12 Pretty Summer Dresses That Are All Under $100
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 12 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 Gap Dress That Looks Designer
Gap Tie-Front Tiered Maxi Dress
Gap is good again, guys. Like Reality Bites era good. And it’s in no small part due to designer Zac Posen taking over as Creative Director. But enough about Gap. Let’s talk about this dress. It has jusssst the right little peekaboo at the center and smocking at the back to make it fitted but breathable. You can dress it up or down, and while it comes in black, we’re partial to this rich olive that makes it look 3X more expensive.
Price: $70
2. 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
3. The Effortless Smocked Dress
It’s hard to describe the comfort of this dress. The smocked top. The flowy bottom. This dress is a masterclass in creating a shape that looks good on every shape of human. Plus, it’s so easy and breathable, it’s a struggle not to throw it on every sweltering day. Thankfully, you can machine wash on cold for easy, repeat wearing.
Price: $99
4. The Romantic Dress That Fits Like a Dreams
ASTR The Label Martina Floral Ruched Midi Dress
Nothing feels better in warm weather than soft, wispy fabrics, flattering cuts, and pretty prints. Such is the case with this perfect dress. Wear it to afternoon weddings and sunset dinners. The fit is phenom.
Price: $73
5. The How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days Dress
Bardot Capri Diamonte Slip Dress
We have been searching for a version of this dress since Kate Hudson first swooshed it across our screens 20+ years ago. So finding it for under $100 pretty much left our jaws on the floor. We rushhhhed to tell you about it. We suspect it will sell out quickly, so if you don’t see it in your size, you can find it HERE for just a hair over $100.
Price: $79
6. The Chic Sailor Dress
AQUA Stripe Mixed Media Dress - Exclusive
Sooooo quiet luxury, it’s practically whispering take me to the coast of France.
Price: $69
7. The Favorite Cover Up
J.Crew Airy Gauze Babydoll Dress
Our walk to the pool has never looked chicer, especially when paired with THIS capacious tote.
Price: $98
8. 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
9. 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: $50
10. The Easiest Weekend Dress
Quince 100% Organic Cotton Gauze Smocked Sleeveless Maxi Dress
A smocked bodice is a dream for curvy gals. But also, in truth, for everyone. This dress is supportive and stretchy right where it needs to be and loose and lovely everywhere else.
Price: $60
11. 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
12. The Light Little Dress We Want To Wear Every Single Day
Gap Cotton Gauze Embroidered Swing Dress
There’s nothing that compares to the comfort of a loose, gauzy dress on a sweltering day. And when you choose a shorter one, you can still look cute and sleek while feeling like you have all the room in the world to eat all the bread in the basket.
Price: $47
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. It’s one of those dresses that feels a little magical when you wear it, and you can wear it to pretty much anything. We love it in black, but it also comes in a summery white HERE.
And fine, we admit it. This dress is more than $100…by $18. Which isn’t nothing. But we assure you, it’s the best $18 you’ll spend this season.
Price: $118
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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