some comments cross the line and directly target the cast or fellow fans themselves. Days before the season 3 premiere, the official TSITP social accounts announced a zero-tolerance policy for bullying, hate speech, harassment, and doxxing. Users who break these rules will be banned. Tung supports the guidelines, saying the criticism 'can be really, really hard, especially with new cast members. It happened last year with Elsie [Fisher, the nonbinary actor who played Jeremiah and Conrad's cousin Skye]. We were all really, really upset about it, and they're so wonderful and was such an incredible addition to our cast and our dynamic. … We're human beings. A lot of times, we see what you say, especially if it's mean, and those things stick with us.' 'A lot of it is so unnecessary, especially when it's not about the characters and it's about the actors,' she continues. 'Ultimately, you don't really know these people.' Tung hopes viewers are 'respectful' to the new season 3 cast members, 'kind' with their discourse, and that they 'appreciate the characters,' even with all their flaws. 'Everyone is working really hard to make sure that the story is the best that it can be for the fans. And we love the fans, because they have given us the opportunity to make three seasons.' Tung, for her personal well-being, tries to stay off social media. 'You just can't really engage [with the comments], because then it feeds the fire a little bit. It sucks. Because people can be mean when they're behind their screens, which, I'm not saying anything new,' she says, ever so politely. On rare occasions, interactions can get uncomfortable in real life, too. Tung remembers a moment when a fan approached her in public and asked to take a picture when she wasn't feeling up for it. 'I was like, "I'm so sorry." I hate saying that, because then you feel guilty. And then he was like, "Well, I already have the camera out." I remember feeling a little like, "Oh, man," like a boundary was broken.' Tung fully understands the passion is coming from a place of 'enthusiasm and a love for the show.' She says, 'I always appreciate when people are super respectful, and just understand human-being boundaries. It can be such a lovely thing, and [I've had] such lovely conversations, and some people really stick with you, and it makes you so happy.' Tyler Joe Thankfully, she's able to find support in her co-stars when it comes to handling the 'really weird, niche things' that come with adjusting to fame and public scrutiny. 'I think we all lean on each other,' Tung says. Han, who is a showrunner and executive producer on the series, has also been a lifeline. 'I've learned so much from Jenny. When I was working on the first season, and figuring out how to navigate the really busy schedule we had, she had a conversation with me—not in an overstepping way, because we're very close—but she was just like, "Hey, maybe start going to therapy." That was one of the most helpful pieces of advice she's ever given me.' Tung adds, 'I was a really emotional kid and teenager, and I still am a really emotional person. I was sometimes afraid of letting people see that emotion and being vulnerable in front of people. That's what this profession is all about, and that's what this show is all about. I'm forever grateful that we get to see that, especially through Belly, and then even through Jeremiah and Conrad…[showing] Conrad in therapy is huge. I think it's such an important thing for young men and boys to see.' 'I was a really emotional kid and teenager, and I still am a really emotional person.' When it comes to showing emotion in the spotlight, Tung actually felt seen by Ariana Grande during the Wicked press tour last fall. 'A lot of people were being very critical of Ariana crying in a bunch of interviews, and I was like, "What are you talking about? This was her dream! It makes me so happy to see her so overcome with emotion."' She adds, 'To see her get so emotional was nice just to see, as an actor and as someone who's in the public eye, because it made me think, Yeah, why not? Why not show that you care about something? ' Tyler Joe The Summer I Turned Pretty was an education for Tung. 