72 Best Summer Dresses in 2024, According to a Fashion Editor
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 dressesOur 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. Not to mention, 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
Bardot Infinite Sequined Dress
Free People Calla Lilly Dress
Durunul Tube-Top Dress
Kate Spade Floral Embroidered Shirtdress
Free-est Santa Luz Maxidress
Save on the best summer dresses with these Nordstrom promo codes, Free People promo codes, Amazon promo codes, and Kate Spade promo codes.
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 rickrack 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-Dress
Zesica Summer Swing Midi-Dress
Old Navy Fit & Flare Sleeveless Midi-Dress
Reformation Balia Linen Dress
Boden May Cotton Midi Tea Dress
By Anthropologie Square-Neck Smocked Dress
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 dressesNo 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
Mango Asymmetrical Dress
Hutch Bow-Tie Maxidress
Staud Wells Dress
ASTR the Label Off-the-Shoulder A-Line Dress
By Anthropologie Katerina Button-Front Dress
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 dressesIt’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
Livtany Strapless Drop-Waist Dress
T1fe 1sfe Square-Neck Ruffle Dress
Jardinvue Floral Garden Party Dress
Chouyatou Maxi Shirtdress
PrettyGarden Puffy Short-Sleeve Dress
Save on the best summer dresses with these Amazon promo codes.
Best white summer dressesWhat good is summer without a nice white dress on hand? 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
Old Navy Fit & Flare Sleeveless Midi-Dress
Reformation Malvina Linen Dress
J.Crew Amelia Shirtdress
Zara Mixed Balloon Midi-Dress
Abercrombie & Fitch Dipped-Waist Sweetheart Maxidress
Save on the best summer dresses with these Shopbop promo codes and Old Navy promo codes.
Best short summer dressesMini 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-sleeve 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
Old Navy Crinkle Gauze Mini Swing Dress
J.Crew Scalloped-Trim Shift Dress
Abercrombie & Fitch Drop-Waist Minidress
Maeve Keiko Minidress
Everlane Dream Shift Dress
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-dressesLove 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
Zara Linen-Blend Midi-Dress
Boden Cotton Tiered Midi-Dress
Farm Rio Stitched Garden Sundress
By Anthropologie Strapless Flounce A-Line Midi-Dress
Petal + Pup Rosetta Cutout Dress
Save on the best summer dresses with these Free People promo codes, Boden promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, and Anthropologie promo codes.
Best summer maxidressesFlowy 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
Abercrombie & Fitch Strapless Drop-Waist Maxidress
Lspace Calla Dress
Sndys Tahlia Dress
Zara ZW Collection Jacquard Halter Dress
Maeve Linen Halter Swing Maxidress
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 sleevesSleeves 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’s 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
Farm Rio Long-Sleeve Wrap Dress
Free People Oasis Printed Midi-Dress
Boden Cotton Smocked Midi-Dress
Anthropologie Somerset Puff-Sleeve Maxidress
Madewell Cassie Button-Front Midi-Dress
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 dressesA 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
Boden Linen Maxi Notch-Neck Dress
Seven Wonders Jaspin Midi-Dress
Amanda Uprichard Holland Dress
Farm Rio Aura Floral Dress
Old Navy Jacquard Mini Swing Dress
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 dressesThe 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
Floerns A-Line Short Dress
Nordstrom Tie-Back Tiered Maxidress
Eloquii Shirred Bodice Ruffle Maxidress
Ciina One-Shoulder Gingham Dress
Atsu Sally Bow Midi-Dress
Save on the best summer dresses with these Anthropologie promo codes, Amazon promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, and Eloquii promo codes.
Best petite summer dressesThese 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
Let Me Be Long-Sleeve Printed Midi-Dress
Free People Oakley Minidress
Farm Rio Foliage Mix Minidress
Madewell Cross-Back A-Line Minidress
J.Crew Maxine Eyelet Shift Dress
Save on the best summer dresses with these Anthropologie promo codes, Free People promo codes, Nordstrom promo codes, and Madewell promo codes.
