2020’s ‘It’ dress has arrived.
Are you dreaming about the great outdoors? While we’re staying inside, we’re imagining idyllic weekends spent in thatched roof cottage, roaming around countryside. Blame it on our Animal Crossing obsession, but the cottagecore lifestyle of communing in nature is all we’re thinking about. It’s wholesome, it’s just the right amount of twee, and right now it’s the only aesthetic we’re interested in.
As our luck would have it, fashion has captured that exact mood in one It dress. The dress that’s been seen everywhere from cult LA label Redemption to purveyors of Copenhagen Ganni, this season even the most directional of brands are feeling a decidedly wholesome vibe. Enter: the milkmaid dress.
If it’s been a while since your swapped Soho Farmhouse for a real farm house, let us refresh your memory. The milkmaid style is all about a midi length. puffy sleeves and a square or sweetheart neckline. For an added cotttagecore aesthetic, look for a style that nips in slightly under the bust at the waist or has comfortable shirred (also a micro trend) stretchy detailing is what makes this dress flattering on every body. Still not wholesome enough? Dial up the Little House on the Praire details with a gingham print or colourful check.
If you’re longing for the simple life, this romantic trend is one you’ll want to embrace right now. From bold prints to crisp white, the high street and designers alike have created these dreamy dresses to suit our new found pastoral mood. So, whether you opt for mini, midi or maxi length, we’ve rounded up the best milkmaid style dresses to buy now.
Stylist’s Billie Bhatia proves the puffy sleeved dress is the perfect wedding guest option. Though her exact dress has now sold out, there are some equally chic designs to be found on the high street this season. We’ve even found the Topshop dress that will be just as covetable in years to come as it is now.
Add a statement headband and rattan accessories for cotttagecore look that feels as sweet as cherry pie, or if you prefer your country-inspired look served with a side of city, we’ve found the perfect sophisticated styles that won’t look amiss when there isn’t a rolling hill in sight.
Note: pigtails not needed.
Ganni
Trust Copenhagen label Ganni to create another ‘it’ dress. Combining of all of this season’s micro trends in one – checks, shirring, midi dresses and puff sleeves –this style just shot to top of our most-wanted list.Monki
Opt for a mini length take on the trend with colourful green gingham. An elastic shirred top adds to the cottagecore feel. Add a chic wristlet to elevate the look or subvert the wholesome aesthetic with a pair of black stomper boots.
Zara
If you’re craving the simple life, this pared back approach to the milkmaid dress is the perfect piece for you. With subtly ruched sleeves and a knotted front, this off-white dress offers all the rustic charm we’re looking for.
Rotate Birger Christensen
Looking for a more formal take on the trend? Thanks to exaggerated puff sleeves and a statement floral print this style is no less sweet, but a rounded neck and straight skirt makes it the perfect dress to wear to a wedding or evening reception.Staud
Want cottagecore served city style? Then prepare to fall in love with this vibrant take on the milkmaid trend. A dazzling sunshine shade of yellow brings the outdoors in, while a jacquard silk offers a sophisticated edge.Topshop
In true milkmaid style, a bold check rules this trend. This midi dress will look just as good with white trainers and a straw bag as it will with platforms and a chunky headband.Cos
Turn up the volume with this oversized maxi dress. Style with a miniature handbag and square toed heels for a stand-out evening look or pair with chunky black sandals for a laidback day look that channels serious Scandi cool.
Reformation
When it comes to covetable dresses, cult LA brand Reformation always delivers. A playful mini interpretation of the milkmaid dress. the tapered cuffs balance out the exaggerated puff sleeves for a streamlined silhouette.Shop Reformation Elee mini floral print dress at FarFetch, £102
Rixo
Button through, polka dot (if you look closely you’ll see it’s a miniature star print) and puffy sleeved — it’s the midi dress summer days were made for. Wear with everything from canvas trainers and a denim jacket by day, to colourful heels and gold jewellery by night.& Other Stories
You heard it here first: Anne Boleyn is the unlikely style icon for 2020. With a square neckline and subtle bodice detail, this puff sleeve dress is the perfect homage to the timeless muse. Just add a headband and a statement necklace.Shop & Other Stories square neck puff sleeve midi dress, £85
Ulla Johnson
Crisp white poplin is synonymous with summer. Just add rattan wedges and silk scarf to create a look that will instantly make you feel like you’re in Capri, even if you haven’t ventured further than your garden.
Images: courtesy of brands