'I've learned so much from Belly, and from her boldness, and from watching her take risks,' she says. But she also gleaned a lot from working on a set for the first time, and by observing other actors, directors, and crew members. She also learned how to take care of herself—and recognize when it's time to rest. Those are lessons she'll take with her as she transitions into life post- Summer . Tung has already been dropping hints of what that'll look like. Last year, she made her Broadway debut as Eurydice in Hadestown , a dream role that nourished her inner theater kid. (Legend has it she fell in love with acting after playing the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz back in middle school.) And this past April, she wrapped filming Forbidden Fruits , a women-centric horror film due in 2026 co-starring star Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, and Emma Chamberlain. That genre might be a major departure from the sunny beaches of Cousins, but Tung was eager to give it a try. She's recently been watching scary movies like Longlegs , Sinners , The Substance , and Jennifer's Body . 'It was transformative,' Tung says of the latter. (Diablo Cody is also a producer on Forbidden Fruits .) 'I've learned so much from Belly, and from her boldness, and from watching her take risks.' 'I loved getting to sit down with the director [Meredith Alloway] and talk for three hours about the dynamics of female friendships, and what that looks like in a horror setting. ... I love having conversations with all of these incredible women, and seeing them soar,' Tung says. She hopes to do more of that in the future—just like her fellow cool-girl creatives who are collaborating with one another. 'There are so many really cool women right now who are making cool art with their friends, like Ayo Edebiri, Rachel Sennott, and Molly Gordon,' she muses. Tung is excited for what's to come but admits that every new project can be daunting, whether it's adapting a beloved book series for TV or stepping into an entirely new genre. 'That's the wonderful thing about art—it's always a risk, and it's always a little bit scary, but it's so, so worth it.' Hair by Dana Boyer at The Wall Group; makeup by Misha Shahzada at A-Frame Agency; special thanks to Ludlow House. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE . Where The Summer I Turned Pretty Was Filmed Did You See This To All the Boys Reference? Erica Gonzales Deputy Editor, Culture Erica Gonzales is the Deputy Editor, Culture at where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. She was previously an editor at There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now.
Fox News
10 hours ago
- Fox News
Winona Ryder confesses to keeping rotisserie chicken wishbone from Christopher Walken for years
Winona Ryder is happily settled now with boyfriend Scott Mackinlay Hahn, but the actress had a couple of movie star crushes while making her way in the industry. She told Elle U.K. in an interview published Wednesday that Christopher Walken once gave her a store-bought rotisserie chicken, and because she was so enthralled by him at the time, she kept the carcass longer than normal. "I still have the wishbone and am trying to make it into a necklace," she confided. The pair worked together on the 2014 political thriller "Turks & Caicos." While she didn't clarify if her fascination with the "Pulp Fiction" actor was romantic or platonic, she vividly described her former yearning for Al Pacino when she was in her early 20s. "I was absolutely in love with Al Pacino when I was working with him," she said. "We were doing that workshop for 'Richard III,' which I didn't know was gonna be a movie. I was actively in love with him." The "Beetlejuice" actress said the "Scarface" actor loved coffee and would take her around New York City to try different brews. "I'm 22, or whatever," she continued. "Finally, he's dropping me off wherever I'm staying, and I'm like, 'I love you, you know. I really am completely in love with you.'' And he was like: 'Aw, honey, noooo.'" The pair still made "Looking for Richard" about the British monarch in 1996. She laughed that 10 years later she met Pacino's girlfriend "who's younger than me." Pacino, 85, is more than 30 years older than Ryder, 53. "'Dude, I'm f------ throwing myself at you,'" she said. "I still play poker with him sometimes. It's the best." "I still have the wishbone and am trying to make it into a necklace." Ryder met her current love at the premiere of "Black Swan" in 2010, and he mistook her for actress Milla Jovovich. "I thought it was the most charming thing in the world," she said, explaining that she found him later and once again didn't beat around the bush. "I was very direct. I was like, 'Listen, do you want to go on a date?'" she explained. Ryder told Elle she already thinks of Hahn as her husband, but they are planning to get married soon. Hahn is also the cook in the relationship. "He has this gift that my mom had, which is making healthy food delicious," she revealed. "He made a curry last night that was better than any curry I've ever had."
