This Will Be the Most Popular Dress Style of 2020

Now that sweaters and boots are well and truly in our daily rotation, the thought of springtime dresses seems like a lifetime away. Luckily, fashion month brings the warm-weather season that little bit closer, giving us a glimpse into what fashion-forward frocks we have to look forward to when we can bask in the sun once again. But don’t get your minidresses out too soon. One of the most unexpected and dominant dress trends we saw coming out of S/S 20 runways was one that involved fabric—a lot of it.

Long, billowy, trapeze-like dresses were seen everywhere from Roksanda to Valentino. Hemlines were dropped, often grazing the floor. Many hung loosely from collarbone to calf with no restrictions, like an artist’s smock—often with equally modest Victorian high-neck collars and long sleeves that hung past the wrist. These are dresses that take up space—long and often voluminous with practically no focus on exposure—exuding a sense of ease, comfort, and security.

If you’re eager to take on the trend before everyone else does, you can shop the gorgeous dress style set to be draped all over our favorite fashion muses in 2020 right now with our coolest picks below. Style them with edgy combat boots or chunky Chelsea boots for a cool-girl look this season.

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On the runway:
(Image credit: Courtesy of Roksanda)

Long, flowy dresses were dominant at Roksanda, billowing around the body in easy-to-move-in fabrics.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Lacoste)

At Lacoste, maxi dresses reigned supreme, but this time in pleated varieties in shades of springtime yellow, aquamarine, and pastel blue.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of J.W Anderson)

Fluid jersey fabric flowed beautifully from neck to ankle and wrists at JW Anderson in gorgeous shades of teal blue.

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(Image credit: Stephanie Cardinale, Getty Images)

At L'Oréal's runway, long, billowy, draped fabrics came in graceful spring florals with ruffles and voluminous sleeves.

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(Image credit: Estrop, Getty Images)

Valentino's vivid frocks hung from the collar bone to the ankles with no restrictions in a voluminous cloud.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Chloe)

We could see ourselves wearing this easy and effortless Chloé dress to every spring and summer wedding season. (Bonus points for the cool pockets!)

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Altuzarra)

Altuzarra's color-block number is bold, eye-catching, and super easy to wear for spring. The tiered layered stripes add volume and dimension to the chic frock.

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(Image credit: Dominique Charriau, Getty Images)

Long sleeves, long hems, and a fresh silhouette that we're fully on board with at Stella McCartney.

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(Image credit: Courtesy of Erdem)

Take your white shirtdress to next-level chic with a trapeze-like silhouette that grazes the floor as seen at Erdem. 

Shop the trend:

Up next, the seven biggest color trends we'll all be wearing in 2020.

Judith Jones
Senior Fashion Market Editor

Judith is the senior fashion market editor at Who What Wear and has worked in fashion for nearly a decade. Judith started on the Shop Who What Wear team, creating content and managing a team of merchandisers for the Who What Wear shopping app. She later crossed over to the editorial team, where she shares the coolest, most desirable fashion market finds and brands in her shopping-focused stories and social takeovers. She has become one of the top affiliate earners during her six plus years at Who What Wear. Before working in fashion, Judith was a TV host on the PBS travel show Globe Trekker (airing on Netflix and Amazon Prime) and shared her passion for travel and food. She studied at the prestigious London Academy of Dramatic Arts as well as Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. She later studied fashion merchandising and design, which laid the foundation for her career in fashion.


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