Cute Summer Dresses
As far as my closet goes, airy summer dresses are some of my most-worn pieces. With one piece, you can get a great casual outfit, or even one that can work as smart casual dress. Here, I’m sharing the best summer dresses for women under $200. I handpicked these pieces from my favorite stores, including Bloomingdale’s, J.Crew, Madewell, Nordstrom, and more. I’ve chosen a variety of styles to pick from, ranging from maxi summer dresses to mini options, and summer dresses with sleeves to sleeveless styles.
The Best Summer Dresses for Women
Wondering where to buy cute summer dresses this season? You’ve come to the right place. I’ve split my picks up into two color families: the first featuring cooler tones (primarily blue and white) with the second offering more red and pink-based styles.
Blue & White Casual Summer Dresses
Overall, I’ve noticed a lot of white and blue motifs, whether that is with stripes, florals, or other patterns. Stripes are pretty classic, of course, but I am also loving the smaller patterns that are popping up. For example, the Short & Sweet Floral Mini Dress in the bottom row has a super subtle pattern without being plain.
Top Row: Ruffle Mock Neck Cap Sleeve Dress | Stripe Linen & Cotton Shift Dress | Floral Print Belted Dress | Let It Happen Mini Dress
Bottom Row: Sophia Smocked Midi Dress | Easy Mini Dress | Short & Sweet Floral Mini Dress | Floral Print Ruched Dress
Similarly, I like the bolder, less symmetrical pattern of the Floral Print Belted Dress in the top row. That particular dress is an easy option to throw on and wear from day-to-night. The same could be said for the Floral Print Ruched Dress in the bottom right.
Red & Pink-Based Sundresses
While pinks are pretty common favorites for spring and summer, I was pleasantly surprised with the number of warm earth tones available. Specifically, rust color dresses are quite popular this season, especially when it comes to resort casual attire style dresses. I find this color family works better with my skin tone than a traditional bright pink. However, I am still drawn to the J.Crew jersey dress in pink I featured here.
Top Row: Cotton Summer Swing Dress | Tiered Broken-In Jersey Dress | Scrunchie Strap Maxi Dress | Freddy Tie Mini Dress
Bottom Row: Tiered Mini Dress | Tiered Short Sleeve Dress | Cotton Voile Button-Down Dress | Blakely Floral Mini-Dress
Speaking of J.Crew, their Cotton Voile Button-Down Dress is one of my favorite casual summer dresses in years. I’ve bought this style in navy and in a floral pattern, which I wore to the Miami F1 Grand Prix. The style is technically a beach cover up, but I wear them out and about like any other dress!
Which of these cute summer dresses is your favorite?
Do you gravitate towards a specific color or style?
*This post was originally published on June 21, 2019. It was most recently updated on June 14, 2022.
