There are mornings when the whole wardrobe seems to mock you. You try three tops, two skirts, then pull out the same dress as yesterday. So if you want to decide quickly, it helps to have a handful of styles that solve the problem on their own — the ones that get you out of indecision five mornings a week, the ones you slip on without thinking and that do the work. We've picked sixteen styles for the season, looking closely at fabric, drape, cut and the detail that changes everything.

Asymmetric plum maxi dress with a single strap, worn in a bright apartment

Let's be clear from the start: we haven't worn them. This is a selection based on the descriptions provided by the brands; for some styles, the brand, price and link to the product page are included.

Olive-green satin viscose column maxi dress, worn in a light-filled hallway

1. The ASOS DESIGN midi wrap dress. A well-cut wrap, halter neckline and open back, in black: the kind of piece you throw on without thinking. The fluid drape does the work, and the neckline nicely exposes the shoulders without having to go for a bustier. Expect around £28 at ASOS; see the product here.

Asymmetric wrap-style maxi dress in fluid viscose, worn near a window at home

2. The WAL G. one-sleeve cocktail dress. Cherry red, one sleeve, skater cut: this evening dress does not go unnoticed. The asymmetry structures the silhouette without ever feeling tight, and the red works as well with strappy sandals as with boots. Priced at around £38 at WAL G.; see the product here.

Short ecru cotton cape dress worn on a street at sunset

3. The Bershka halterneck lace dress. Beige, midi, all lace and with a halterneck: a romantic piece that works day or night. The lace needs a little attention when ironing, but what charm! Around £51; see the product here.

Straight T-shirt dress in sage-green organic cotton jersey, hands in pockets

4. The Mango one-shoulder satin dress. Pink satin, bare shoulder, midi cut: a dress that flirts with the 90s without getting stuck there. Wear with flat sandals for a country wedding, or mules for an evening out. Around £59; see the product here.

Embroidered ivory bohemian maxi dress, worn on an olive-tree path at golden hour

5. The Kaiia bandeau maxi dress. Close-fitting, in lined lace, with a sheer hem that hints at the leg: the effect is dressier than it looks. Perfect for dinner, less so for the beach. Around £62; see the product here.

Sky-blue midi dress with a gathered waist worn on a sunny street at midday

6. The TFNC lemon crêpe dress. In crêpe, open back, boat neck, lemon colour: a luminous maxi dress cut for summer evenings. Lemon flatters warm skin tones; dare to wear it, or save it for later, depending on you. Around £68; see the product here.

Young woman in a sky-blue midi dress in the street at the end of the day

7. The Murci corset lace dress. Long, in black lace, with a corset waist and fine straps: the look is more sophisticated than it seems. Save it for evenings; it deserves a proper setting. Around £80; see the product here.

Bohemian maxi dress with blue and ecru floral print worn in a meadow in high summer

8. The YAS A-line dress. An A-shape cut, long sleeves, deep black: this cocktail dress is quietly elegant. Easy to belt if you want to define the waist — otherwise, it falls well as it is. Around £119; see the product here.

Woman in a bohemian maxi dress with rust and cream floral print, standing on a path at golden hour

9. The Lace & Beads taffeta dress. Sweetheart neckline, puff sleeves, black taffeta: an unapologetic evening piece that recalls old-school balls. Taffeta marks, so plan to store it flat. Around £136; see the product here.

10. The Bardot black cocktail dress. A black cocktail dress with a close-fitting cut: simple, effective, effortless. The piece you pull out for every event without asking questions. Around £140; see the product here.

11. The floaty voile maxi dress. A maxi dress with an open back and floaty voile, to layer over a slip if you prefer not to reveal everything — for a more airy effect.

12. The crochet-panel print dress. A printed dress with a crochet panel, scalloped edges: a statement piece that works with a minimal total look, worn with flat sandals and nothing else.

Emerald-green silk midi dress worn at an intimate evening gathering, silk shawl over the shoulders

If the season cools, these styles layer well: a fine T-shirt underneath, a blazer or overshirt on top, ankle boots on your feet. The summer dress then becomes a mid-season piece!

Short cotton poplin dress with floral print, tried on in front of a bedroom mirror

13. The short evening dress. A short, straight cut that you slip on for an impromptu dinner — and that holds its own without heels.

14. The fluid sky-blue dress. An effortless sky blue, for summer afternoons: the dress you throw on for a terrace lunch, without thinking about it.

Olive-green satin viscose column maxi dress worn in a bright hallway

15. The sky-blue evening dress. Sky blue, the reliable choice for summer evenings — less demure than it looks, especially with gold sandals.

16. The bohemian maxi dress. A field-flowers version: fine straps, loose cut, countryside print — the dress that evokes weekends in the country.

Long cotton tie-dye cape dress worn in a garden of tall grasses

The right check before you buy. Always check the stated length: from one brand to another, a mini can vary by a good ten centimetres, and that's not the same thing depending on your height. Also look at the composition — a well-cut satin or crêpe holds up better than a thin polyester. Linen creases: that's its texture, not a fault; the European Flax label often accompanies a fibre grown in Western Europe and traceable. As for recycled polyester, an honest word: its footprint is better than virgin polyester, but it's still plastic, and it releases microfibres in the wash.

Asymmetric plum maxi dress with a single strap, worn in a bright apartment
Short printed dress with a flared skirt, worn on an urban terrace at dusk

Budget

Expect to pay £25–£50 for a daytime dress at ASOS, Bershka, Mango or WAL G.; £60–£145 for a more dressed-up evening piece. Second-hand, you can often find the same cuts at gentler prices — just check the returns policy carefully before you order. Fabrics that last (satin, crêpe, cotton) push the price up, and lace and taffeta even more. A good tip: watch the end-of-season sales, when remaining sizes go for a song.