While it's not quite hot enough just yet to don our summer dresses, the appearance of blue skies and sunshine inevitably prompts us to think ahead to a time when we can. When that day does eventually arrive, you can bet we'll be prepared as we're doing the research now into the trends worth incorporating into our warm-weather wardrobes.
A quick scan of the spring/summer 2026 runways makes one thing clear – the silhouette of the season is undoubtedly a drop-waist dress. Most closely associated with flapper dresses of the 1920s, the look has returned in a big way a century later with Chanel, Dior, Simone Rocha and Pierpaolo Piccioli’s Balenciaga debut all featuring distinctive dropped waists. Given Matthieu Blazy took the silhouette into Chanel's AW26 collection, too, proves they're here to stay.
Exactly where the waistline hits does vary, but to achieve the look you should opt for low designs that sit below the natural waist, ideally hitting at the hips or below.
Despite my initial doubts that a drop-waist dress would not work for me – I'm petite at 5'3" with a short torso, and I definitely have curves that some clothing just doesn't accommodate – I was pleasantly surprised when I tried on the Dion Dress from Rails. The smocked bodice clung to my hourglass figure in a flattering way, while the dropped waist was positioned low enough to nail the look without sitting at my widest point, which would have only served to make me look bigger than I actually am. Instead, the dress elongated my torso, creating an overall lengthening illusion and a seamless fluidity.
Want to try one out for yourself? You can't go wrong with Primark's Cotton Poplin Dropped Waist Midi Dress. Vertical seams at the back shape the bodice for a more structured feel, while the dropped waistline flows into a full, gathered skirt for a soft, voluminous finish. In a gorgeous chocolate brown hue that's bang on trend this season, the crisp cotton poplin fabric is light, breathable and promises to hold its shape – making it well-suited to spring and summer temperatures.
A keyhole back with a delicate tie fastening adds a subtle detail that further elevates the design. More importantly, it's only £16 (!!), offering an affordable way to tap into the trend if you're not sure about pulling off the look.
Below, shop some of our favourite drop-waist dresses available to buy on the high street now:
Abercrombie Smocked Drop-Waist Maxi Dress
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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!
