25 Effortlessly Elegant Free People Dresses That Were Made for Summer

What's one of the best things about summer? Is it the prospect of the perfect sunny day? Maybe it's the idea of venturing off to an idyllic destination. While both of those things are great, there's nothing better, in my humble opinion, than what happens to our wardrobes once warm weather arrives. The best thing about summer is our ability to wear one specific staple on repeat: sundresses. After all, what else feels more synonymous with summer than a dress? Frankly, there's no other item more suited for any situation that may come up on your calendar. Whether you're dressing for a heat wave, a workday, or a wedding, wearing a dress will always be a fail-proof choice. Therefore, it's imperative to find versions of this staple that fit our needs for the season, including our budgets, style preferences, and daily lifestyles.
Everyone's approach to shopping for dresses may differ, but most shoppers want them to meet three main criteria, the first being that the item must be effortless to wear in everyday life. The second requirement is that it should look elegant. The third is that it shouldn't break the bank. All of these demands might seem straightforward, but finding options that meet them all is more challenging than you'd think. Luckily, Free People manages to do it all. It might be surprising, but secretly, some of the best dresses from summer come from this underrated brand. In fact, it's become a fan favorite among the fashion set and even our very own editors. Don't believe me? Ahead, I've curated a selection of the 25 best Free People dresses for summer along with examples of how the fashion crowd is styling them. These Free People frocks will likely become one of your favorite parts of summer.
The pintuck detail adds a level of posh to this otherwise simple white dress.
Although I'm impartial to the island-inspired hue of this dress, it also comes in black, red, green, and brown.
It's adeptly named. I did, in fact, smile at the first sight of this dress.
You can pair this with flip-flops for a day by the pool or wedges for a night out dancing.
Please stop scrolling for a second to admire the pretty little bows on this piece.
You may not be the star of Bridgerton, but this darling dress will make you feel like a main character.
Warning: Choosing which of the 16 colors of this dress you'll want to buy will be a challenge.
I'd wear this knitted halter dress by the beach on a beautiful starry night.
If this cute mini can't convince you that Free People has the best dresses, then nothing will.
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. What began as a pastime (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a lifelong passion for unveiling the connection between fashion and culture on the internet and in real life. Over the last decade, she's melded her extensive edit and social background to various on-staff positions at Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. More recently, she’s become a freelance contributor to other publications including Vogue, Editorialist, and The Cut. Off the clock, you can find her clutching her cell phone as she's constantly scrolling through TikTok and The RealReal, in search of the next cool thing.
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