I Just Found My Perfect Summer Dress (and It's From the High Street)

As a fashion editor, you might assume that I love the thrill of getting dressed, and most of the time, I do. But when summer arrives (hello 29° London!), I'm more concerned with getting out in the sunshine instead of sifting through clothes to come up with an outfit. As we know, dresses are the key to making this process easier, and summer is the season they come into their own. Of course, there are many different styles around of varying length, colour and design, but I recently spotted one of our favourite fashion people, Francesca Saffari, in an easy-to-style and seriously graceful piece that I was convinced was designer. Spoiler alert: It's from the high street.

Woman on street wears white dress, fisherman sandals and woven bag

(Image credit: @francescasaffari)

Though the weather still seems to be making up its mind, we get a peek of sunshine every few days, and when the hot days finally arrive, the last thing I’m thinking about is tight-fitting pieces. Instead, airy, loose clothes are front and centre of my outfit selections, and this Whistles dress is an obvious choice. With a fitted empire-line bodice that features smocking at the back for added comfort, the dress flows into a full, floaty maxi skirt.

With an understated design, this is a piece that can be pulled out year after year and will bring an edge of refinement to all occasions, from days in the office to dinners on holiday. Whistles is all about clever details, and this one features adjustable straps and pockets, which we all appreciate. Currently, the Anna Dress (£139) comes in a fresh white shade and a seriously chic deep brown hue. The hard part is choosing which colourway to go for.

Woman on street wears white dress and woven bag

(Image credit: @francescasaffari)

Keep scrolling to shop Whistles' Anna dress and explore more summer heroes from the brand.

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Florrie Alexander
Acting Affiliates Editor

Florrie embarked on her fashion journey while studying French and History at university. Whilst studying in Aix-en-Provence, she began to write her dissertation on the history of fashion and the influence of Haute Couture, and landed her first role at Harper’s Bazaar. Following this, she interned for various publications including Elle, Grazia and Marie Claire before joining the fashion team at Conde Nast Traveller. There, she contributed to international photoshoots, styled pages and covers, and produced engaging digital content.

During a freelance period, Florrie honed her skills in editorial work in various digital and print publications including Vogue Italy and Departures magazine, as well as styling e-commerce photoshoots and personal shopping. Florrie actively pursues an in-depth understanding of fashion and jewellery, and after styling a jewellery cover shoot at Conde Nast Traveller chose to complete the De Beers Diamond Foundation course. Florrie first joined Who What Wear UK as a freelancer before becoming the Commerce Writer, blending both editorial and commercial content. Now, as the Acting Affiliates Editor, she monitors current trends, new-in styles, wardrobe heroes and how best to style them. In her downtime, Florrie can be found in her hometown of London, usually with a coffee in hand.