Browse links
US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Dresses to wear to the beach, on the boardwalk, on a boat, staring out at the Monterey coastline stoically contemplating the horrible events at trivia night, etc.
Get it from Asos for $32 (available in sizes 0–14).
Promising review: "This is a beautiful beachy dress! I got lots of compliments on it, and it was very comfortable. Only issues were the fact that 1. You cannot wear a bra with this dress. 2. The top part of the dress runs large and unless you have massive boobs you risk a nip-slip situation. So I would recommend ordering a size down." —Lauren
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes XS–XL and three colors).
Get it from Forever 21 for $15 (available in sizes 0X–3X).
Promising review: "I love the print of this dress! It is a true wrap dress so you might want to wear something under it! It such a cute and fun print dress! Perfect for summer! I love this wrap dress." —Kyli @stylinghearts
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 10 colors).
Get it from Boden for $36+ (available in sizes 2–18 and four colors, along with petite and long sizes).
This dress has over 2,000 positive reviews! I've seen the blue one IRL a couple of times and can confirm it's cute.
Promising review: "I am OBSESSED with this dress! I feel like a princess in it and am so happy with the fit, style and quality. This was everything I hoped it would be." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and 19 patterns).
Get it from Free People for $128 (available in sizes XS–XL and five patterns).
Promising review: "The color is very pretty (I got the light blue). The skirt is a poly-blend and not see-through. The top is mostly cotton, and also not see-through. The biggest surprise (and something I wasn't sure about when I clicked buy) was that I could wear a regular bra with it. Yay! For those who are unsure due to the pictures, the dress is attached to the skirt in the front half, but is a bit open in the back. It's not super-revealing and I liked the way it looked. You could easily dress it down with flip flops or flats, or dress it up with accessories and heels. I wore it out on a date night, and felt fantastic. It's also comfortable to eat in, because the dress flares around the waist. I loved it so much I bought another one in coral red!" —S.A.
Get it from Amazon for $11.35+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 18 styles).
Get it from Old Navy for $44.99 (available in sizes XS–XXL, plus petite and tall sizes).
Promising review: "I wore this dress during vacation on the Finger Lakes on a super hot day and it was very comfortable. I love the fun straps, and the print is perfect for summer. Great dress to wear on a casual day or dress up with heels and accessories. I can't wait to wear it again with a denim jacket and Converse sneakers. I sized up for additional length and it worked out perfectly!" —Leslie Brinkley
Get it from Amazon for $18.69+ (available in sizes XS–XL and three patterns).
All clothing from this brand comes from a sustainable factory in LA.
Get it from Reformation for $218 (available in sizes 0–12 and six patterns including a fruit pattern!!!!).
Get it from Boohoo for $20 (available in sizes 12–20).
Promising review: "This dress is really comfortable and made with a super stretchy material, which is great. It's exactly what I was looking for as part of my Halloween costume this year! It's so cute I might have to wear it again. :-)" —Kim Taylor
Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 43 colors).
Promising review: "I cannot say enough about how awesome this dress is! It fit absolutely perfectly! I wore this to my stepson's wedding and got sooo many compliments. I didn't have to do any alterations. The size fit true to how it was stated. I will gladly order different versions of this dress. Quality is fabulous. No wrinkles. Beautiful dress! Great purchase!!" —Saki7777
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes XS–XXL and 15 patterns).
Promising review: "Obsessed. I ordered this as a cover-up but I realized after I got it that it isn’t too see-through and I’d be able to wear it as a dress. It’s so comfortable and cute, and easy to just throw on. Definitely a good purchase and a great price. Just ordered a white one as well!" —Ciara Christie
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in sizes XS–XL and 28 colors).
Get it from Old Navy for $42 (available in sizes 1X–4X and three patterns).
Promising review: "THIS DRESS IS PERFECT! Super beautiful and absolutely stunning on almost every body type! I ordered a small and it fits perfectly!! You could literally wear this dress anywhere! The beach, a nice summer night, school/work, a wedding, a day out with the girls, anything! I’m wearing this to the lights festival next month and I’ve honestly never been more excited to wear a dress (I am not a dress person AT ALL so this is really saying something). The quality for the price is outstanding!!! I’m probably going to try to find excuses to wear this everywhere. Absolutely in love with this!!" —bobby queener
Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (available in sizes S–XXL and three colors).
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and 10 colors).
Promising review: "I am sooo surprised by this dress. Purchased as a last minute dress for a wedding this weekend. It’s super elegant and summery. Fits like a glove. Heads up, zipper in back and no stretch. Now I want to order more in other patterns." —Erin Thompson
Get it from Amazon for $37.99+ (available in sizes XS–3XL and 22 patterns/colors).
Get it from Boohoo for $18 (available in tall sizes 4–12).
Promising review: "This was really beautiful and flowy for the summer. It came pretty wrinkled in the package, which tells me that this is a material that will need ironing depending how it’s dried. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, it’s just a nice to know for care. Otherwise, it’s super pretty and just right for the weather!" —Crystal N
Get it from Amazon for $13.98+ (available in sizes 14–22 and seven patterns).
Promising review: "My dress came today and I love it!! The shorts ride a little but it's still comfortable because they're covered by the rest of the dress." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in sizes S–3XL and nine patterns).
Promising review: "This dress is adorable. It's lightweight and a loose fitting style; it's great for summer. Love the color and sleeves. I added my own belt to bring in some more color." —Kristin-Marie
Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 14 styles).
Promising review: "This is a very sexy and playful dress. Made of lightweight and flowing material, it is a must-have for your summer wardrobe. I love the multiple adjustment strings. My fiancé loves how comfortable and cool this dress is. It is long enough to not wear anything underneath, but short enough to still be cool, playful, and flirty. With the right accessories and heels or sandals, you will definitely turn heads everywhere that you go." —Of Brian Photography
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and 12 colors).
Get it from ModCloth for $39.99 (available in sizes XXS–4X and six other patterns for different prices).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.