21 Short Summer Dresses For Everyone

All my clients are asking for the best short summer dresses to wear on the daily. An everyday summer dress is a must for anyone spending time in hot weather, especially if that heat includes humidity — eek! But before jumping into these hot-weather frocks, let me clarify the title of this post. Each dress is not for everyone. What I mean by short summer dresses for everyone is that no matter your body type, age, or coloring, you will find at least ONE everyday short summer dress for you on this list.

My Short Summer Dress Standards

In order to make my list of the best short summer dresses, each dress has met these standards. It’s:

1. Flattering for multiple body types
2. Comfortable and/or has stretch
3. Made of sweat-friendly fabric (no silk or chiffon, etc)
4. Versatile — most of these dresses can go from errands to lunch with a friend.

If it’s hot and you’re busy, you need that everyday summer dress to be a true throw-on and go! I don’t want you worrying about sweat, discomfort, or whether you’re presentable if you run into someone you’d like to get a compliment from.

Outerwear To Wear With Your Short Summer Dresses

It’s probably too hot for a jacket, but that darn air conditioning just pumps away indoors like they think we’re polar bears in the wrong city. For this reason, I always carry outerwear on a hot day. Here are my favorite options for outerwear with a short summer dress:

1. Scarf or Shawl: You can shove it in your purse as soon as you exit the icy hell of a building. You can also just hang it around your neck when needed, for an added pop of color to the plainer summer dresses on this list. For tips on how to tie and wear summer shawls, see this post.
2. Denim Jacket: A classic choice. I prefer an oversized one for a chicer look.
3. Short Jacket: Think bomber jacket or windbreaker.
4. Cinched-In Athletic Jacket: This creates shape and can be folded up and put in your handbag easily.

Shoes To Wear With Your Short Summer Dresses

Wear sandals or low sneakers with your short summer dresses. This is an everyday look, so I chose dresses that go with your everyday summer footwear. Here is a list of my favorite sandals and sneakers…

• White Sneakers
• Gold Sandals (as seen in my daily look post)
• Flip Flops 
• Flat Sandals

Best Short Summer Dresses

Below are all the best short summer dresses I have seen this season! I’ll continue to update this list as I come across more fabulous options…

MANGO Faux Wrap Minidress

This is my personal favorite short summer dress this year! It’s fantastically comfortable and flattering — it really covers up belly flaws and can easily go from day to night. You might want to skip this dress if you have wide shoulders, though.

Availability: Available at Nordstrom, Macy’s, and MANGO.

Sizing: 2-10. Runs a little large in the top, but a little small in the waist. The 4 is tight on my waist, but the 6 is too big. I went with the 4. You should order two sizes to compare.

Material: 90% lyocell, 10% polyester

Show Me Your Mumu Oxford Tank Dress

This is my second-favorite short summer dress! As I mentioned in my Daily Look post, this dress works best on women who are 5’4 or shorter. Also, skip this dress if you are busty — it’s made for C cups or smaller.

Availability: Available at Show Me Your Mumu.

Sizing: XS-XXL. Runs true to size.

Material: 98% cotton, 2% spandex

Exquise The Tobie Button-Front Pleated Eyelet Mini Shirt Dress

Availability: Available at Anthropologie (in white here).

Sizing: XXS-XL. Runs true to size.

Material: cotton, polyester, elastane

Availability: Available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks fifth Avenue, Shopbop, Veronica Beard.

Sizing: 00-16. Runs true to size.

Material: 55% linen, 44% viscose, 1% elastane

Desigual Fitted Asymmetric Cover-Up Minidress

Availability: Available at Nordstrom, Macy’s, and Desigual.

Sizing: S-XL. Runs true to size.

Material: 100% Lenzing™ EcoVero™ viscose

Availability: Available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Belk, and Ralph Lauren.

Sizing: XXS-XXL. Runs true to size.

Material: 57% cotton, 43% viscose

Bella Dahl Linen Belted Tunic Shirt Dress

Availability: Available at Bella Dahl.

Sizing: XS-L. Runs true to size.

Material: 100% linen

The Upside Peached Lucette Pleated Dress

Availability: Available at Revolve, Mytheresa, Amazon, and The Upside.

Sizing: XXS-XL. Runs true to size.

Material: self: 72% recycled polyamide, 28% elastane; lining: 92% polyamide, 8% elastane

Faithful the Brand Marinia Mini Dress

This is a wonderfully structured short summer dress that can be thrown on for a complete look with little effort.

Availability: Available at Revolve.

Sizing: XS-XL

Material: self: 100% linen; lining: 100% rayon

MANGO Check Tie Front Long Sleeve Shirtdress

Availability: Available at Nordstrom.

Sizing: 0-6. Runs true to size.

Material: 62% cotton, 38% polyester

STAUD Ellison Mini Dress

Availability: Available at Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s.

Sizing: XS-XL. Runs small.

Material: 59% viscose, 40% nylon, 1% elastane

Oyrosy Elegant Sporty V-neck Sleeveless Contrast Color Pleated Hem Mini Dress

Availability: Available at Oyrosy.

