With so much to do this season, the best summer dresses are a need, not a want. You’re likely staring down a schedule packed with weddings, BBQs, parties, and gatherings—and the right dresses will get you through everything in style. Plus, with a fresh crop of dress trends to choose from, now’s the time to revamp your rotation.
Need a summer wedding guest dress that’ll ace any dress code? An Amazon dress that’ll arrive in mere days, even if you procrastinated shopping for your next getaway? A sundress that’s breezier and dressier than your go-to jeans? You’ve come to the right place. These are the best summer dresses to shop right now.
Most trendy summer dresses
Our favorite fashion trends of the moment all stand out from the crowd. Sequined dresses dominated the spring-summer runways and look great in the summer sun; don’t brave wedding season without one. We’re also loving drop-waist silhouettes for their laidback but elevated vibe this season. And there’s a major boho revival going on right now, and Kate Spade and Free People both aced the assignment with chic embroidery and ruffles galore.
Reformation Mariska Dress
Reformation
Bardot Infinite Sequin Dress
Nordstrom
Free People Calla Lilly Dress
Free People
Durunul Tube Top Dress
Amazon
Kate Spade Floral Embroidered Shirtdress
Kate Spade
Free-est Santa Luz Maxidress
Free People
Save on the best summer dresses with these Nordstrom promo codes, Free People promo codes, Amazon promo codes, and Kate Spade promo codes.
Best casual summer dresses
Tired of your usual summer uniform? Give your white T-shirts and wide-leg jeans a rest with these breezy numbers, all of which are casual enough for a coffee run, but easy to dress up for brunch. Free People’s drop-waist dress and Zesica’s butter-yellow midi trimmed with ric-rac ribbon are on the trendier side; Old Navy, Reformation, and Boden skew more classic. They’ll all sing with a pair of comfy walking sandals or strappy heels.
Free-est Liza Drop-Waist Midi
Free People
Zesica Summer Swing Midi Dress
Amazon
Old Navy Fit & Flare Sleeveless Midi Dress
Old Navy
Reformation Balia Linen Dress
Reformation
Boden May Cotton Midi Tea Dress
Boden
By Anthropologie Square-Neck Smocked Dress
Anthropologie
Save on the best summer dresses with these Free People promo codes, Amazon promo codes, Old Navy promo codes, Boden promo codes, and Anthropologie promo codes.
Best summer wedding guest dresses
No matter what wedding season has in store, you can rewear and restyle these wedding guest dresses for plenty of occasions. A few we’re loving right now: Reformation’s halter-neck stunner, Mango’s figure-hugging maxi with a strap that’ll move beautifully, Anthro’s summer-friendly sleeved number, and Staud’s best-selling A-line style, which you can slip into for dinner rehearsals or wear during daytime celebrations.
Reformation Andee Dress
Reformation
Mango Asymmetrical Dress with Straps
Mango
Hutch Bow-Tie Maxidress
Anthropologie
Staud Wells Dress
Nordstrom
Saks Fifth Avenue
ASTR the Label Off-the-Shoulder A-Line Dress
Nordstrom
By Anthropologie Katerina Button-Front Dress
Anthropologie
Save on the best summer dresses with these Mango promo codes, Anthropologie promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, Saks Fifth Avenue promo codes, and Anthropologie promo codes.
Best Amazon summer dresses
It’s not exactly news that you can buy dresses on Amazon, but you might be shocked by just how cute they are. These top-rated picks come in summery colors and silhouettes; Exlura’s puff-sleeve mini, Jardinvue’s tiered dress, and PrettyGarden’s gridded number have been particularly popular among Glamour editors and readers. (Plus, these options are great for procrastinators who need to be wedding- or getaway-ready ASAP.)
