Summer is exciting for a million reasons. There’s warm weather, exciting travel plans, and the near overnight transition from jeans to dresses. As things heat up, there’s no better feeling than slipping into a flirty mini or a tiered maxi. It’s a warm-weather look that’s as breezy as it is stylish. With temperatures on the rise and the season declaring its official start, our editors have spent hours in search of the season’s best budget-friendly dresses.
Despite the many challenges associated with warm-weather dressing, we have this season to thank for an endless supply of easy, lightweight styles—the summer dress included. Universally flattering and versatile from day to night, a great dress is a one-and-done look that blends comfort with style in one fell swoop. The best part? If you know where to look—or in this case, if you ask us—you can score some pretty chic picks without the hefty price tag. From playful prints to classic cuts, I don’t know what’s hotter: the season’s forecast or summer’s new arrivals.
Whether you’re in the market for a new stand-out piece or a few updated go-to’s, these are the under-$100 dresses worth adding to your summer rotation.
Summer Mini Dresses
We know her, we love her: The classic mini dress is about as summery as it gets. This season, opt for a flowy silhouette, a comfortable material, or a seasonal pattern. Dress it up with wedges and a fun lil’ bag, or down with flip-flops and a tote.
Midi Dresses
Midis are like the shape-shifters of the summer dress world. They work for any summer event you can imagine: a baby shower, a casual wedding, a day in the office, or just a Saturday of bopping around. With ballet flats, they become corporate baddie. With sneakers, city-dweller chic.
Summer Maxi Dresses
I’ve never met a summer maxi dress I didn’t like. They’re the ultimate cool-girl look that make it seem like you put a whole lot of thought into your outfit (when really, you just threw on the comfiest thing). Pairing a maxi dress with simple leather flip-flops and a chunky beaded necklace is my ultimate summer uniform.
Tinsley Crisp, Former Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer
Tinsley Crisp was formerly the Fashion & Beauty Staff Writer at The Everygirl and specialized in reporting on the season’s latest trends and hottest products. As a New York City-based stylist, she’s committed to injecting joy into the art of getting dressed and delivering attainable yet aspirational content to our readers.
Jessica Welsh, Senior Fashion & Beauty Editor
Jessica oversees and edits all fashion and beauty content on The Everygirl. She also writes in-depth styling stories, trend reports, capsule wardrobes, and more. She was previously the Commerce Editor for The Everymom, where she oversaw all shopping content on the site and social. She has created editorial content for major brands such as Nordstrom, Old Navy, DSW, and Kohl’s.
Products included in graphics linked within article. Feature graphic images credited to: Abercrombie & Fitch, Old Navy, H&M, Quince, and J. Crew.