Sizing: S-3XL

Vix Gisa Short Dress

For style inspo, you can see me wearing this short summer dress in my recent Daily Look post.

Availability: Available at Vix.

Sizing: XS-XL. Runs true to size.

Material: 80% viscose, 20% silk

Faithful The Brand Terre Mer Mini Dress

This dress is so fun and cute for the summer, but skip it if you have armpit fat.

Availability: Available at Revolve.

Sizing: XS-XXL

Material: Self 1: 100% cotton; Self 2: 100% rayon

Availability: Available at Belk and Karen Kane.

Sizing: XS-XL and 0X-3X

Material: 90% rayon, 10% spandex

Bella Dahl Linen Belted Tunic Dress

Availability: Available at Bella Dahl.

Sizing: XS-L

Material: 100% linen

Simkhai Cleo Polin Balloon-Sleeve Pleated Mini Dress

Availability: Available at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Sizing: 0-14

Material: 60% cotton, 40% polyester

A.L.C. Aria Poplin Mini Shirtdress

Availability: Available at Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off Fifth.

Sizing: 00-14

Material: 100% cotton

Good American Modern Tank Mini Dress

Availability: Available pre-owned here (6) and here (3).

Sizing: 0-8

Material: 45% cotton, 29% polyester, 15% spandex, 11% recycled cotton

Madewell Margie Linen Blend Dress

Availability: Available pre-owned here (4), here (8), here (20W), here (22W), and here (22W).

Sizing: 0-22W

Material: 55% linen, 45% Lenzing EcoVero viscose

Farm Rio Blue Wonderful Bouquet Mini Dress

A dressier option, I know! But I swear it feels like nothing once it’s on, making it an ideal everyday summer dress. Take a look at how I styled this dress in one of my daily looks.

Availability: Available pre-owned here (S), here (S), and here (L).

Sizing: True to size. Available in XXS-XL

Material: 55% cotton, 45% viscose

Best Short Summer Dresses From Years Past

I originally wrote this post on the best short summer dresses years ago and update it regularly due to its popularity. I’ve left these photos below for nostalgic purposes. Whenever I update older posts, I love to hold on to a collection of images as a bit of a time capsule so we can watch how our style evolves.

Bella Dahl Linen Belted Blazer Dress

You can see how I styled this blazer dress in my daily look post.

Available at Bloomingdale’s.

Sizing: XS-L

Material: 100% linen

Farm Rio Red Summer Foliage Mini Dress

You know I love Farm Rio dresses, so I just had to show you one more that I’m loving for the summer.

Available at Farm Rio, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale’s.

Sizing: XXS-XL

Material: 100% linen

Omika Amelia Mini Dress

Available at Omika.

Sizing: XS-XL

Material: 100% viscose

Alice + Olivia Miranda Sleeveless Mini Dress

I adore denim dresses, and this short summer denim dress by Alice + Olivia will keep you cool. See more denim frocks in my post on the Best Denim Dresses.

Available at Neiman Marcus and Revolve.

Sizing: 0-14

Material: self: 100% cotton; lining: 98% cotton, 2% elastane

Agua Bendita Moana Dress

Available at Revolve.

Sizing: XS-XL

Material: polyester blend

Aqua Jersey Tank Midi Dress

Available at Bloomingdale’s.

Sizing: XS-XXL

Material: 93% rayon, 7% elastane

Frame Denim Bustier Zip Dress

 

This short denim summer dress by Frame fits absolutely incredibly on everyone!

Available at Poshmark.

Sizing: XS-XL. True to Size.

Material: 85% cotton, (15% re-used cotton)

Rails Julie Mini Dress

This everyday short summer dress is best for lean ladies with a curve to their hips.

Available at Revolve.

Sizing: XS-XL

Material: 100% ecovero

Heartloom Katy Dress

Available at Revolve.

Sizing: XS-L

Material: self: 67% cotton, 33% polyester; lining: 100% cotton

Closed Gathered Belted Denim Dress

Available at Nordstrom.

Sizing: Medium

Material: 100% cotton

Anemos the D K Wrap Mini Dress

This dress has no stretch and no zipper so it’s not for someone who has thicker shoulders or shoulder issues since you need to climb into it with a bit of maneuvering. It also requires nude underwear. If that hasn’t chased you away, it’s so fabulous for a hot summer day!

Sizing: Available in sizes XS-XXL. Looks best on women between 5’4″ and 5′ 8″.
Fabric: Viscose blend lightweight linen fabric.

Bobi Tank Dress

Sizing: Available in sizes XS-XL.
Fabric: 100% Cotton.

J.Crew Maxine V-Neck Shift Dress

Sizing: Available in sizes XXS-3X.
Fabric: 100% Linen.

Athleta Ultimate Ease Dress

This everyday summer dress is best for women with small to medium busts, and those with minimal armpit fat.

Sizing: Available in sizes XXS-XL.
Fabric: 75% Recycled Polyester/25% Lycra.

J.Crew Maxine V-Neck Shift Dress

Sizing: Available in sizes XXS-3X.
Fabric: 100% Linen.