Exlura Square-Neck Minidress
Amazon
Livtany Strapless Drop-Waist Dress
Amazon
T1fe 1sfe Square-Neck Ruffle Dress
Amazon
Jardinvue Floral Garden Party Dress
Amazon
Chouyatou Maxi Shirtdress
Amazon
PrettyGarden Puffy Short-Sleeve Dress
Amazon
Save on the best summer dresses with these Amazon promo codes.
Best white summer dresses
What good is summer without a nice white dress in tow? While the color is trending for 2024, these numbers are perfect for your capsule wardrobe; you’ll return to them season after season, year after year. Maximize the warm-weather vibes with the linen and cotton picks below. No matter the silhouette (A-line, shirtdress) or design details (lace cutouts, bubble skirts), you can’t go wrong with these dresses. Just don’t wear one to a wedding!
Ciao Lucia Freja Dress
Shopbop
Old Navy Fit & Flare Sleeveless Midi Dress
Old Navy
Reformation Malvina Linen Dress
Reformation
J.Crew Amelia Shirtdress
J.Crew
Zara Mixed Balloon Midi Dress
Zara
Abercrombie & Fitch Dipped-Waist Sweetheart Maxidress
Abercrombie & Fitch
Save on the best summer dresses with these Shopbop promo codes and Old Navy promo codes.
Best short summer dresses
Mini season is officially upon us—less fabric is always better for sticky days. These comfy, throw-on-and-go styles will form the backbone of your off-duty summer wardrobe; imagine strutting down the boardwalk in Old Navy’s short-sleeved dress or grabbing tropical drinks in J.Crew’s scalloped gem. All that’s missing now is sandy shores, comfy slides, and a raffia tote bag with a good book peeking out.
Free-est Cerise Minidress
Free People
Old Navy Crinkle Gauze Mini Swing Dress
Old Navy
J.Crew Scalloped-Trim Shift Dress
J.Crew
Abercrombie & Fitch Drop-Waist Minidress
Abercrombie & Fitch
Maeve Keiko Minidress
Anthropologie
Everlane Dream Shift Dress
Everlane
Save on the best summer dresses with these Free People promo codes, Old Navy promo codes, Anthropologie promo codes, and Everlane promo codes.
Best summer midi dresses
Love a midi dress? Same. There’s little you can do wrong with these pieces styling-wise: Pair a flowy, floral number with kitten heels, a strapless option with trendy mesh ballet flats, or a ruffled sundress with jelly sandals. Seasonal standouts include Zara’s elegant linen dress and Anthropologie’s strapless midi, which can be styled for weddings with statement earrings and tousled hair.
Free People Long Love Midi-Dress
Free People
Zara Linen-Blend Midi Dress
Zara
Boden Cotton Tiered Midi Dress
Boden
Farm Rio Stitched Garden Sundress
Nordstrom
By Anthropologie Strapless Flounce A-Line Midi Dress
Anthropologie
Petal + Pup Rosetta Cutout Dress
Nordstrom
Save on the best summer dresses with these Free People promo codes, Boden promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, and Anthropologie promo codes.
Best summer maxidresses
Flowy maxidresses for summer are what sweater dresses are for fall: nonnegotiable for getting through the season in style. Their versatility knows no bounds—no matter the neckline or sleeve length, odds are you can tie on a belt, throw on a sun hat, and style with ballet flats, raffia wedges, or platform sandals. Don’t sweat the length; there’s nothing like a floor-kissing hem to give you that main-character energy as you enter a room. Everything in our edit, from strapless ruched dresses to relaxed halter gowns, would look great on vacation or at dressed-up ceremonies.
Susana Monaco Poplin Open-Back Dress
Shopbop
Abercrombie & Fitch Strapless Drop-Waist Maxidress
Abercrombie & Fitch
Lspace Calla Dress
Nordstrom
Sndys Tahlia Dress
Revolve
Zara ZW Collection Jacquard Halter Dress
Zara
Maeve Linen Halter Swing Maxidress
Anthropologie
Save on the best summer dresses with these Shopbop promo codes, Revolve promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, and Anthropologie promo codes.
