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    1. Fashion
    2. Shopping

    As far as I'm concerned, backless dresses are the only way to survive the heatwave

    It's giving drama and access to a breeze

    Penny Goldstone's avatar
    By Penny Goldstone
    Published 22 June 2024 In Buying Guides

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    backless dresses
    (Image credit: Zara)
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    I'll be honest: I do not deal with the heat well. At all. But if rumours are true, there's one headed our way, and I have just the item that will make it survivable: a backless dress. Aka the next best thing if access to a bikini and a swimming pool is limited.

    While they may seem a little too formal for everyday life - after all, they're a red carpet staple - I've found the trick is choosing the right cut and fabric.

    I tend to favour mini or midi lengths, and lightweight fabrics like cotton silk and linen. I love a paired back silhouette as well, such as a high neck, which emphasises the dramatic back even more.

    For Spring/Summer 2024, we're seeing a lot of white dresses (always a staple), as well as more trend-led prints, including animal prints and florals.

    Colour-wise, we're very much leaning into dopamine dressing with pops of red, azure blue and yellow.

    The beauty of this style is that it seamlessly takes you from day to night. wear it with flat strappy sandals or mesh ballerina pumps during the day and swap for heels come evening.

    I know what you're thinking: it's easy to wax lyrical about backless dresses when you have small boobs and don't need a bra. But if you scroll down, I've included some nifty accessories that my bigger busted friends swear by to make wearing backless gowns a breeze.

    backless dresses

    Zara, backless halterneck dress
    £45.99 AT ZARA

    backless dresses

    Zara, animal print dress
    £59.99 AT ZARA

    backless dresses

    Zara, printed cowl neck dress
    £49.99 AT ZARA

    backless dresses

    Miu Miu, Stretch cady dress with feathers
    £3,100 AT MIU MIU

    hm backless dress

    H&M, Lace-Trimmed Strappy Dress
    £44.99 AT H&M

    mcqueen backless dress

    Alexander McQueen, Cherry Branches dress
    £4,900 AT ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

    Printed Halter Gown

    Mango, Printed Halter Gown
    £59.99 AT MANGO

    Chloe Satin Midi Slip Dress

    Ghost, Satin Midi Slip Dress
    £95 AT GHOST

    fendi backless dress

    Fendi, orange dress
    £2,250 AT FENDI

    Striped dress in cotton towelling with 4G detail

    Givenchy, Striped dress
    £1,100 AT GIVENCHY

    backless dresses

    M&S, Back Detail Ombre Slip Dress
    £65 AT M&S

    prodflag_New

    Massimo Duttidress

    Massimo Dutti, printed halter dress
    £149 AT MASSIMO DUTTI

    rixo backless dress

    Rixo, Gail dress
    £340 AT RIXO

    Delilah Linen Dress

    Reformation, Delilah Linen Dress
    £298 AT REFORMATION

    Zeeyono Boob Tape - 7m Extra Long Body Tape With 2 Pairs of Reusable Nipple Covers Breathable, Unseeable, and Skin-Friendly Booby for Tit Support Sweat Resistant Bob Large Breasts

    Zeeyono Boob Tape With 2 Pairs of Reusable Nipple Covers
    £8.99 AT AMAZON

    backless dresses

    M&S, U Plunge Push Up Stick on Bra A-E
    £24 AT M&S

    Stick and Clip Bra

    Boux Avenue, Stick and Clip Bra
    £24 AT BOUX AVENUE

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
    Penny Goldstone
    Penny Goldstone
    Social Links Navigation
    Contributing Fashion Editor

    Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

    She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.

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