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15 Best Summer Maxi Dresses

15 Best Summer Maxi Dresses

It’s OFFICIALLY Spring! The equinox is behind us, and warm sunny days are ahead. Which is a great excuse to revamp your wardrobe. The rising temperatures means you can finally say goodbye to your fleece lined leggings and throw on a dress again. Maxi dresses (maxi meaning long) have become super trendy in recent years. The versatile cut makes it easy to transition from casual wear to more formal events, and pretty much everything in between! This list of 15 will give you an option for every occasion.

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Free People Santa Maria Maxi Dress

Boho-chic is known as a laid-back look, but there’s no reason your summer festival look can’t bring a little drama! This maxi dress from Free People definitely brings the drama. The tiers of the skirt add volume and give a romantic feel. There’s also crochet inlets all throughout the dress, adding extra charm.  The tie shoulders and flowy skirt are the final touches, pulling together a dress that is both hippie chic and ultra feminine.

LOFT Puff Sleeve Tiered Maxi Dress

Dresses are an underutilized resource. They’re so versatile! Throwing a dress on to run errands is great! You can stay cozy (You don’t even have to put pants on!) but also look put together. It’s a confidence booster! This tiered dress from LOFT is perfect for a casual day out. The puff sleeves and bright colorways bring in some glam, but the a line silhouette and simple button up design of the bodice keep things cool and casual. Pair with some white sneakers and your favorite tote bag and boom! You can run your daily errands and go straight to brunch! Then pick up the kids, and switch into a pair of matching pumps for date night, all in the same dress!

LoveShackFancy Magdaline Dress

This brand is well known for their ultra feminine style. What better place to look for a dress? If you’re trying to fill a void in your vacation wardrobe, or are just desperately missing the summer, their “Magaline” dress is perfect for you! This maxi dress features a milkmaid bodice, made even more flattering by the waist shirring. A thigh high slit, and the small keyhole detail on the neckline add a bit of edge to this ultra-girly dress. The super cute hibiscus print brings in the tropical vibes, making this a perfect dress to pack for an island getaway.

Abercrombie & Fitch Cowl Neck Dress

Spring is kind of magical isn’t it? At least here on the east coast. Seemingly endless months of harsh, cold, grey winter and then POP! Little pink flowers start blooming on the trees, grass sprouts from between the sidewalk cracks. A floaty, chiffon dress like this one from Abercrombie really fits the spirit of the season. The bright colorways are instant dopamine, especially the pink floral print. And the long flowy skirt is perfect for those of us who want to pretend to be fairies but in a mature, grown up kind of way. And they said it couldn’t be done. It is actually still too cold here to wear this alone, good thing it would look super cute paired under a chunky cardigan or your favorite denim jacket.

Nasty Gal Floral Print Halter Neck Maxi Dress

Y2K trends are coming back! Pamela Anderson inspired makeup and hair styles have gone super viral in the past few months. You might be thinking of her iconic look from Barbed Wire, an all black leather outfit that has been re-created a million times. But Pamela also loved bold, bright colors and patterns! You could totally channel Pam in this Nasty Gal dress! The halter neckline is classic Y2K style, not to mention it’s super flattering. The all over floral pattern is a real eye catcher. The maxi skirt length looks amazing with a strappy heel, like the one the model is wearing. You could also go all out 2000’s style with a controversial pair of platform flip flops! This dress will serve you well from the upcoming spring season through the summer months.

For Love And Lemons Maxi Dress

This is a dress for the romantics among us. The whole dress is made from gorgeously flowy chiffon, and there are LOTS of stunning details. Hand tacked rosettes cascade down the chiffon skirt, adding texture and elegance. The skirt is sheer, which is sure to wow your beu on date night. There’s a wrap detail on the bodice which flatters the waist and works perfectly with the textured skirt. My favorite little detail is the shoulder ties with rosettes that match the skirt! They’re the pièce de résistance, the icing on the cake, tying everything together (pun definitely intended). 

White Fox Most Popular Black Maxi Dress

From a super romantic style to sleek minimalism! White Fox is known for their athleisure wear, but don’t skip out on their dresses! Leave your jogging suit at home and hit the town in this slinky bodycon dress. White Fox carries this dress in multiple colors but the black stands out from the rest. The simple, body hugging silhouette is statuesque and striking. Black is a neutral color so it won’t take any attention away from you, but it also gives that bit of edge. 

