These 5 Dresses Were Everywhere This Summer

Every summer, there is one dress that everyone, from celebrities and influencers to consumers, seems to have — or at least thought about. Often, it’s from Zara, as was the case last year with the Spanish giant’s viral polka-dot dress. (Ganni’s green gingham dress followed closely behind, but more on that later.) Given how the pandemic has affected the last few five months, forcing everyone indoors and into matching sweatsuits, it seemed like maybe there wouldn’t be a dress of summer 2020 at all.

But, while we indeed haven’t left our houses much, there were still several warm-weather frocks that have dominated our Instagram feeds. Some were in tune with our new lifestyles (hi, nightgown dresses), while others were surprisingly (and delightfully!) more fanciful. Amidst the pandemic, these were the styles that were in high demand — even if they were showcased with the couch as the background, instead of the Mediterranean sea.

Ahead, five dresses that could easily hold the title of 2020 dress of the summer. The best part: If not available to buy right now, all the styles can be at least pre-ordered.

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Cult Gaia Serita

The first contender came in May when Rosie Huntington-Whiteley appeared in a sand-colored maxi knit dress with side cutouts by Cult Gaia. No stranger to viral fame, the brand first made Instagram waves with its Ark bag, which has since been seen on the arms of every A-lister ranging from Beyoncé to Emma Stone.

Next, the Serita dress appeared on other models like Romee Strijd (while she announced her pregnancy, no less) and Hailey Bieber, as well as Kourtney Kardashian and Camille Charrière. In Lyst’s Q2 report, which compiles the most in-demand fashion every quarter, Serita landed in number 5 for the hottest women’s product; in June, the search for the dress spiked 236%. In addition to sand, the dress is also available in an amber and off-white white (ahem, pandemic wedding dress) colors.

**Cult Gaia** Serita Dress, $, available at Revolve

**Cult Gaia** Cult Gaia Serita Dress – Sand, $, available at Cult Gaia

Ganni Seersucker Check Maxi

The finalist for Dress of Summer 2019 — the style’s sell-through rate was 80% for six weeks last year — Ganni’s green gingham maxi returned this summer, too, albeit in other colors, including black, as seen on Knives Out star Ana de Armas, and rainbow, as seen on everyone on Instagram.

With an elasticized, smocked bodice and ruffled straps, the dress from the popular Danish fashion brand will likely continue making its rounds, and for a good reason. Not only is it perfect to take outside but also cozy enough to wear at home.

**Ganni** Ruffled smocked checked cotton-blend seersucker midi dress, $, available at Net-A-Porter

**Ganni** Checked seersucker midi dress, $, available at mytheresa

**Ganni** Ganni Seersucker Check Maxi Dress, $, available at Ganni

House of Sunny Hockney Dress

If an acid green hue is what you’re missing, there’s another summer contender, and it comes from the sustainably-minded brand House of Sunny. Worn most recently by Kendall Jenner, the style has already sold out three times (tip: you can pre-order drop four right now). Inspired by the art of, you guessed, David Hockney, the ‘70s-like knit slip dress features a water print and back cutout detail.

Lirika Matoshi Strawberry Midi Dress

Model/activist Tess Holliday wore this tulle, tea-length dress featuring sweet strawberry embellishments from Kosovo designer Lirika Matoshi to the 2020 Grammy Awards. Many months and one pandemic later, it’s taking over social media again, and even being remade on TikTok.

Perfectly fitting into today’s popular cottagecore aesthetic, which could explain its recent spike, it also now has a coordinating strawberry face mask that we would wear with and without the dress.Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic.

**Lirika Matoshi** Strawberry Midi Dress, $, available at Lirika Matoshi

Sleeper “Atlanta” Linen Dress

Another style that’s been popular before this summer, this nap dress, from popular brand Sleeper, exploded over the lockdown thanks to, again, TikTok — and, this time, its obsession with nightgown-like dresses.

Featuring a ruched bodice and oversized, poufy sleeves that can be worn on or off the shoulders, Atlanta is available in a variety of patterns. If we are to trust celebrities like Katy Perry, Chrissy Teigen, and Dakota Fanning, who’ve all worn it recently, gingham is the way to go this season.