My Favorite Classic Summer Dresses
A woman stands on a patterned rug, smiling and taking a mirror selfie. She wears a pink floral dress with short sleeves and tan wedge sandals. The background shows a hallway, white doors, and framed artwork on the wall.- A woman with blonde hair wearing a sleeveless, navy blue, ruffled maxi dress and tan wedge heels stands smiling in front of a mirror, taking a selfie in a well-lit room with light-colored walls and a patterned rug.
- A smiling woman takes a mirror selfie wearing a short, blue-and-white striped dress and tan wedge sandals. She stands on a patterned rug in a hallway with light-colored walls and wood flooring.
As soon as the weather warms up, I start reaching for classic summer dresses that are easy to wear, flattering and feminine. Whether I’m heading to lunch with friends, running errands, or on a dinner date with my husband, I love having a few go-to dresses that are as comfortable as they are pretty. Here are all the details on the timeless dresses I’ve been loving lately.
The Hillsborough Midi Dress
- A woman with blonde hair smiles and takes a mirror selfie in a hallway, wearing a long pink and red floral dress with puffy sleeves and tan open-toed shoes. She stands on a patterned rug in front of a white door.
This Hyacinth House Hillsborough midi dress in pink floral might be one of the happiest dresses I own. I wore it for Easter and know I will wear it a bunch this summer. Apparently, y’all love it as well because it has been a best seller for me for two months in a row! It does run big, so I would recommend sizing down. I love that it comes in three other colors and patterns as well. The bold print is so cheerful, and the sleeve detail adds just the right amount of fun. It’s one of those classic dresses that makes you feel instantly pulled together, even if you’re just throwing it on with neutral wedges. The pink dress is from one of my favorite websites to buy classic, timeless clothing! I wrote another blog post about some of my favorite dresses and tops here!
The Ellie Nap Dress
- A woman stands indoors, smiling and taking a mirror selfie. She is wearing a bright pink, sleeveless, ruffled dress and beige wedge sandals, standing on a patterned rug in front of a white door.
- Woman taking a mirror selfie, smiling, wearing a navy blue, ruffled, sleeveless dress and tan wedge sandals, standing on a patterned rug in a well-lit room with light-colored walls and wooden floors.
I bought my first Ellie nap dress three years ago and I loved it so much I bought another one. My older daughter has one as well and wears it all the time. This is such a fabulous dress because it truly looks great on all different body types. It’s soft, flattering, and somehow feels both dressed-up and relaxed. I think it runs a bit big so I would recommend going down one size. My daughter wears it with sneakers or short booties. I love it with sandals or wedges. The navy color is a great neutral, and I love the ruffle detail at the shoulders.
The Tobie Button Front Dress (in Three Colors!)
- A woman smiles while taking a mirror selfie. She is wearing a short-sleeved, ankle-length, pink and white striped dress with buttons down the front, beige wedge sandals, and jewelry. She stands on a patterned rug.
- A smiling woman takes a mirror selfie wearing a short, blue-and-white striped dress and tan wedge sandals. She stands on a patterned rug in a hallway with light-colored walls and wood flooring.
- A smiling woman stands indoors, taking a mirror selfie. She is wearing a green, short-sleeved, button-down midi dress with pleats and tan loafers. The room has light walls, wooden floors, and a patterned rug.
I couldn’t resist this longer dress in two colors—lavender and white stripe, and a classic solid green. The shorter version of the dress is just as darling as the longer one and come in a bunch of different patterns and colors as well. The crisp cotton and structured silhouette make it feel tailored without being stiff. A friend and I went shopping a few months ago and both ended up coming home with the dress. She has a curvy figure and it looks gorgeous on her. Another good friend who is 5’9 and slender looks great in it as well. I find it fits true to size. Unfortunately the dress is so popular that different colors and patterns frequently sell out. If you “heart” the dress on my LTK, you will be notified when it’s back in stock or goes on sale. I love the way the buttons run all the way down the front and the way the pleats nip in at the waist. It’s polished but still playful—perfect for church, lunch dates, or even casual meetings. Here’s a link to this year’s style of the wedges I’m wearing in the first two pictures. I bought my regular size and find them to be very comfortable.
The Thea Mini Dress
- A woman stands smiling and taking a mirror selfie. She is wearing a pink floral dress and beige sandals, standing on a patterned rug in a bright hallway with light walls and wooden floors.
This mini floral dress is so much fun. I bought it last year and wore it all the time. It was so popular it sold out, so I was excited to see they restocked it for this summer. They even introduced another pretty pattern in this style. The shorter length makes it breezy for hot summer days, and the pink print is just as pretty in person as it looks online. It runs big, so unless you want it extra roomy I would consider going down one size. It’s the kind of dress you’ll want to throw on for everything from a backyard barbecue to a quick Target run.
The Somerset Dress
- A woman with blonde hair smiles and takes a mirror selfie. She is wearing a long white dress with a blue floral pattern and tan sandals, standing on a patterned rug in a well-lit room.
- A smiling woman with blonde hair takes a mirror selfie. She is wearing a black short-sleeve dress, turquoise earrings and necklace, bracelets, and black cowboy boots, standing on a light wood floor in front of a white door.
If you haven’t tried a Somerset dress from Anthropologie yet, let me just say—you’re missing out. I’ve had the blue and white floral dress for 3 years and it still looks good as new. They still make that pattern and have introduced several other pretty patterns and colors over the years. These dresses are some of my go-to favorites for a reason. They’re flattering, easy to wear, and effortlessly stylish. The long blue and white floral version is perfect for church, lunch with friends, or even a summer event. I love the tiered skirt and soft structure—it feels dressy without trying too hard. The black mini version is just as versatile. I dressed it up with turquoise jewelry and boots, but it would be just as cute with sandals or heels. Both have that classic, polished look I’m always drawn to. Both styles fit true to size.
Which Classic Dress is Your Favorite?
These dresses are such a reflection of my style—classic, comfortable, and just the right touch of feminine. If you’re looking for spring and summer wardrobe staples, I hope this roundup gives you some ideas! In case you are looking for some dresses and tops on a budget, here is a link to a post on my favorite Amazon eyelet tops and dresses. Let me know which classic dress is your favorite and if you have others you think I would love!
Grateful for you!
Julie
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