I Bought This One Anti-Trend Item to Fit In With Cool Italian and Spanish Women

Woman wearing white summer dress.

(Image credit: @balencianas)

While spending more than five weeks in Europe this summer, I haven't been able to get something out of my head. On the streets of Madrid, Rome, Palma, and London, I've seen chic European women wearing the same exact outfit to beat the heat. Of course, I'm talking about the timeless white summer dress. Summer maxi dresses have been the elegant, go-to easy outfit formula for years, but shockingly, I realized I didn't have a single one by the time I unpacked my suitcase. Thankfully, overseas Zara came in clutch.

After strolling through some of Europe's most stylish cities and spotting white summer dresses everywhere, I decided to buy my own: a simple yet pretty white flowy maxi dress with a lace trim. Since I'm itching to buy several more during my Euro summer travels, I decided to round up all of my favorites for you to see (and shop!) below.

Catch a glimpse of the one anti-trend summer necessity European women reach for when the temperatures reach the high 80s. Trust me, you'll want to add your own to your closet after seeing these jaw-dropping picks.

Woman wearing white maxi dress.

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

Woman wearing white maxi dress.

(Image credit: @marina_torres)

Woman wearing white maxi dress.

(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

Woman wearing white maxi dress.

(Image credit: @abimarvel)

Woman wearing white maxi dress.

(Image credit: @balencianas)

Woman wearing white maxi dress.

(Image credit: @champagnemani)

Woman wearing white maxi dress.

(Image credit: @symphonyofsilk)
Assistant Shopping Editor
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor whose work ranges from dissecting size inclusivity at fashion week to discussing how American Girl Doll meme accounts are the the answer to society's collective spiral. She's covered it all: Queen Elizabeth II's corgis, Roe v. Wade frontline protests, and the emergence of jorts (or jean shorts for the uninitated). At Who What Wear, Ana is responsible for delivering smart, insightful, personality-driven shopping guides and trend features for a digital-first generation.Before joining Who What Wear, Ana was Glamour magazine's editorial assistant, where she focused on daily news and special packages, including leading the brand's 2022 Met Gala coverage. For more than half a decade, she has covered style, beauty, and digital culture for publications such as Paper magazine, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue Japan, and Allure, among others. Ana has been called a rising star in media by publications such as Nylon and Teen Vogue. (Her mother, meanwhile, calls her "the coolest person" she knows.)