Best summer dresses with sleeves
Sleeves can totally work for this season, especially if you’re going out at night or headed anywhere cloudy or breezy. Boden and Farm Rio offer bold, summery prints on their half-sleeve maxis; if you need something a little breezier, there are also stellar off-the-shoulder options with short sleeves. Prints this eye-catching only require minimalist jewelry and simple shoes to pop. Go a little simpler with Anthropologie and Madewell’s neutral numbers, which still stand out with tied bodices and embroidered sleeves, respectively. (Plus, most of these options work with bras—praise be.)
Boden V-Neck Puff Maxidress
Boden
Farm Rio Long-Sleeve Wrap Dress
Anthropologie
Free People Oasis Printed Midi Dress
Free People
Boden Cotton Midi Smocked Dress
Boden
Anthropologie Somerset Puff-Sleeve Maxi Dress
Anthropologie
Madewell Cassie Button-Front Midi Dress
Madewell
Save on the best summer dresses with these Boden promo codes, Anthropologie promo codes, Free People promo codes, and Madewell promo codes.
Best summer beach dresses
A casual beach dress can take you from the pool to dinner with absolutely zero effort—perfect for when you’re living out of a suitcase on vacation. Prioritize stretchy materials, quick-drying fabrics, and no-closure silhouettes; the vibe is as relaxed as possible, but with a hint of refinement. (You need to get some grid posts out of these outfits, after all.) Grab a long dress for dinner, a white dress for seaside hotel drinks, and a minidress for daytime exploring or as a beach cover-up.
Mango Button Crochet Dress
Mango
Boden Linen Maxi Notch Neck Dress
Boden
Seven Wonders Jaspin Midi Dress
Shopbop
Amanda Uprichard Holland Dress
Shopbop
Farm Rio Aura Floral Dress
Nordstrom
Farm Rio
Old Navy Jacquard Mini Swing Dress
Old Navy
Save on the best summer dresses with these Mango promo codes, Boden promo codes, Shopbop promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, and Old Navy promo codes.
Best plus-size summer dresses
The season’s best plus-size dresses aren’t letting us down in the style department—no random cold shoulders or frumpy silhouettes here. Amazon and Anthropologie have you covered for more casual styles you can wear with a simple bag and sunglasses. On the event-ready side of things, Ciina and Atsu Sally both offer one-shoulder gowns that’ll stand out from the crowd. And we’re obsessed with the dinner-inspired print on Eloquii’s maxi; it’s a must-pack for European vacations.
By Anthropologie Pollie Swing Minidress
Anthropologie
Floerns A-Line Short Dress
Amazon
Nordstrom Tie-Back Tiered Maxidress
Nordstrom
Eloquii Shirred Bodice Ruffle Maxidress
Eloquii
Ciina One-Shoulder Gingham Dress
Anthropologie
Atsu Sally Bow Midi-Dress
Anthropologie
Save on the best summer dresses with these Anthropologie promo codes, Amazon promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, and Eloquii promo codes.
Best petite summer dresses
These styles either come in petite sizing or have earned rave reviews from short shoppers, meaning you don’t need to go to a store to try them on. On the dressier side of things, Maeve, Let Me Be, and Farm Rio offer event-ready silhouettes in petite-friendly lengths; on the more casual end, Free People, Madewell, and J.Crew are stocked with elevated picks that can easily be dressed up or down.
Maeve Halter Midi Sundress
Anthropologie
Let Me Be Long-Sleeve Printed Midi Dress
Anthropologie
Free People Oakley Minidress
Free People
Farm Rio Foliage Mix Minidress
Nordstrom
Madewell Cross-Back A-Line Mini Dress
Madewell
J.Crew Maxine Eyelet Shift Dress
J.Crew
The post 72 Best Summer Dresses in 2024, According to A Fashion Editor appeared first on Glamour.