It's no secret, French girl chic is a style aesthetic many lust after for its effortless ease to look instantly polished. But, chatting to a French colleague in the midst of the latest UK heatwave, she declared, “British girls know how to wear a summer dress like no one else.” And I'm inclined to agree.
Maybe it's a result of our primary school years when summer dresses – mine a collared, yellow and white checked, knee-length design – were mandated as part of our official uniforms. Whatever the origin story, the result is an excessive number of ruffle-hemmed minis, strappy A-line midis and shirred bodice maxis all hanging in my wardrobe today.
And, despite my current collection already at full capacity, nothing seems to stop my proclivity. The latest summer dress to catch my eye? A white ruffled milkmaid dress worn by both Maya Jama *and* Camila Cabello.
Maya Jama stepped out in London yesterday [Monday 12 August] on what was the hottest day of the year so far to attend the opening night of Shifters, a new play the Love Island host is a producer on. For the occasion, she donned a white maxi dress with a gathered neckline, straps worn off her shoulders, a buttoned sheer bodice and a tiered, ruffled skirt.
Shop Maya Jama's white maxi dress
The look ticked off multiple summer fashion trends with Emily In Paris star Ashley Park recently repping her own take on the silhouette and Anne Hathaway and Nicole Scherzinger both sporting their own white iterations. Not forgetting Camila Cabello, who wore the exact same dress just last month, albeit styling hers with the straps on top of her shoulders.
Shop Maya Jama and Camila Cabello's white dress
The dress in question is the Christabelle Ruffle Maxi Dress from Frankies Bikinis, one of our fave swimwear brands whose new clothing collections rival the tiny 'kini sets the label first became famous for. Available in five colourways, Maya and Camila both opted for the ‘Sunrose’ hue – which is still in stock in every size!
While the style is celeb-approved, it's admittedly not the most affordable dress out there. So, if you want to get in on the look without breaking the bank, we've found similar, look-a-like designs to shop now:
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Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
