Summer fashion has unexpectedly brought back one of the simplest and most recognizable dresses of the 1990s – a light, sleeveless model with a round neckline, known as the “three-hole dress.” What was once a wardrobe staple or even associated with childhood has suddenly become an object of fashion nostalgia and a new symbol of minimalism. This silhouette, shaped by Helmut Lang and Calvin Klein and made iconic by Kate Moss, is reappearing on runways and in street style, proving that absolute simplicity can be the most powerful statement.
Kate Moss at Helmut Lang show, autumn-winter 1997/1998
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Sundresses, silk slip dresses, and other minimalist silhouettes defined the decade’s aesthetic: clean lines, a restrained palette, and an emphasis on basic forms. It was fashion about returning to the essence of things and the power of simplicity. At the same time, the trend was supported not only by designers. Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy also became a symbol of the understated style of the 1990s.
Gucci
Prada
She is credited with shaping the aesthetic of quiet luxury – understated opulence with neutral colors, perfect silhouettes, and expensive materials. Her style was maximally straightforward: slip dresses, pencil skirts, and, of course, the three-hole dress. One of her most famous appearances – an evening at the White House in 1998 – only solidified her status as a minimalist icon.
Jennifer Aniston and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, 1998
This year, the “triangular” dress can again be seen in the collections of Gucci, where it transforms into a second skin, at Miu Miu – in an ultra-short version, and at Prada – in a technical, modern interpretation. In 2026, this dress becomes not just a trend, but a manifesto of freedom of movement and self-expression.
Miu Miu