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Summer is prime vacation time, whether you find yourself jetting off to another continent to explore one of the world’s most beautiful cities or taking a road trip a little closer to home. Once you’ve finalized your mid-year travel plans, it’s time to start thinking about what to pack—which is where the best vacation dresses come into play.
When shopping for vacation dresses, you’ll want to consider options that can be worn more than once: After all, space in your suitcase is limited—and, chances are, you’ll want to save a little extra room for souvenirs you’ll collect throughout your travels—so it’s important to pack thoughtfully, ensuring that the clothing you’re bringing along is versatile enough to wear multiple times across different occasions, be it at the beach or the bar. Similarly, you’ll want to look for vacation dresses made with lightweight materials that are both wrinkle-resistant and ideally easy to care for (like linen) so you don’t have to waste precious time ironing or racing to find a dry cleaner should you accidentally spill. But we also understand that sometimes you want to wear something special for that long-awaited trip abroad, so we've pulled plenty of chic, elevated options you'll feel great in whether you're sipping an Aperol spritz in Positano or dining in front of the Eiffel Towel in Paris.
Overall, the best vacation dresses will have you looking and feeling polished and put together in essentially no time: All you need to do is throw them on, et voila. Even better? Our selection is available across a wide range of materials, sizes, colors, patterns, lengths, and price points, which means there's a fantastic frock out there to suit every type of traveler. Read on for 30+ of our favorites to wear this summer and beyond.
Discover the best vacation dresses by style:
The mini dress
Nothing screams summer quite like a classic mini dress, which makes them a must-have for your next warm-weather getaway. Whether you prefer solids or patterns, ruffles or pleats, or neutral or bright colors, these dresses—from beloved brands like Banana Republic, Free People, Farm Rio, and more—are both functional and fashionable. Plus, there’s a mini dress out there for (pretty much) every occasion, be it hitting the beach in style, wandering around a new city on foot, or enjoying a fun-filled night on the town.
The midi dress
Midi dresses are one of the few closet staples that never really go out of style. These effortlessly cool looks—which, you guessed it, fall somewhere between a mini and a maxi dress in length—are incredibly versatile. Dress them down with sneakers, flats, or your choice of comfy walking shoes, or, for a more formal look, pair your midi dress with heels, chunky jewels, and a sparkly clutch. If the weather’s cooler, simply layer your favorite jacket or oversized button-down over the dress; alternatively, wrap a scarf or shawl around your shoulders to keep warm on balmy summer evenings.
The maxi dress
Breezy and breathable, the best maxi dresses will keep you cool all summer long, making them well worth a coveted spot in your suitcase. We're eyeing these colorful pink and blue options from Meshki, which deliver equal parts comfort and style. These statement dresses, with a fun halter neckline and textured, floral details, are perfect for a summer trip to the Amalfi Coast. For something slightly less fitted, opt for a bright, boho-style maxi from Farm Rio or Free People—they create a beachy look and can be worn with your go-to flat sandal. And if you're headed out during the day, Buck Mason's or Amazon Essentials's under-$30 ribbed dresses are sleek, comfortable, and can be worn with a plain white sneaker.
The active dress
When I'm grabbing breakfast at a hotel or running out for coffee in town, I often want to throw on something comfortable and casual, yet you still look put together. Enter the exercise dress: I pack one of these on every trip—and it always ends up being one of my worn-most suitcase staples. We're fans of the viral exercise dress from Outdoor Voices and anything from Lululemon's Align collection. But the real star here is Halara's stretchy $40 Easy Peezy dress: it features an open back waistband, so there's no undressing required when it's time for a bathroom break. If you love the feel and flexibility of an activewear dress but want the look of a more traditional style, Halara's Breezeful dress can be dressed up or down and works for just about any occasion.
The jumpsuit & romper
While jumpsuits and rompers aren’t technically dresses, we’d argue that they’re just as cute and comfortable—especially if you consider ones with elastic waistbands or roomy wide-leg silhouettes for extra breathing room. We especially love those made with durable albeit ultra-soft materials like cotton gauze. Some styles come with handy features like built-in pockets to keep your essentials within reach, and others pull double duty as beach cover-ups. Looking for something geared toward a nice dinner or drinks? We've got options for that, too.