Free People Real Love Dress

Festival season is approaching fast! Just like anything else, festival fashion trends change. But comfort should be king! At least in my humble opinion. A maxi dress is a perfect choice if you want to be cute AND comfortable, no compromise here! Free People’s “Real Love” dress is the perfect candidate for your festival wardrobe. It’s a low cut tank dress with a flowy skirt, so you’ll definitely stay cool. The embroidery details are adorable, along with the bow on the neckline. They do all the heavy lifting, so you can pair this dress with your favorite sandals and a big, slouchy bag with the essentials you’ll need for a whole day of shows and you’ll still stun!

BooHoo Soft Touch Dress

It has been a few months since Netflix’s ” Wednesday” took over our screens. Between the show itself, the memes it spawned and Tim Buttons costume choices influencing fashion, no one got away. She didn’t get much screen time this season, but Mortica Adams is the QUEEN of maxi dresses. This simple black column dress would do her proud. The high neck and bell sleeves bring that witchy, goth vibe Mortica is so known for.  The back is a slow scoop, so you won’t be completely covered up. You can dance dance dance with your hands hands hands above your head all night in this clingy number!

H&M Lace Tiered Dress

To cap off this list, we have a dress that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of spring. The floral lace pattern has an almost watercolor look, representing the soft rains that make flowers bloom in this transitional season. Maybe that’s reading into it too much. Either way this dress is super cute! The layers of lace and tiered skirt have an ethereal quality. There are also some small bows across the low cut back, just another cute detail that adds to the overall effect. You’ll be floating your way through the season in this absolutely beautiful dress!

Zara Belted ShirtDress

Who doesn’t love a bit of contrast? This Zara shirt dress is the best of both worlds. The button down bodice has a more masculine silhouette, contrasted perfectly by the long flowy skirt! The belted waist will help highlight your feminine figure, and the gold belt buckle adds a touch of glam. That buckle matches with the large gold buttons that go all the way down the dress! A fun detail that lets you control how much leg you want to show. The minty color of the dress also softens that masculine edge a bit, but you could really go either way with the styling!

LuLus Still The One Maxi Dress

 There’s something effortlessly glam about a wrap top. They recently went viral due to the “balletcore” trend, a style based on ballerinas practice outfits. Who could embody effortless glam more than an off duty ballerina? This dress takes that idea to the next level. It’s a wrap dress! You simply slip your through the straps and tie the waist and bam! Look complete. LuLus maxi dress is made from a smooth satin material, that will shimmer beautifully as the long flowing maxi skirt swishes. You’ll fit right in with those ballerinas!

Altar’d State Grace Eyelet Maxi Dress

A good flowy, white dress will get you far. There’s so many different ways to style them! This dress from Altar’d State for example, has cute girly details like the frilly shoulders and eyelet design. You could lean into the femininity, pair it with dainty gold jewelry and a pair of very trendy ballet flats. Or grunge it up with a pair of combat boots! You could layer a chunky cardigan over it,a motorcycle jacket or anything in between. This dress is cutesy, but the underlayer stops at mid thigh, showing a bit of skin through the eyelets lace. That little detail will help you easily transition from day to night. This is a truly versatile piece.

ZARA Satin Effect Slip Dress 

I don’t remember exactly when slip dresses reentered the fashion world.  90’s trends come back often, and they come back strong. Slips were traditionally used as a layer underneath clothes, for modesty but also to smooth everything out, the way we use shapewear now. Rules are made to be broken! Rebellious teens (and celebs following the grunge trend) started wearing them as clothes in the 1990s and we’ve never really stopped. It’s effortless, it’s minimalistic, it’s sexy. This ZARA number has a fluid neckline and an asymmetrical hem, adding a bit of intrigue to the simple style. Wear it with combat boots to stick to those grungy roots, or some chunky block heels for the full 90’s red carpet effect.

OhPolly Milita Dress

She’s a femme fatal! Bodycon dresses are already a go-to for some, but this one has some interesting features that will really turn heads. The neckline is square, with a halter strap and a built in mesh shrug! The almost cap sleeve that shrug creates adds the perfect amount of elegance, elevating this classic sexy bodycon into something truly special. It just looks so expensive, so classy without being dowty. That’s due in part to OhPolly’s premium dual layered mesh, that hugs every curve but isn’t thin like a cheaper nylon would be. At 60 dollars this dress is a total steal! It’s perfect for date night, or maybe brunch with your enemy.

Devin Fernandez