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.
1. A cherry-picked frock in case you need yet another '90s-inspired thing in your closet. Yes, yes you do need it. Trust me, I bought it last summer and have worn it at least a dozen times since.
2. A bodycon midi dress that'll look oh-so-glamorous at that fancy dinner you're going to...or just drinks at a fancy place before you grab a cheap slice of pizza (or your destination's equivalent of a cheap slice).
Promising review: "I am in love with this dress! It is so soft and stretchy but looks sexy and chic even though it’s only $17. It wasn’t see through at all. It hit me at the perfect midi length and it was great being able to slightly adjust the straps. I wore it with nude heels for a fancy dinner out and got so many compliments, but it would also be great layered with tights and boots and a sweater for fall/winter. I 100% recommend this dress! Best Amazon purchase ever! I can’t wait to wear it again." —Sarah L.
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in sizes S–XL and 10 colors).
3. A printed slip dress with an alluring slit you'll have to hide from yourself occasionally, lest you wear it every day you have plans! (But there are worse things.)
FYI, if you have Amazon Prime Wardrobe you can give this a spin before you buy it!
Promising review: "Bought this dress for a trip to Mexico, wanted something light yet longer. The color and pattern are unique, it fits well and isn’t too revealing, and looks more expensive than it is. I’m not a girly dress person and this looked great with my Moto jacket after my trip for work. XL fit well, sized to fit my chest (36DD)." —KimNV
Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and in 11 prints).
4. A boho dress that'll be a breezy, photogenic option if you prefer to keep your arms covered but let out those stems for some heat regulation.
5. A bodycon T-shirt dress with a tulip hem for wearing with sneakers for sightseeing in hot weather or with a blazer or moto jacket with heels for drinks at night. (Chunky heels of course. Because walking and cobblestone streets.)
Promising review: "This dress is phenomenal. Not see-through at all (I did buy black, though), and it is lined. It’s also extremely comfortable. I plan to dress it both up and down either for work or casual outings. I’ll admit I was skeptical, but I definitely won’t be returning this dress. And as many have stated it looks much more expensive than what it goes for." —KG
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and 22 colors and prints).
6. A satin spaghetti strap dress you might want to buy in every color because it's that fancy *and* comfy to wear...which is really all you could ask for in a going-out ensemble.
Promising review: "I recommend 100%. I loved the fit and and was super comfortable. Got a lot of compliments about it and it was accurate on the size. Perfect!" —Cynthia Arizpe
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in sizes XL–4X and eight colors).
7. A gingham puff-sleeve dress you'll be sad you didn't own until after clicking *add to cart* after reading this story. The material makes it super forgiving to shove in your suitcase and still look (and feel) easy and breezy while living your best vacation life. Last summer I wore it all over Rome and Venice where I went in tons of cathedrals that have modest dress codes.
FYI, if you have Amazon Prime Wardrobe you can give this a spin before you buy it!
'Tis true. I also brought this dress along on vacation and it even passed The Vatican dress code! I knew I had to have it after my colleague Emma Lord bought and reviewed it (#4 here). My colleague Elena Garcia also owns it in blue (#9 here). This super lightweight nap dress is unlined, but NOT see-through...even in daylight. It was so comfy for gallivanting around and long enough for me to sit on a random step on a bridge to take a rest and give my old dogs a rest. It made for a dramatic, but not TOO dramatic, look in photos I'll cherish forever. And it kept me cool in what turned out to be some hotter weather than what I anticipated. If you're looking for a way to wear something nightgown-adjacent in public but still look quite put-together, this dress is for you.
Get it from Amazon for $30.99 (available in sizes S–XL and nine colors).
8. A halter-neck sundress in a maxi silhouette and a variety of patterns to help elevate your grand entrance — even if it's just popping in the store to buy some TP.
9. A tie-front dress that'll easily adjust for your perfect breezy fit. Prepare for the onslaught of compliments.
10. A tiger-print dress passersby will assume you bought on a luxurious, tropical vacation. Go ahead. Let 'em assume. But then if they ask, be super helpful and point them to this Etsy shop chock full of dresses in glorious prints.
Babita Tex is a New York-based clothing store.
Get it from Babita Tex on Etsy for $48 (available in sizes S–XL).
11. A striped cap sleeve midi – it might be the next best (and comfiest) thing to wearing a nightgown out and about.
12. A ruffle dress that'll mysteriously turn up in all your summer pics...and then fall pics.
13. A cutout mini dress I'm sure will feature prominently in any pics you take beside a body of water this season. OK OK, the landlubbing ones too.
14. A button-front sundress with pockets for snacks and other important stuff like your keys.
15. A spaghetti strap bodycon that'll just look really hot and expensive, OK? Everyone could use a few things that fall into those categories.
16. A off-shoulder midi dress with fancy pleats throughout for a lewk that screams "I spent hundreds on this!" when in reality you're squirreling away that extra cash for a weekend trip.
17. A mesh mini with lots of cutouts that'll have people queuing up the Austin Powers theme song when you enter the room.
18. A tank dress perfect for when you have to wear clothes, but you don't want a ton of fabric touching your body. BTW, it has pockets!
19. An off-shoulder mini with an adorable scallop hem for all sorts of photo ops. Picking out the perfect watermelon at the grocery store? Photo op. Christening a yacht? Photo op.
20. A lantern sleeve mini I'm sure Belle would wear for a summertime jaunt to the library in 2022.
21. A ruffly sleeve looker for a fresh, colorful addition to your outfit rotation. We could all use one of those this season.
22. A waffle-knit dress (with pockets!) as a super cozy option.
23. A floral nap dress at a price that'll have you feel like you're dreaming.
Get it from Babita Tex on Etsy for $45+ (available in sizes S–XL and in short or long lengths).
24. A T-shirt dress with a ruched tulip hemline that'll look uh-mazing on everyone. (It's also a fave amongst pregnant folks!)
25. A billowy maxi dress for those super sweaty days when you wanna keep it ankle length but not feel like you're being shrink-wrapped. Here ya go!
26. A short-sleeve skater dress that'll work for basically any warm-weather activity. Ready that picnic basket!
27. A tie-strap beaut in an ankle-grazing length for those moments when you've GOTTA stoop down and play with a puppy. This has you covered.
28. A gingham frock with tiers made for twirling and optimal air flow...all the better for shimmying.
29. A tassel-accented dress as a super stylish spin on a T-shirt dress silhouette.
30. A polka dot dress with pretty ruffled sleeves AND pockets in an effortless silhouette that can make it look like you indeed put in quite a bit of effort. Talk about a triple threat.
31. A cottagecore option if you just want to feel like you're floating through life like someone's fairy godmother.
32. A tie-dye maxi for a stylish ensemble that'll be *so* comfy, it'll feel like you're breaking a law. Is this what the Judas Priest song is about?
33. A cute mini floral dress that'll help compensate for your inability to keep a living plant live.
34. A tie-waist T-shirt dress for a simple style with a little somethin-somethin extra.
35. A colorful tiered frock in case you're like me and couldn't even describe a neutral if you had to.
36. A bodycon maxi that'll look nearly as gorgeous as any sunset you'll see on vacation.
37. A flared vintage-inspired dress you'll wanna buy after your next Hairspray rewatch...which is always a great idea.
38. Or a high-low number if you're a little more go-with-the-flow when it comes to structure.
39. A V-neck dress that'll make getting ready for those weekend plans drastically easier. Now you just have to figure out shoes! (Psst, you can basically wear it with anything.)
40. A casual striped option with some ruffled sleeves to make it feel a bit special but not super dressy. We're keeping it casual rn.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.