As the season heats up, there’s no need to sacrifice your style to stay cool and comfortable, especially if you have a couple of the best summer dresses on hand. The one-and-done frocks make it easy to instantly look well put together with minimal effort.
As a busy shopping editor whose days usually include office meetings in the morning, market appointments all over New York City in the afternoon, and dinner with friends in the evening, I rely on the easy elegance of a summer dress to get me through all of the festivities on my calendar. On weekdays, you can often catch me in a polished shirtdress that offers the versatility I need for jam-packed days. The Frankie Shop and Tove make some of my favorite summer work dresses to keep in rotation.
When my out-of-office alerts are on, my sartorial ethos remains the same: I still opt for fuss-free dresses that make packing a no-brainer, but I amplify the fun with exciting details—like the head-turning thrill of crafty crochet knits by Diotima and the shorter hemlines found on micro minis by Mirror Palais.
If you’re thinking of ways to elevate your dress game this summer, below you’ll find all of the best options to shop right now. Whether you have a wedding you’re attending in the near future or simply want to turn the sidewalk into a runway on the hot weekends ahead, these are the best summer dresses to shop.