Popsugar Fashion Summer Fashion 5 Summer Dress Trends to Try in 2021 5 Summer Dress Trends We Keep Adding to Our Shopping Baskets 18 May 2021 by Kara Kia Image Source: Free People As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. If you buy a product we have recommended, we may receive affiliate commission, which in turn supports our work. Now that our social calendars have officially reopened, we are using every outing as an opportunity to wear our favourite summer dresses inspired by the best fashion trends of 2021: shirt dresses, gingham checks, wavy prints, sheer fabrics, and calming lilac. Shirt dresses became a summer sensation after With Jéan debuted its bestselling Andy Dress in the colour forest green. Soon after, Lori Harvey was spotted wearing the coveted summer item on Instagram, and the ruched shirt dress experienced a boost in popularity thanks to the buzz around Harvey's new relationship with Michael B Jordan. Replicas of the With Jéan dress can be spotted all over our favourite high street retailers' online shops, and we aren't ashamed to say we'd love to add one to our collection as well. Gingham dresses and summer go together like a picnic and a bottle of pale rosé wine. For summer 2021, gingham dresses are enjoying a revival because it's a subtler take on two ubiquitous trends: checkered prints and the prairie aesthetic. We are also loving futuristic wavy prints (especially on sheer fabrics) that mimic the shape of water and are inspired by the nautical and mermaid trends from London Fashion Week spring/summer 2021. And if there's one trend that might not surprise you, it's calming lilac. Pastel prints have seen a surge in popularity since winter 2020, and it makes sense. Pastels are soothing, are calming, and make us feel inspired to make a fresh new start. Expect to see lots of lilac dresses at parks and pubs all summer, and if you're keen on the trend, then we suggest going for a head-to-toe pastel outfit for a smart look with minimal effort. Keep reading for 20 of the best dresses for summer 2021. Shop Gingham Dresses: Free People Gingham Sadie Tunic Image Source: freepeople.com Free People Gingham Sadie Tunic (£68) Free People Gingham Sadie Tunic £68 from freepeople.com Buy Now Shop Gingham Dresses: Urban Bliss Plus Gingham Smock Dress Image Source: asos.com Urban Bliss Plus Gingham Smock Dress (£26) Urban Bliss Plus Gingham Smock Dress £26 from asos.com Buy Now Shop Gingham Dresses: Free People Kokomo Midi Dress Image Source: freepeople.com Free People Kokomo Midi Dress (£88) Free People Kokomo Midi Dress £88 from freepeople.com Buy Now Shop Gingham Dresses: Kitri Arabella Dress Image Source: kitristudio.com Kitri Arabella Dress (£145) Kitri Arabella Dress £145 from kitristudio.com Buy Now Shop Gingham Dresses: Monki Mini Smock Dress Image Source: monki.com Monki Mini Smock Dress (£30) Monki Mini Smock Dress £30 from monki.com Buy Now Shop Wavy Dresses: Bershka Printed Midi Dress With Gathered Detailing Image Source: bershka.com Bershka Printed Midi Dress With Gathered Detailing (£20) Bershka Printed Midi Dress With Gathered Detailing £20 from bershka.com Buy Now Shop Wavy Dresses: House of Sunny Good Vibrations Dress Image Source: houseofsunny.co.uk House of Sunny Good Vibrations Dress (£98) House of Sunny Good Vibrations Dress £98 from houseofsunny.co.uk Buy Now Shop Wavy Dresses: ASOS Design Curve Printed Mesh Dress With Ruching in Multi Image Source: asos.com ASOS Design Curve Printed Mesh Dress With Ruching in Multi (£30) ASOS Design Curve Printed Mesh Dress With Ruching in Multi £30 from asos.com Buy Now Shop Wavy Dresses: Paloma Wool Scorpia Dress Image Source: eu.palomawool.com Paloma Wool Scorpia Dress (£159) Paloma Wool Scorpia Dress £159 from eu.palomawool.com Buy Now Shop Wavy Dresses: Kai Collective Gaia Mini Dress Burgundy Image Source: kaicollective.com Kai Collective Gaia Mini Dress Burgundy (£120) Kai Collective Gaia Mini Dress Burgundy £120 from kaicollective.com Buy Now Shop Lilac Dresses: Ghost Sabrina Dress Image Source: ghost.co.uk Ghost Sabrina Dress (£89) Ghost Sabrina Dress £89 from ghost.co.uk Buy Now Shop Lilac Dresses: Monki Mini Denim Shirt Dress Image Source: monki.com Monki Mini Denim Shirt Dress (£30) Monki Mini Denim Shirt Dress £30 from monki.com Buy Now Shop Lilac Dresses: Omnes Tiered Mini Smock Dress in Purple Smudged Floral Image Source: omnes.com Omnes Tiered Mini Smock Dress in Purple Smudged Floral (£50) Omnes Tiered Mini Smock Dress in Purple Smudged Floral £50 from omnes.com Buy Now Shop Lilac Dresses: Ganni Seersucker Check V-Neck Dress Image Source: ganni.com Ganni Seersucker Check V-Neck Dress (£175) Ganni Seersucker Check V-Neck Dress £175 from ganni.com Buy Now Shop Lilac Dresses: LO Lilac Short Sleeve Sally Dress Image Source: lazyoaf.com LO Lilac Short Sleeve Sally Dress (£60) LO Lilac Short Sleeve Sally Dress £60 from lazyoaf.com Buy Now Shop Shirt Dresses: With Jéan Alexa Dress Image Source: withjean.com With Jéan Alexa Dress (£168) With Jéan Alexa Dress £168 from withjean.com Buy Now Shop Shirt Dresses: Monki Midi Button Up Shirt Dress Image Source: monki.com Monki Midi Button Up Shirt Dress (£30) Monki Midi Button Up Shirt Dress £30 from monki.com Buy Now Shop Shirt Dresses: Free People Shayla Mini Dress Image Source: freepeople.com Free People Shayla Mini Dress (£118) Free People Shayla Mini Dress £118 from freepeople.com Buy Now Shop Shirt Dresses: Collusion Plus Mini Satin Shirt Dress in Green Image Source: asos.com Collusion Plus Mini Satin Shirt Dress in Green (£25) Collusion Plus Mini Satin Shirt Dress in Green £25 from asos.com Buy Now Shop Shirt Dresses: Weekday Trixie Fitted Shirt Dress Image Source: weekday.com Weekday Trixie Fitted Shirt Dress (£40) Weekday Trixie Fitted Shirt Dress £40 from weekday.com Buy Now Summer FashionFashion TrendsDressesSummer