6 Summer-Ready Designer Dress Brands That Are Truly Worth the Money

The relationship between a fashion person and their dress collection is one that shouldn’t be underestimated. Name an occasion, life event or even just a previous dinner plan and no doubt I would be able to tell you what I was wearing—and it's usually always a dress that's most memorable. There’s not a date in the diary that a dress can’t be worn, and this is why they deserve recognition.

For summer, they’re basically an essential, and while there are so many dress brands I'm excited to wear, some stand out more than others. When it comes to the best designer dresses, I've narrowed it down to seven that I tend to go back to each and every year.

From Dôen to Zimmerman, Matteau to Simkhai, these brands know how to create summer weather and event-appropriate dresses. And there's no doubt you will have seen someone at a wedding, summer soirée or a holiday spot wear one, or more, of these dresses.

I can spot a Aje dress a mile off thanks to the signature puffy sleeves and cutouts, Zimmermann's pretty prints stand the test of time and my fellow fashion editors swear by a floaty Dôen dress for when balmy weather hits. And even though they always master key seasonal trends, you can rest assured you’ll wear them so may times beyond the season, and even year, you buy them in.

Sure, they’re an investment, but when you find ‘the one’ it will be there to create so many memories, you’ll wonder how you got dressed without it. And if you want to make sure they get all the love they deserve when you’re not taking them out, try listing them on fashion rental sites such as By Rotation and Hurr so you can share your wardrobe (while getting some of the spend back, too.)

Here are the top designer dresses that I'm backing for summer 2024 and beyond.

1. Dôen

2. AJE.

3. Zimmermann

4. Matteau

5. Faithfull The Brand

6. SIMKHAI

This piece was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.