Thanks to the sellout phenomenon that was the Zara polka dot midi, the last few years has seen a new breed of dress make its presence felt on our Instagram feeds—and we reckon it’s a trend that’s here to stay. Identifiable by its billowing, loose-fitting silhouette and longer hemline, it might not be the most traditionally “flattering” style in the world, but people across the country have been snapping them up in droves, and we can certainly see why.

The secret to the style’s success lies in its “throw-on-and-go” appeal. Gone are the days of faffing around for hours in the morning, trying to match skirts with blouses and trousers with tops—these smock-like dresses are liberating us from the tyranny of our wardrobes. Plus, they look good with everything: both trainers and knee-high boots, chunky crewnecks and slim-fit roll-necks, smart tailored coats and leather bikers. Have we made ourselves clear enough?

There are so many interpretations of this versatile dress trend, so you can feel safe in the knowledge that you’ll find the right one for you. There are knitted iterations, which would look so chic for work with heeled boots, leopard-print styles to pair with chunky lace-up boots, and monochrome midis that will look just as good with heels as they do with box-fresh sneakers. Scroll down to see and shop our favourite throw-on dresses.