This Simple Yet Elegant Dress Trend Is Dominating From New York to Paris

Woman carrying brown suede bag and wearing off-the-shoulder dress with black knit top and flowing white skirt.

(Image credit: @anoukyve)

Is it just me, or is there nothing more quintessentially classy and elegant than a simple black-and-white palette. I'm usually one to throw on bright prints and colorful accessories as the weather begins to heat up, but this summer, I've found myself opting for some of the most timeless colors of all. Thanks to summer's latest anti-trend dress style, it's easier than ever to wear both at once. Enter the two-toned dress trend approved by Sofia Richie Grainge and our Who What Wear editors.

Usually styled as a black knit top and a flowing white skirt, this minimalistic take on a breezy summer dress has been the stylish set's dream come true this season. Not only is it incredibly chic while running errands in the summer heat, but as I learned firsthand, it's also perfect to pack for any trip abroad, proving itself as incredibly dressy and casual when styled right. (Think kitten mules versus Adidas Sambas.)

Now that I've spotted this dress trend on women in NYC, London, Rome, and Madrid, I can confirm it's here to stay. Below, see black-and-white-dress inspiration and shop some of the best picks from my two-toned-dress edit.

Woman wearing dress with black top and white full-length skirt.

(Image credit: @anoukyve)

Woman wearing dress with black top and white full-length skirt.

(Image credit: @balencianas)

Woman wearing dress with black top and white full-length skirt.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Woman wearing dress with black top and white bubble-hem skirt.

(Image credit: @anna__laplaca)

Woman wearing black top, white full-length skirt-style dress.

(Image credit: @nnennaechem)
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.)