What goes around comes around, especially when it comes to fashion trends. And most recently, the trend cycle has embraced babydoll dresses once again.
From Anne Hathaway’s boho-chic ensemble at the Odyssey premiere to Olivia Rodrigo’s grunge-inspired outfits and Sabrina Carpenter’s on-stage stage looks, celebrities are proving that babydoll dresses are the secret to summer styling.
Breezy and effortless, a babydoll dress makes getting dressed in a heatwave significantly easier.
How the Babydoll Dress Entered Mainstream Fashion
The billowy silhouette first arrived onto the scene in the 1940s as a nightgown when money and fabric were in short supply. However, the name was coined in 1956 with the release of the film Baby Doll.
It was until the ’60s that the babydoll dress made its way into the mainstream and onto the city streets, though. Model Twiggy and French cinema muse Jane Birkin popularized the swingy mini dress, pairing it with colorful tights, ballet flats, and woven baskets.
In the ’90s, Courtney Love wore hers with ripped tights and combat boots, transforming the sweet silhouette into a motif in feminist grunge music scene.
Now, designers including Alexander McQueen, Chloé, and Miu Miu hae re-imaged the babydoll dress on their 2026 runways, and brands like DÔEN and Reformation have followed suit.
In 2026, babydoll dresses are embracing feminie and flirty details like puff sleeves, delicate embroidery, chiffon fabrics, and gingham patterns, aligning with the coquette aesthetic that took over TikTok.
