Picture this: your hair is greasy, your alarm didn’t go off, your dog has vommed on the kitchen floor and you’ve ran out of tea for your morning cuppa. Not a great start to the day, and in all honesty we’re not sure who you peed off in a past life but it’s not looking good. Anyhow, you need to get out the door STAT, but what are you going to wear? Let us remind you of the unsung wardrobe hero, the staple of any staycation suitcase, the cutest and most comfortable addition to any haul- that’s right people, it’s the humble midi dress.

Keep it feminine with sandals, add a grungy edge with a layered band tee or add a practical twist with some chunky trainers, and remember gleefully that there is nothing you cannot achieve in the perfect midi dress- you simply cannot go wrong. And as the U.K. summer continues to be somewhat lacklustre, the midi dress cements itself once again as the perfect staple piece to carry you through to Autumn (cries in Pumpkin Spice), making it a totally sensible and justifiable purchase. 

Read on for 24 of the best midi dresses to shop now, from & Other Stories, Molby The Label, Nobody’s Child, Kitri and more!

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Get ready for the stares and intense reading faces of those that walk past you in the street, it’s statement tee shirt time people! Slogan tees did the rounds a few years ago as feminist statements became the focal point of this out-there trend, but recently the focus has turned to fun, fresh and lighthearted graphics and sayings that spark a smile and ironic ‘lol’. 

Gen Z and TikTok humour are one likely influence, but this trend originally dates back to the early ’00s with everyone from queens Britney Spears and Paris Hilton rocking a graphic tee with a low rise jean. This streetwear staple is the perfect throw on and go item for days when you need to leave the house in a hurry and your bar/beach/dinner reservation is calling your name, and is guaranteed to earn you compliments aplenty from both strangers and pals alike- designs not to be worn on the days you want human interaction at a minimum!

Add some feel-good to your ‘fit this summer and embrace your playful side- it looks good on you …

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Hello easy breezy wardrobe season- we’re so pleased to see you! Hot girl summer is in full force and it doesn’t have to mean body con dresses and heels that cut off blood supply to your toes, oh no, embodying hotness is about comfort, confidence and companionship with your besties and you best believe a cute linen ‘fit will have you well on your way to achieving this. 

Linen in any form is simply summer personified, conjuring up images of heatwave bbqs, shirts thrown on after a dip in the sea, baggy shorts to cycle into the sunset in and cute flippy dresses to sip on a sweet glass of Aperol. It evokes Call Me By Your Name summer vibes in a garment, and whilst we might not be jet setting to Northern Italy, we can sure as hell dress like it. Watch out Mr Chalamet.

If you’re easily hot under the collar (all of us after mentioning Timothée) then breathable linen is the fabric for you, letting your skin breathe and leaving you looking and feeling effortlessly cool in the summer sun. Honestly, what’s not to love?!

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If you’re anything like us then the ASOS app is visited similarly to our holy grail social media- regularly, obsessively and with bated breath at what newness awaits us. It’s no surprise therefore that coming of age brand COLLUSION which is exclusive to the site is one we simply can’t get enough of. With inclusive sizing and a range of unisex designs that you can look cute AF matching with your S/O in, there’s certainly no harm in having a cheeky scroll in the Love Island ad break, right?

Key mentions go to the green knitted swirl co-ord that is giving 10/10 House of Sunny vibes, the satin zebra print scarf top that would look banging with a golden tan, and the unisex branded shorts for slobbing out in front of the TV in. It’s affordable, unique, and with six collaborators- students, stylists, activists, image-makers and authors- designing for the label in the past year, you know you’re on the right track for a stylish outfit you can rely on.

Which items are going straight into your basket? No judgement on the quantity of pieces here…

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The Tesco fridges are ransacked of Pornstar Martini cans, your skin is constantly sticky with SPF and the faint ‘it’s coming home’ chants can be heard far and wide from pubs up and down the country- yep, you guessed it, the heatwave is HERE! After possibly the longest winter of all time in which you’d be forgiven for entirely forgetting what a full dose of Vitamin D felt like, the sun is out and it feels bloomin’ fantastic. There’s nothing like a forecast of pure sunshine and good vibes to make you realise the U.K. ain’t half bad after all, and you best believe we’ll be soaking up every last bit of sunshine and pub garden Pimms we can get our paws on. 