Elle
11 hours ago
- Elle
Yes, You Need a White Dress—These Are the Ones That Actually Matter
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. There's a scene from the movie Under the Tuscan Sun that captures the essence of a white dress perfectly. It's the moment actress Diane Lane takes a leap of faith and visits her lover in Positano, wearing a beautiful white shirtdress with a dreamy A-line skirt. The summer sun, the Amalfi Coast, the romantic thrill—it's what the best white dresses are made for. While we might not all make it to Italy right away, there's still a perfect white dress waiting for you and whatever summer adventure you have in store. Paired with a sunhat, some raffia sandals, and a berry lipstick, this wardrobe hero becomes a symbolic summer staple—a harbinger of sun-soaked escapades, if you will. But even if you're just heading to your desk or looking for something casual to slip into, the best white dresses deliver the kind of effortless elegance we all love and seek. It's probably why they were a recurring theme on the spring/summer 2025 runway shows for brands like Jacquemus, Miu Miu, and Alaïa. Ready to update your warm-weather rotation with some new options? With various occasions, hemlines, and personal tastes in mind, here are the only white dresses you need—whether you're spending a day by the beach, at the office, or at a summer soirée. Since it is summer we're speaking of, it only makes sense to start the roundup with the best linen options. The breezy fabric keeps air circulation going, which means you won't trap any unwanted heat underneath the dress. It's also one of the more durable fabrics with a high-quality feel. Since the natural fiber can sometimes be a bit scratchy, you'll notice that many brands add a cotton lining underneath, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a white linen dress without compromising on the feel. Maxi dresses are the most underrated of white dresses—perhaps because the idea of a floor-length white dress typically brings to mind a wedding gown. Still, there are plenty of opportunities to wear a long white dress that don't involve an aisle. Any of the options below prove that a maxi white dress can be worn casually to a garden party or styled elegantly for an evening soirée. The Stella McCartney piece, for example, can even be worn to the office. There are practically no occasions where a midi dress doesn't feel appropriate. The slightly shortened hemline and A-line silhouette were initially popularized by Christian Dior in his 1947 'New Look' collection, solidifying the midi dress as an icon through the '50s. The style still receives great enthusiasm, as people continue to adore the chic and somewhat preppy aesthetic. For a little leg moment, a minidress is the way to go. The short skirt is inherently flirtier than the previous options listed, but it's also an easy way to escape the heat in style. While minidresses tend to lean more casual, brands like Simkhai and Significant Other offer dressier takes on the silhouette. Weekends and brunch dates wouldn't be the same without the little white dress, so make sure you have a couple of these in your closet. The concept of a shirtdress is pretty simple—the top half resembles a button-down shirt, while the bottom half extends out in a skirt. It's equal parts buttoned-up and free-spirited, making it a favorite among office-goers. The crisp, tailored style is also popular in courtside fashion, which is why you'll spot plenty of spectators at the US Open and Wimbledon sporting the look, too. Whether you're going out to meet friends or to walk your dog around the park, the best casual white dresses are easy to throw on and require zero brain power to pull together. They're meant to feel comfortable without looking sloppy. And while you can wear them out and about, they also make ideal at-home outfits for days when you want to feel productive and get out of your loungewear. Consider the drop-waist dress the 'It girl' of dresses in 2025. The style goes hand in hand with the return of low-rise pants, as it highlights the elongated torso. It's hard not to love this season's standout style—especially when brands like Reformation and Banana Republic make such cute versions of the silhouette. The latter even combines it with a bubble skirt, hitting two trends in one go. Summer is filled with special occasions, rooftop parties, and galas. For any type of celebration, consider the following gowns. We've selected dresses with plunging necklines—like this option from Norma Kamali—and dainty lace numbers such as the one featured from Acne Studios. Each white dress is bound to leave an impression and make you feel like the main event of the night. Every product featured on is independently researched, tested, or editor-approved. We only recommend products that we stand behind, and the merchandise featured on our site is always driven by editorial and product testing standards, not by affiliate deals or advertising relationships. Any content created in partnership with advertisers is marked as such.
