9 Pretty Summer Dresses That Are All Under $100
This is all we’re wearing in the heat.
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by The Candidly Team
Never are we as “hopeful” about an item of clothing as when we shop for a dress.
A good dress promises to be an easy “solution” - a solitary item that we throw on without having to think about, and poof, we look excellent.
But oh how dresses can let us down. Finding one we love (or even like) usually takes stumbling through a void of ill-fitting skirts, weird, clingy fabrics, unreachable zippers, and sad, squished boobs. It can get…not fun.
So when we set out to find not 1 but 9 summer dresses that look, fit, and feel gorgeous on our actual non-6ft-size-2 bodies, but don’t cost hundreds of dollars, sure, we were hopeful. But we were also realistic. And that made us picky, like really, reeeeeaally picky.
And my friends, we think it paid off.
Somewhere on this list is a dress for you. The Dress. The one you’ll be reaching for with confidence any warm day of the year. And, oh yeah, it will cost you less than $100. We won’t keep you waiting. Into the void you go.
1. The Perfect-Fitting Wrap Dress
Quince Tencel Jersey Midi Wrap Dress*
The true beauty of a wrap dress is you get all the clean-lined, chicness of a more fitted midi but with that extra sweep of fabric across your midsection that skims and flatters and doesn’t leave us feeling like every “bumpy bit” we have is on full display. This dress has the added benefit of being buttery soft, so our skin thinks loungewear, while our brain thinks out-on-the-town. Plus, the price gives us permission to get it in more than one color!
Price: $60
2. The Washable Silk Slip Dress
Quince 100% Washable Silk Slip Dress*
We’ve been searching for a silk slip dress á la Carrie saying goodbye to Big outside The Plaza since, well, we saw the episode where Carrie said goodbye to Big outside The Plaza. And we finally found one. And it’s washable silk.
Price: $90
3. The Romantic Dress That Fits Like a Dreams
ASTR The Label Temperance Gingham Check Maxi Dress*
Nothing feels better in warm weather than elastic in the back and a flowy skirt in the bottom. The fit on this dress is phenom.
Price: $79
4. The Black Tie Wedding Guest Dress
AQUA Solid Pleated Maxi Dress*
Finding a LBD this flattering for under $100 left our jaws on the floor. We rushhhhed to tell you about it. We suspect it will sell out quickly. Sizes up to XXL.
Price: $80
5. The Vacation Dress
J.Crew Reverie Dress in Colorblock Cotton Poplin*
Smocking is wildly flattering on our waists, and the full cotton poplin skirt gives us a lovely hourglass.
Price: $72.50
6. The Airy Dress We Throw On Over A Swimsuit
You know that “vacation feeling” you have after spending hours at the pool when you decide to head to lunch and want something nice and airy to slip on (and to slip out of your wet swimsuit under)? This is that glorious dress. And it’s even more glorious with THIS perfect poolside sandal.
Price: $98
7. The Ideal Warm-Weather Work Dress
Quince 100% European Linen Button Front Dress*
We still get stupid about big buttons (maybe it’s a Corduroy generation thing?), but it’s actually the breathable linen and tie-waist that make us wild about this dress. It’s a staple we can wear to work from May to September, but also to brunch or dinner, a book club or the beach. And if you’re someone who looks good in earth tones, the color selection will make you weak.
Price: $64
8. The Slinky Dress That Looks Gorgeous On Curves
The Gabbie Strapless Ruched Tube Dress by Celandine*
Ruching is the surest way to make us feel comfortable with our curviest bits in more fitted styles. This dress is gorgeous on those curves and comes in every color you could want.
Price: $98
9. The Pretty Woman Dress
Gap Seamed Drop-Waist Maxi Dress*
You know the one. But dare we say, this silhouette is even more flattering than the original?
Price: $94
BONUS: The Most Prized Maxi Dress In Our Closet
The moment we swooped our head into this dress, pulled its stretchy top down past our stomach, and let its billowy skirt slip to our ankles, we knew it was something special. Then we looked in the mirror, and our suspicions were confirmed. This is unequivocally the most flattering maxi dress we’ve ever put on our bodies. The top is soft and fitted, while the skirt is full and lovely. The sizing goes up to XXXL.
And fine, we admit it. This dress is more than $100…by $9. Which isn’t nothing. But we assure you, it’s the best $9 you’ll spend this season.
Price: $109
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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