Add a bucket hat and your fave sunnies and you’re officially picnic/beach/beer garden/mini golf ready!

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Okay hear us out. When you think of crochet, the image that springs to mind might be of a holey, ill fitting piece that your grandma proudly created but has been sat at the back of your wardrobe for 3 plus years, but it doesn’t have to be this way! The warm weather is now upon us and with that comes fun and fresh trends that may feel a little ‘out there’, but crochet is here to stay for summer ’21 and we’re here to tell you it’s worth your time…

Festivals and travel might be off the cards or still feel totally foreign this year, but nothing screams Coachella more than a crochet co-ord, and regardless of our attendance to said coveted festival you best believe our summer outfits will be on par with the Extraness of the stateside event. 

Crochet is far from dowdy, and the likes of Kylie Jenner are proving so, recently seen rocking a Natalia Fedner knit dress on a tropical getaway that screamed effortless sex appeal and va va voom. The boho style is perfect teamed with messy, undone hair, oversized earrings and paired back accessories, letting your outfit do all the talking at whichever social occasions you’re flitting between during this season of fun, fun, fun. 

Sweater vests took Instagram by storm over the winter and crochet feels like the warm weather extension of this, allowing you to layer thin knits and playful designs for some extra warmth and style points whilst looking trés cool doing so.

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Let’s be real, Cottagecore never really left the special place it found in our heart’s back in 2020, but the trend really does show no signs of slowing does as whimsical puff sleeves are IN right now. Whilst last summer you were wafting around the house twiddling your thumbs and wondering how many takeaways was too many takeaways, this time around you can waft OUTSIDE, with friends, and look fabulous doing so! 

Dreamy pastels are normally never far away when it comes to puff sleeves, as their romantic, feminine feel is a match made in heaven with the likes of an Easter egg colour palette- add in some gingham and you’re really onto a winner! Having said that, brands such as Rixo who favour a more statement colour wheel also nail puff sleeve drama too, proving the trend need not be exclusively for those who drool at the sight of pastel pink everything upon entering the shops. 

Serving peak bottomless brunch realness, keep scrolling for the creme de la creme of puff sleeve offerings!

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Dream wardrobe incoming: one scroll of the & Other Stories website and boom, your basket is full, you have 5 packages en route and your bank manager is on the phone wondering what the f*ck is going on. Their irresistible combination of design influences from Paris, L.A and Stockholm means they nail new-in, on-trend yet classic styles every time, and you can shop safe in the knowledge that you can’t go far wrong where & Other Stories is concerned. 

This week the team are running you through their favourite ‘add to basket’ picks as the dreaminess of June 21st approaches and hugs, kisses, parties and picnics become the new, ‘new normal’. Insert all the heart eye emojis.

Charlotte

& Other Stories isn’t usually my go-to shopping destination (as much as I would love it to be, alas the price point says otherwise) but their site is a dream to browse and the Scandi ‘fits make my heart skip a beat. I love the simplicity of their clothes and how effortless they feel, which is one thing that drew me to these linen shorts which I think are such a summer essential. I’m a sucker for all things pink, hence my other two picks which are tres beautiful. I’m gearing up for beach season and a solid bikini you can rely on and hair clip to shove up your sun cream filled strands is must, and the colour of this one is so lovely.

*And Other Stories, Cropped Knit Top, £45

*And Other Stories, Glossy Mini Hair Grip, £8

*And Other Stories, Drawstring Shorts, £45

*And Other Stories, Fitted Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, £55

*And Other Stories, Seersucker Bandeau Bikini Top, £27

Danielle

& Other Stories isn’t the most size inclusive brand but what they lack in that department they make up for with very well made accessories and beauty products. I always feel like getting their products is a bit of a treat and you get what you pay for as it certainly lasts longer than most high-street brands. I’ve chosen some fun summer accessories, the perfect beach tote with a scarf to tie on for a bit of spice, cool cat-eye sunnies, a pretty shell bracelet, lush heeled sandals to dress up a casual beach dress and I’d love to give this face and body highlighter a go for evenings on holiday.

