I’m Not a Dress Person, But These 5 New Trends Are Calling My Name

Confession: I’m not a big dress person. I know, I’m probably in the minority here, as I’m someone who reaches for jeans and pants constantly. But even though dresses may not be my go-to item most of the time, I’ve had my eye on a few new dress trends that are so good they’re suddenly all I want to wear. So now that we’ve entered a new year with new wardrobe possibilities, I’ve been noticing a few fresh silhouettes popping up, and I’m totally smitten.

Each season presents a new crop of trends to try, but the latest styles are particularly lust-worthy if you ask me. There are the printed mesh dresses teleporting me back to the ’90s and the easy column dresses I plan to throw on with sneakers and some gold jewelry. Winter dresses just might be the best dresses of them all (yet another unpopular opinion), and I happen to think that all five of the below styles are a vibe.

Keep scrolling to see the new dress trends I just know youre going to love as much as I do. 

If there’s one trend that’s inescapable at the moment, it’s these dresses with wide-open backs. Plenty of designers iterated on the skin-baring look which means there’s sort of something for everyone, whether it’s Dion Lee’s slinky knits or Staud’s dreamy oversize creations.  

You can forget about boring sweaterdresses because the knit numbers on offer right now are so much cooler. With interesting details like cutouts and cold shoulders taking the humble sweater dress up a notch, and with a piece as eye-catching as it is comfortable, I can easily see these taking off.

Another ’90s trend I’m eyeing? Shocker, I know. Everything about these printed mesh numbers reminds me of the ’90s grunge aesthetic, which might have something to do with the fact that they look especially good with chunky combat boots.

Strong shoulders create such a chic silhouette without really trying. If you’re into the bold look, go for a slinky minidress that will become your new favorite party look (when those are a thing again).

Super-simple column dresses were a prominent style on the spring 2021 runways, especially in solid neutral tones like at Jacquemus and Victoria Beckham.

Next: I Let a Stylish Overhaul My Closet—10 Mistakes I’ll Never Make Again