Every Time I Wear These 9 Summer Dresses, I'm Inundated With Compliments

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

Summer dresses are a crowded category at this point. From flowery frocks to lightweight linen styles, there are plenty of shapes and lengths to choose from, no matter your personal preferences. As a seasoned summer dress connoisseur, I quickly realized that some really just trump all the others. Welcome to my hit list of the top dresses of the season.

If there's one wardrobe piece that I can trust more than any other to get me through the endless heat and a slate full of Google Calendar dates, it's a chic dress. Next to my stretchy pants, it's likely the style I repeatedly wear the most during this time of year. A big factor is the element of versatility. It's super simple to dress up or down, and I never have to expend a lot of brain power to come out with a solid look. With that said, my collection is continually overflowing, but there are ones that I can always rely on to elicit compliments wherever I go. Ahead, keep reading to see the dresses in my closet that never miss. Expect compliments… a lot of them.

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

Réalisation has been on my radar for years, but I've never taken the leap until now. I can report that it's worth the hype and then some. Everything from the silky satin fabric to the delicate floral print and romantic neckline makes this dress look so glamorous. Truly, it's a perfect easy dinner dress. Just add sleek, minimalist mules (you really don't need sky-high heels for this) to finish the look.

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

The dress doesn't need an introduction. If you have an Instagram account, you've likely seen this dress all over your feed, as it's appeared on just about every supremely stylish influencer. I had my doubts since I'm curvier on the bottom and have more of a pear shape, but once I slipped it on, I instantly fell in love. I guess it's the ruched middle creating the illusion of a defined waist, but this dress is exceptionally flattering. I hardly do minidresses, but I will gladly pull this one out over and over again. Lastly, the material feels expensive and heavy, so it will stand up to just about anything. The Andy is currently sold out in this purple shade, but it's still in stock in a variety of equally fun colors and prints.

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

This sweet tiered maxi dress is the perfect beach dress. It's made of lightweight bubble-crêpe material to beat the heat in style. It definitely falls in the camp of the throw-it-on-and-go dress, so only minimal styling effort is required. I chose to pair it with these on-trend platform flip-flops, and I definitely felt more laid-back with this outfit. 

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

I'll state the obvious: Reformation knows how to make a standout dress. I am honestly floored by how many compliments I receive when I wear this baby-blue floral number. So far, I have worn it to a summer party, to a wedding, and out for drinks with friends, and it's received plenty of admiration. I can't get enough of the tie-front details and the romantic neckline. 

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

I've been wanting a casual, elevated summer dress for my seasonal wardrobe for quite some time. Once I saw this, I instantly knew it would be a go-to for me during the endless summer days. It exudes an effortless French-girl vibe, has a flattering silhouette, and comes in a gorgeous olive-green check print. It's really all you need for a "picnic in the park" weekend look.

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(Image credit: @indyabrown)

Here's another viral dress I can happily say is worth the attention. I had seen this dress on some of my favorite tastemakers around the globe—styled with both heels and sneakers—and I knew I needed it in my wardrobe. The sheer fabric is definitely more revealing than I'm used to, but it actually conceals a lot more than you'd think. My advice is to layer a good pair of black briefs underneath (or a thong if you're so daring!). I have a feeling that my search for the perfect party dress ends here.

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For its latest collection, With Jéan has collaborated with Australian artist Lord Newry. Everything from the release is draped in bold graphic prints that really feel unique and have an edgy cool factor. This body-hugging dress is no different. You may recognize this dress already, as it's been doing the rounds on Instagram this season, with Jordyn Woods wearing it earlier this month. It's a statement dress to wear for a relaxed special occasion or a night out with your crew. 

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Is this not the perfect LWD for summer? In terms of styling, it's incredibly easy to wear with most heels or flats, and the romantic smocked bodice creates a defined waist without the need for heavy-duty shapewear. The sheer voile fabric really kept me cool during hot days—basically a requirement for this unpredictable SoCal weather.

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This dress has big tropical vacation energy going on with its revealing back cutout and retro midi-length silhouette. I'm even more impressed that this dress is only $60 given how expensive it looks and feels. Wear it with trendy strappy sandals for your next wedding invite or summer soirée or sneakers for a dressed-down spin. 

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Up next, My Fashion-Obsessed BFF Combed Through My Summer Wardrobe—Here's What's Out

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor forBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing , focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.