25 Effortlessly Elegant Free People Dresses That Were Made for Summer

Woman wearing a white drop-waist dress.

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

What's one of the best things about summer? Is it the prospect of the perfect sunny day? Maybe it's the idea of venturing off to an idyllic destination. While both of those things are great, there's nothing better, in my humble opinion, than what happens to our wardrobes once warm weather arrives. The best thing about summer is our ability to wear one specific staple on repeat: sundresses. After all, what else feels more synonymous with summer than a dress? Frankly, there's no other item more suited for any situation that may come up on your calendar. Whether you're dressing for a heat wave, a workday, or a wedding, wearing a dress will always be a fail-proof choice. Therefore, it's imperative to find versions of this staple that fit our needs for the season, including our budgets, style preferences, and daily lifestyles.

Everyone's approach to shopping for dresses may differ, but most shoppers want them to meet three main criteria, the first being that the item must be effortless to wear in everyday life. The second requirement is that it should look elegant. The third is that it shouldn't break the bank. All of these demands might seem straightforward, but finding options that meet them all is more challenging than you'd think. Luckily, Free People manages to do it all. It might be surprising, but secretly, some of the best dresses from summer come from this underrated brand. In fact, it's become a fan favorite among the fashion set and even our very own editors. Don't believe me? Ahead, I've curated a selection of the 25 best Free People dresses for summer along with examples of how the fashion crowd is styling them. These Free People frocks will likely become one of your favorite parts of summer.

A woman wearing one of the best Free People summer dresses.

(Image credit: @rebeccaferrazwyatt; PICTURED: Free-est Liza Drop-Waist Midi ($78))

A woman wearing one of the best Free People summer dresses.

(Image credit: @taffymsipa; PICTURED: Free-est Liza Drop-Waist Midi Dress ($78))

A woman wearing one of the best Free People summer dresses.

(Image credit: @balencianas; PICTURED: Free-est Onda Drop-Waist Tube Midi Dress ($78))

A woman wearing one of the best summer dresses from Free People.

(Image credit: @georgia_3.0; PICTURED: Free-est Onda Drop-Waist Tube Midi Dress ($78))

A woman wearing one of the best summer dresses from Free People.

(Image credit: @emmanuellek_; PICTURED: Free-est Liza Drop-Waist Midi Dress ($78))
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Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Freelance Fashion Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. What began as a pastime (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a lifelong passion for unveiling the connection between fashion and culture on the internet and in real life. Over the last decade, she's melded her extensive edit and social background to various on-staff positions at Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. More recently, she’s become a freelance contributor to other publications including Vogue, Editorialist, and The Cut. Off the clock, you can find her clutching her cell phone as she's constantly scrolling through TikTok and The RealReal, in search of the next cool thing.