The Dress I've Worn for 7 Summers Straight

When I consider the things I love the most in this world, summer—with all the fun outfits and travel that accompany that time of the year—is at the very top. Even just thinking about the season and starting to put together plans for vacationing somewhere new is enough to inspire a heavy dose of wanderlust in anticipation of those long beach-filled days ahead. The first place my mind always goes is to what I’ll be packing in my suitcase for an imminent trip, and you want to know which piece always goes into my bag right away? A wrap dress.

Not only are wrap dresses flattering, but they’re also extremely versatile. They have a waist-cinching effect that creates the illusion of a tiny waist, but they are also adjustable (so you don’t need to hesitate about indulging in that pasta for dinner). They can also easily transition from day to night. It’s the perfect look for the afternoon when paired with espadrilles, but you can throw on a pair of slingback heels to dress it up for a night out. It seems like stylish women everywhere have them in their closet, including French girls who make a habit out of wearing them.

I’ll admit it, though: I haven’t always been a huge fan of wrap dress styles. At one point, I remember thinking that they didn’t really work for me. But that all changed on a trip seven years ago when I borrowed one from a friend and fell in love with the style. And now I’ve been wearing them on repeat ever since. Ahead see how I’ve been wearing my wrap dresses and shop some of my favorites.

Shop wrap dresses I can vouch for

Easily one of my favorite summer dresses, I brought this one to Italy last summer and paired it with everything from espadrilles to Adidas sneakers.

I bought this midi-length style from Reformation, and this year the brand remade it in a shorter style.

This dress is a new addition to my summer wardrobe from when I challenged myself to add more color to my closet. I love this unexpected color.

If you love a dress, buy it twice. That’s what I did when I found this silhouette. After I fell in love with the green version, I went back and snapped up this polka-dot pattern as well.

Shop more pieces I love