I'm a Fashion Editor, and I Think You Should Bookmark These 99 Summer Dresses

Consider this a friendly PSA from a fashion editor: It's time to wear your dresses. While dresses are perfectly acceptable any time of the year, they're made for the summer. Coats and layers can hinder the full potential of a dress—how can one marvel at the small details when it's covered up? We rest our case. If that didn't convince you to take advantage of dress season, let the list below serve as an incentive. These 99 beautiful options will make you want to throw a dress on and beeline to the nearest aperitivo. 

This season has witnessed several exciting dress trends and silhouettes in the designer sphere, from sophisticated drop-waist shapes to dreamy ruffles that seem to sway with the wind. All that to say, the dresses on the market right now are a smorgasbord—there's an option for every kind of taste or aesthetic. If you had a hard time rounding them up for yourself, consider this your shortcut to embracing the season of dresses to its fullest. Whether your agenda is something to wear to the office or a breezy crochet number for vacation, it's all here.

Linen

It's linen season just as much as dress season, so a linen dress feels like a summertime double whammy. It's also an option that makes sense when it's 90°F and every move leads to breaking out in a sweet. Highly breathable and creates the illusion of sipping rosé in Provence? I'll take it.

Black 

The classic to end all classics, a black dress will always be relevant (even amid linen mania and the buzz over florals). To jazz things up, aim for dramatic shapes (I'm a fan of A-line skirts at the moment) or throw on a chain belt for an on-trend touch.

Floral

Even the most color-averse can attest to the power of a floral dress in the summer. There's only a limited number of weeks when matching the rows of blooming peonies and lavender is possible—why wear something neutral? But there are indeed levels to pulling off florals—on one end of the spectrum, there are the ditsy prints that look like estate sale relics, and on the other end, abstract florals that blur the lines between fashion and art. Whatever your taste, there's plenty to choose from.

Mini

Designers seem to be in a race for the shortest hemlines these days, and I can't say I'm mad. Going short isn't a requirement, but it sure is fun.

Maxi

If you haven't joined the fray of maxi-length fans, consider yourself late. Longer lengths have been a focal trend on the runways this season, continuing to show up in an array of collections. This sort of dress also translates to weddings or fancy nights out. 

Crochet

Let me make packing simple for anyone preparing for an upcoming vacation: take a lot of crochet. Since wiping off back sweat is hardly anyone's idea of fun, you'll want to lean on open-knit dresses for maximum breathability. But aside from its functionality, crochet has a way of making anyone look expensive.

Special Occasion

Birthdays, bridal showers, engagement parties, vacations! It's a fact that people like to throw events during the summer. It's a miracle we all remember them, let alone plan an outfit for each get-together. A dress is the ultimate shortcut, hence why it's my preferred party look ( a matching set is a close runner-up). The options below can work for just about any event on your social calendar.

Strapless

Strapless dresses are getting a lot of buzz lately. Maybe it's the rise of '90s minimalism or the focus on the retro silhouette of the '50s and '60s. Either way, consider me all aboard. 

Office 

Trekking to the office is daunting, but if you're commuting in a nice dress, the burden of heading into an enclosed space during the day suddenly doesn't seem so bad. Even after a schedule full of meetings and power lunches, these dresses are suitable for post-work drinks and beyond.

Next up: Here They Are: The 8 Major Dress Trends of Fall 2023