I Combed Through Hundreds of Styles—These Are the 12 Best Summer Dresses on Sale for Prime Day

While this striped maxi dress promises to be romantic and billowy in the breeze, I really love the spaghetti straps and slightly open back. These two details help fulfill my goal of wearing as little as possible while still being socially acceptable in the unforgiving heat. The dress is available in nine iterations, including gingham and various colored stripes, and is machine washable. A must if you ask me, since in the summer I never re-wear my clothes. The dry-cleaning bill would be through the roof.

As I reported earlier this year, this summer is the summer of the French shirt dress. A little less buttoned up, but so much cooler. This one comes in 20+ colors (like blush pink, lilac and electric green) and also doubles as a beach cover-up.

Are you a wedding guest this summer? Is the dress code cocktail or black tie? Do you want to spend less than $50? If the answer to all three of those questions is yes, then scurry over to add this satin cowl-neck maxi number to your cart. It’s a ‘90s dream with a daring open back and slip silhouette, available in many colors from bold prints to earthy neutrals.

Any time I can find a 100 percent natural fabric under $100, I consider it a score. Amazon Essentials made it even sweeter with this under-$50 find. The puffy sleeves are Anne Shirley-worthy, and I love the spin on the plain cotton dress. This style employs a silk weave (hence the sateen reference), giving it a similar texture to the luxury fabric—without the luxury prices.

If I’m not in a dress or skirt come summertime, there’s a high chance I’m wearing a romper. Any piece of clothing that functions as a whole outfit is always a go-to. I hate having to think about how to coordinate separates; I love the convenience of not having to think. This smocked romper ticks all my boxes, including a stretchy, smocked bodice, flattering square neckline and functional pockets. And it comes in 17 colors? Sign me up.

Another wedding guest dress for your consideration—this PrettyGarden one-shoulder stunner. This is a combo of the best of both worlds: Stretchy fabric, but a formal cut. The one-shoulder design and thigh-high slit make the dress feel fun and daring, but you’ll still be able to tear up the dance floor. Which, naturally, is the only thing you should be doing, cake and champagne in hand.

I’m originally from Northern California, where beach days are routinely chilly, even in summer. The evening air is usually just cool enough to make me want a jacket, not to mention a cozy swimsuit cover-up when I emerge, sopping wet, from the ocean. Anrabess offers a solution in its crocheted midi cover-up, which has a sturdy, machine-washable knit that also stays breezy. Choose from 22 colors, including earth tones, neon and stripes.

Don’t get me wrong, I love a black-tie moment. My collection of cocktail dresses and formal gowns grows with every passing year, to my closet’s chagrin. But my happy place isn’t actually spending a night in flouncy, itchy, restricting tulle. It’s wearing super-soft, stretchy fabrics that move with my body. This Zesica boho maxi is the answer, with its elastic waist and thigh-high slit. It comes in tons of wedding guest-appropriate colors, plus white if you’re the bride looking for a bridal shower/post-wedding brunch look. 

In my years as a fashion writer, I’ve come to learn that one easy way to make an outfit feel more formal and more expensive is to find pieces that are sculptural. Many fashion houses, from Dior to Chanel, Schiaparelli and Thom Browne, often send sculptural designs down the runway. For me, this association instantly elevates an outfit, even if you spent less than $100. That’s why I love this Lioness Martini mini dress. Sure, your color options are black or white, but the shapely sleeves and belt draw the eye.

My friend, fashion stylist Belle Bakst, recently wrote about the concept of bringing back the hostess/house dress. I must agree. Bakst writes that she has two requirements for a house dress: That it be comfortable, and that it makes you feel pretty. I think this T-shirt dress satisfies both accounts. There are over 20 color options, the fabric is stretchy and it has a cute little self-tie belt. Nap, brunch, grocery shop, do whatever—it’s giving Hill House’s viral Nap Dress, with a few less frills and a much smaller price tag.

If Taylor Swift has anything to say about it, corset boho dresses will be popular this summer. All the period dramas and lingerie-forward looks only make the case stronger. (Off Campus, looking at you.) This design nods to Swift’s Dôen number she recently donned on a night out, with a slightly more pronounced corset that feels Bridgerton without being overwrought.

The other silhouette the It Girls will be wearing this season? The babydoll dress. Already Olivia Rodrigo has made this a motif for her new album, you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love, while Laufey went all-in on the Go-Go girl aesthetic for her “Madwoman” music video. This style features eyelet, an empire waist and a mini skirt ideal for soaring temperatures.