*And Other Stories, Large Woven Straw Tote, £55

*And Other Stories, Angular Cat Eye Sunglasses, £23

*And Other Stories, Heeled Leather Square Toe Sandal, £85

*And Other Stories, Seashell Pendant Chain Bracelet, £13

*And Other Stories, Colour Block Printed Satin Scarf, £29

*And Other Stories, Face And Body Dew, £27

Darcey

And Other Stories aren’t the most inclusive brand and so I struggle to buy anything from the waist down from there a lot, but they have a lot of very cute tops and being a C cup means I get to enjoy these ha! I’m obsessed with cropped shirts at the moment and they have a lovely wrap around one. Also, they are so good for accessories and especially handbags! I am loving these orange squared sunglasses, they are perfect for Summer.

*And Other Stories, Boxy Knit Tank Top, £45

*And Other Stories, Buttoned Tie Detail Crop Top, £55

*And Other Stories, One Shoulder Top, £35

*And Other Stories, Croc Embossed Leather Shoulder Bag, £120

*And Other Stories, Rectangular Frame Sunglasses, £27

Holly

There are so many pieces I love on & Other Stories at the moment. The clothes don’t tend to go up to my size but I have chosen this dress which I absolutely love and it’s flow so I think I could get away with it. The accessories are where my heart lies though, so many beautiful pieces and the best quality.

*And Other Stories, Curved Open Hoop Earrings, £17

*And Other Stories, Puff Sleeve Jacquard Mini Dress, £95

*And Other Stories, Square Neck Technical Bodysuit, £29

*And Other Stories, Linen Hair Scrunchie, £8

*And Other Stories, Short Leather Crossbody Bag, £165

Lareese

If there’s one thing Stories does well, it’s wardrobe staples and accessories so I’ve loaded up on all my summer essentials from padded duvet sandals to linen sets. I’m a big fan of their beauty range too – the whole collection smells insane, it’s a pretty good price point and the branding is gorg. I haven’t tried the face and body dew yet so that’s going straight in my basket because ya girl is 30 now and she needs all the help she can get in the glow department.

*And Other Stories, Padded Strap Leather Flip Flops, £85

*And Other Stories, Linen Drawstring Shorts, £45

*And Other Stories, Short Sleeve Shirt, £55

*And Other Stories, Floral Embroidery Underwire Bra, £29

*And Other Stories, Gingham Seersucker Swimsuit, £55

*And Other Stories, Sicilian Sunrise Eau de Toilette, £28

*And Other Stories, Face And Body Dew, £27

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The summer months bring colour and freshness to your evening dinner plate, and the same can be said for your wardrobe too! As the weather warms up (please universe) and fake tan gets topped up with a real one, the urge to embrace bold, primary colours increases along with the fun and flirty vision that’s forced into hiding during the season of jumpers and boots. And what screams Italian vineyard or English orchard during a heatwave more than the humble fruit print?! Appearing in bold and statement prints or smaller micro nods to the trend, the variety of ways to rock fruit print mean the possibilities for summer outfits are truly endless. 

Which pieces are going straight into your basket?

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Jewellery: the fun, flirty, low commitment fashion purchase that can take a look from classic to current as quick as you can press ‘continue to checkout’. It’s these non essential purchases that are a style lovers dream- the items we might not have been able to justify during the past 12 months but that really make you feel like you’ve got your sh*t together when you put them on.

Other notable trends include pearls (Bridgerton and other period dramas we thank you), seaside inspired jewels (still seeking a slice of escapism? Us too) and bangles (hello 90s disco), and the variety of styles means there really is something for everyone here! 

Which trend will you be rocking during hot girl summer?

Rings

Pearls

Sea Themed Jewellery 

Bangles

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