11 floral dresses to help you nail this summer’s prairie trend
- Posted by
- Kitty McGee
- Published

Retro florals from the likes of Versace, Dolce & Gabbana and cult brand, Batsheva have cemented the prairie dress as a summer staple.
Forget the backless, sexy, silky mini-dresses that caused waves on the catwalks, this summer the silhouette to invest in is the prairie dress.
The trend centres around retro-florals, but this season’s longer hemlines and full sleeves make this trend more modest than it’s initial and perfect for weddings and British (read: mild at best) summer weekends.
Invest now and wear yours all summer long with vintage wash denim, sandals and a quirky mini-handbag.
Dôen Ruby tiered floral-print dress
Best Prairie Dresses; Dôen Founded in 2015 and created by a collective of women in LA, Dôen’s dresses are the ultimate in versatile; beautiful enough for occasionwear and low-key enough for everyday.
Tiered floral print cotton maxi dress, £310, Dôen (net-a-porter.com)
Faithfull The Brand Ari floral midi dress
Best Prairie Dresses; Faithfull The Brand This effortless printed summer dresses works as well over a bikini at the beach as it does with trainers in the city and with a barely there sandal for an occasion.
Batsheva Kate floral-print cotton-poplin dress
Best Prairie Dresses; Batsheva After catching people’s eye with her homemade, matching dresses for herself and her daughter, former lawyer Batsheva Hay launched her label in 2006.
Her signature style is hyper-feminine prairie-style dresses; think high-necks, ruffles and ditsy florals.
Yellow floral-print midi dress, £270, Batsheva (matchesfashion.com)
M&S Collection Floral Print Swing Mini Dress
Best Prairie Dresses; M&S This long-sleeved floral dress is perfect for everyday, its higher hemline makes it more wearable while it distinctly nods to the Prairie trend.
High-neck, long-sleeve floral dress, £39.50, Marks and Spencer
Zimmermann Goldie Ruffle Neck Long Dress
Best Prairie Dresses; Zimmermann There is little chicer than an ankle grazing hemline and this elegant dress, lifted with it’s vintage-inspired floral print, is perfect for smart summer evenings.
SEA NY Lea dress
Best Prairie Dresses; SEA NY This cotton dress is the ultimate beach to dinner style. Smart enough for daytime in the city too, it looks great with flat leather sandals and round-framed sunglasses.
White cotton midi-dress with embroidered detail, £505, Sea NY
Mango midi printed dress
Best Prairie Dresses; Mango If you prefer a floaty floral to a structured, high-neck style this Mango dress could solve your summer dress dilemmas.
Super lightweight with a long, elegant hemline and button-down neckline it’s effortless, inner-city chic at its best.
Free People Yesica floral ruffle-trim maxi dress
Best Prairie Dresses; Free People The structured skirt on this monochrome ditsy print dress means it works well with layers, beyond weekends in the park. For autumm, wear it with a turtleneck, black trench and ankle boots.
Floral ruffle-trim monochrome dress, £110, Free People (selfridges.com)
The Vampire's Wife Susie ruffled floral-print silk-satin maxi dress
This is the investment dress we all wish we had a reason to buy this season. The slim-fitting silhouette feels modern yet the details and print feel distinctly vintage; it already feels like a classic piece you’ll wear for years.
Play up the prairie-inspiration and wear it with a velvet bow and heels.
Floral print maxi-dress, £1,100, The Vampire’s Wife (net-a-porter.com)
Next Floral Tie Neck Dress
Best Prairie Dresses; Next This floral print tie-neck dress from Next will see you through summer and well into the colder weather. The vintage-inspired colour palette means it not only works well with tights, boots and a coat but it will look dressy with black accessories all summer too.
BERNADETTE stretch-silk satin midi dress
Best Prairie Dresses; BERNADETTE With just a sniff or prairie, Bernadette’s modern silk dresses punctuated with bright floral prints are the perfect antidote to kitsch and sexy summer dresses. We can’t wait to wear this with a low heel, mini handbag and headband for perfect summer wedding style.
White silk midi dress with red and green floral print, £745, Bernadette (net-a-porter.com)
Opening image: DÔEN
Product image: courtesy of individual brands