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Every summer has an ‘it’-dress. The kind that infiltrates your wardrobe mood board before suddenly appearing everywhere: on your favourite celebrity, the woman sitting opposite you at dinner and, inevitably, every third scroll on Instagram.
For the past few years, that title belonged to the milkmaid and babydoll dresses. With their puffed sleeves, square necklines and countryside charm, they became synonymous with the cottage-core era. There was something undeniably appealing about their softness – a sort of Jane Austen fantasy reimagined for modern–day brunches.
A new take on the corset dress
This season, romantic style is taking a new direction. ‘Tis the summer of the corset dress: one that combines vintage charm with precise craftsmanship and a fresh take on femininity.
Of course, the word ‘corset’ still brings to mind images of tightly laced Victorian bodices and grand ballroom dressing. The contemporary interpretation has little to do with historical corsetry and is all about sculpting seams, clever panelling, delicate boning, and contouring details that bring shape to everyday wear without feeling constrictive.
What makes this evolution so compelling is that it does not ask us to abandon the silhouettes we already love. Milkmaid, babydoll and classic shirt dresses are being reimagined with corset–inspired bodices, waist–accentuating cuts and sculptural seam detailing. Rather than existing solely in the realm of occasion-wear, today’s corset iterations translate these contouring elements into everyday pieces, from breezy minis to relaxed midis and flowing maxis.
The corset dress’s resurgence is no coincidence. Its return reflects fashion’s renewed interest in careful tailoring, thoughtful proportions and pieces designed with purpose.
“Corsetry and ultra–feminine styles have become modern classics,” say Geo Moriarty and Louise Wright, the co–founders and creative directors of resortwear label Cin Cin. The duo explains that a cinched waist celebrates traditional feminine curves, while styling corsetry with unexpected pieces, such as denim, creates contrast and a more contemporary feel.
How the fashion set is wearing it
The corset dress’s versatility is evident in the many ways it is being styled, from romantic and delicate to minimalist and dramatic. Taylor Swift’s affinity for romantic style makes her the perfect muse for the trend. Recent appearances in New York saw her choose Zimmermann’s designs beneath tailored outerwear, while her striped Staud Wells dress offered a more understated take.
Elsewhere, Daisy Edgar–Jones offered a more minimal approach in a white number from Mango. Hailey Bieber’s collaboration with the high–street label further highlighted corsetry’s place across both accessible and luxury wardrobes, while Blake Lively brought more drama to the silhouette with a leather rendition.
The milkmaid dress is not disappearing entirely – fashion rarely says goodbye forever. But for now, the corset dress is stealing the spotlight. It borrows the romance of the past without its restrictions, which is perhaps why it feels less like a fleeting trend and more like a natural progression of summer dressing.