I'm in Love With Summer Dresses—Here Are 17 I'm Wearing on Repeat
Even though I won't be parading my summer dresses all around New York this summer, I'm still in love with frivolous frocks right now. There are a handful of items that define summertime—your favorite swimsuit, cutoff denim shorts, sandy flip-flops—and even though summer will certainly look and feel a lot different this year, that doesn't mean we can't continue to celebrate the items that might help make it feel a tad more normal. For me, that item is summer dresses. There is truly no summer dress that I won't wear—maxi, floral, knit, poplin, you name it—this seasonal item officially becomes a basic in my closet the second the temperatures rise.
Since there are so many summer dresses on the rise right now, I wanted to do a deep dive into what some of the popular pieces actually look like on. How did I do this? Through Instagram, of course. After stalking some of my favorite fashion accounts, I was able to narrow down my top picks to 17 of the best summer dresses on the market. From fruit prints to sultry lace slips, the below assortment of dresses is my dream summer wardrobe, and I'm sure it will be yours too.
This is the kind of slip dress I need right now—one that's 100% leveled-up.
Pictured: Rixo Holly Rainbow Check-Print Dress ($287)
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Pretty sure you can do everything from nap to brunch in this dress.
Pictured: H&M Ruffle-Trimmed Dress ($20)
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Cutouts are one of the summer's hottest dress trends, and this little number right here proves why.
Pictured: Cult Gaia Serita Ribbed Cotton-Blend Maxi Dress ($460)
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This dress comes in so many fun colors and fabrics. I highly recommend you take a look at all your options.
Pictured: Vanessa Mooney The Original Elisabeth Dress ($175)
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Everything from the smocking to the delicate print makes this one a home run.
Pictured: Faithfull the Brand Gombardy Mini Dress in Bisset Floral ($189)
Since we will be doing a lot of lounging this summer, might I recommend a sultry lace slip to do it in?
Pictured: Sir the Label Aries Cut Out Dress ($450)
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I don't care what anyone says—you will always have room for one more floral dress in your summer wardrobe.
Pictured: LPA Samantha Dress in Amali Floral ($238)
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Mixed prints and fruity palettes are the exact energy I need from a summer dress right now.
Pictured: Farm Rio Farm Mix Maxi Dress ($245)
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If you're looking to wear thin knits all throughout the warm summer months, make sure they have just enough detail to look summer appropriate as well.
Pictured: Jacquemus Off-the-Shoulder Jersey Maxi Dress ($423)
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Pastel florals, tiny ruffles, pretty puff-sleeves, can't loose.
Pictured: With Jéan Bella Dress Pansies ($189)
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But have you ever seen anything more breathtaking? Let me know.
Pictured: Christopher Esber Bandeau Tie Dress ($517)
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Cinderella vibes. Oh, and just wait until you see the back.
Pictured: & Other Stories Voluminous Open Back Midi Dress ($179)
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Bet you never knew how much you needed a picnic dress until now.
Pictured: For Love & Lemons Zinna Mini Dress in Lemonade ($194)
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Backless dresses are a weak spot of mine. Once I see one, I must have it.
Pictured: Reformation Harleen Dress ($248)
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If you've been searching for the perfect white summer dress, look no further.
Pictured: Song of Style Maven Dress in White ($238)
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Have you noticed that pale yellow is thing this summer? Because it's definitely a thing.
Pictured: Réalisation The Allegra Verona ($240)
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If you think the front of this dress is pretty, just wait until you see the back.
Pictured: Sézane Carlotta Dress ($250)
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Next up, discover the new mermaid bikini trend that is just picking up steam.
Lauren Eggertsen is currently the editorial director of Who What Wear and has worked at the company for over eight years, where she started as an associate editor and has since worked her way up. Lauren has over 10 years of experience in the fashion editorial space, starting her career with internships at Marc Jacobs, Marie Claire, and The Zoe Report, where she was later hired as their editorial assistant. Lauren has worked in the Los Angeles and New York Who What Wear offices but currently calls L.A. home. It is here where she leads and manages Who What Wear's fashion team and oversees all day-to-day editorial content and large tentpole moments. This includes all of the runway, trend, and shopping-driven content that ultimately helps to build a strong brand reputation within the industry. Lauren's role also includes helping to set the fashion direction for all original photo shoots and often styles many of the celebrity cover shoots, including big names like Kaia Gerber, Normani, and Kristen Stewart.
She has also attended multiple fashion weeks, including New York, London, Milan, and Paris, where her personal style has been featured on sites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and Elle. She prides herself on discovering and supporting small brands and on her knack for a good vintage shopping find. When she isn't working, she enjoys researching and dining at reputable restaurants around both her neighborhood and the globe.
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