We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The Modern Milkmaid Dress Is The Summer Style Saviour You've Been Searching For
Universally flattering, versatile and the perfect mix of coquette and cool girl vibes.
Knowing what to wear in the summer can be a tricky business at the best of times. As the temperature goes up, our desire to be clothed at all goes dramatically down – but be it for a day at the office, pub drinks, a wedding, date or event, dress we unfortunately must. Given a bikini sadly isn't considered 'appropriate' attire for most public-facing occasions, I have spent years searching for stylish, easy, breezy, throw-it-on-and-go pieces that will make mornings far less of an ordeal, and won't be drenched in sweat come midday either. My current go-to? The milkmaid dress.
Recognisable by its smocked or structured bodice, scoop neckline, puff sleeves and sweeping A-line skirt, the milkmaid dress has been around for centuries – but only in recent years has it made the leap from farm to fashion. Designers like 16Arlington, Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood, Molly Goddard and TOVE introduced their own elevated versions of the silhouette on the SS24 runways that are more cool girl than coquette, while even Prada custom-made a modern milkmaid look for Hunter Schafer at Cannes earlier this year (complete with olden-days matching hair-cloth to boot).
FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE
The secret to its success is that it's universally flattering, and incredibly versatile too. The black linen milkmaid-style dress I purchased from Reformation last summer has seen me through three different dress sizes as well as a huge variety of occasions – whether worn with sandals or trainers to the office, or with heels and a statement earring to go out. I've since bought four more in different styles and colours, and am currently eyeing 16Arlington's modern minimalist Vezile design, that's elegant enough for glitzy evening affairs and loved by everyone from Alexa Chung to Lashana Lynch. Given how much use I'll get out of it, I'm telling myself the cost-per-wear will end up being zero...
I'm not the only one who's obsessed, either. eBay reports that searches for 'milkmaid dress' have increased by more than 50% in the last month alone, while Libby Page, market director at Net-A-Porter, praises the style as 'the perfect iteration of boho' that offers an 'effortless approach to summer dressing.' ELLE UK's Commissioning Editor Naomi Pike, meanwhile, has been a fan for as long as she can remember: 'I've been wearing milkmaid dresses long before they hit the mainstream and got a zeitgeist-y moniker,' she says. 'That's not me claiming to be ahead of the trend, but more that I had long sourced them out for their flattering nature that was sensitive to my proportions, which fashion often forgets or intentionally overlooks. I love them for their ease and wearability, they wash well, pack well and look just as good with a chunky platform as they do a dainty ballet pump. You might just need a good strapless bra!'
She points to brands like Ganni, Shrimps and Hill House Home for affordable styles, while for those who, like both of us, have a sizeable bust, Molly Goddard is a godsend. 'I've picked up almost a dozen styles from her as I know they work for me with the smocking that stretches over my bust perfectly and I love how intentionally full Goddard cuts her skirts,' says Pike. And for those whose budget won't stretch quite that far, LA-based sustainable brand Reformation is the perfect in-between – just look out for the styles with smocked backs to accommodate for bigger boobs.
The best milkmaid dresses to shop now:
Clementina Jackson is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health UK, covering everything from and catwalk trends to buzzy brands and the cult products you need to know about (and shop before they sell out). She also commissions first-person and long-form fashion features, oversees and tests out the latest industry innovations. Clementina previously worked as Digital Fashion Editor at , during which time she profiled high-end designers, interviewed everyone from Priyanka Chopra to Jane Fonda, and launched the franchise to shine a light on size-inclusive fashion. During this time, she was also named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner. Having worked in journalism for more than six years, Clementina has also written for the likes of , , , and , covering everything from luxury travel, lifestyle and restaurants to photography and interiors.
Watch Next
10 of the Best White Vests to Buy Now
What Should I Wear to a Summer Wedding?
The Best Denim Shorts Of The Summer
The ELLE Team's Favourite Affordable Designer Bags