There's A Summer Maxi Dress For Everyone - Here Are The 5 Styles To Shop Now

Elle

08-07-2025

There's nothing quite like wafting along a beach or indeed, through one's favourite city, in the swathes of a summer maxi dress. Luckily, for SS25, designers have given us plenty to choose from in the way of floor-skimming styles.
The minimal maxi continues its quiet reign, but this time it features extra-special detailing and interesting necklines. See the halter maxi, which was seen with barely-there straps at Michael Kors and Di Petsa, and with necklace-like embellishments at Schiaparelli, Tibi, and Isabel Marant. Zendaya also wore an excellent halterneck maxi last year, in white, which we plan to replicate somewhere far flung.
For the Grecian getaway, may we suggest a maxi laden with draping and gathering in all the right places – ideally in a brilliant jewel shade, as at Victoria Beckham and Jacquemus, where such dresses were teamed with coordinating bags. Alternatively, consider a one-shoulder silhouette; it makes an otherwise classic jersey dress instantly more compelling, as evidenced at Dior, where a black asymmetric maxi was paired with gladiator sandals.
There are skin-baring styles, too – crocheted numbers that can be thrown over bikinis or worn as dresses in their own right, atop well-chosen underwear or a tonal slip. Ellie Bamber opted for a densely-crocheted maxi at Cannes in May, and there was a whole host to choose from – in varying opacities – on the SS25 catwalks, from Chanel to Alaia.
Diaphanous, sheer maxis ruled at Sportmax, Alberta Ferretti, and Chloé, where Chemena Kamali championed the chiffon, ruffle-adorned, boho maxi for a second season. Speaking of, we still can't stop thinking about Daisy Edgar Jones in that cornflower-blue concoction from the designer's AW25 collection.
Now, to the summer maxi dresses you can buy now. Let the wafting commence.
The crocheted summer maxi is a must-pack for your summer holiday; wear it with a zingy-hued bikini or layered over a bandeau and big knickers for beachside suppers. Don't be afraid to go big on the jewellery.
Do like Di Petsa and style a draped maxi with bare feet and sea-drenched hair after a beach swim, or follow Victoria Beckham's lead and team a slinky silk version with practical flats and an oversized tote for a day of errands that turns into evening plans.
Sweep your hair up to show off the spaghetti-thin neckline of a minimal, halterneck maxi dress. Something in linen or cotton is perfect for daytime, with leather flip flops or ballet flats, or consider a style in scarlet or burgundy crepe for night-time.
An otherwise pared-back dress is given a little va-va-voom with the help of an asymmetric neckline. A one-shoulder style offers the perfect opportunity to show off a statement necklace or arm cuff.
The naked dress returns for another summer, from distinctly modern, organza tunics to romantic, ruffled maxis. Paloma Wool's Zanic style has built-in opaque panels for coverage, or be more daring in Rat & Boa's translucent leopard slip. Both look great with flip flops and undone hair.
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