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In effort to guide you to a wardrobe of no-brainer dresses, we've collected 36 of the season's very best, organized by occasion (because what you wear to the office isn't the right pick for your friend's BBQ birthday, and vice versa). See all of our picks below, including a sophisticated kimono style from H&M, a bold floral mini by Equipment, and a slinky Helmut Lang for evening.
Office Cool
It may be sweltering outdoors, but the office A/C is cranked to "Minnesota January." These sharp styles provide enough coverage for a professional environment, pairing well with cardigans and blazers, without feeling stifling before 9 and after 5.
Tory Burch ‘Emilynn,’ $495 | Title A ‘Day,’ $370
Theory ‘Davah,’ $295 | Rebecca Minkoff 'Nadine,' $298
Striped midi dress, $69 at Pixie Market | Saloni ‘Ashley,’ $340
Outdoor Celebration
Stay breezy but polished at an outdoor graduation ceremony, baby shower, or afternoon wedding by diving into the best of the season's '70s trend. Linen-blends, natural hues, and elevated shibori dye jobs all do the trick, from mini to maxi.
Wilfred 'Sonore,' $195 | Topshop, $90
Upstate 'Amalfi,' $295 | The Odells 'Taro,' $198
Floor-Length Formal
Keep it classy—but comfy—at buttoned-up events by choosing summer-weight fabrics and just the right amount of skin.
FWSS 'Skeleton,' $326 | Carmella 'Vivienne,' $778
Madewell, $130 | Reformation 'Harper,' $368
Helmut Lang, $310 | Needle & Thread, $335
Arty Affair
For the hot parties when you need to look downright cool, kimono shapes and abstract patterns to the rescue.
Raquel Allegra, $240 | Marc by Marc Jacobs, $300
Chill BBQ
Playful prints in easy shapes are the perfect one-two punch for low key BBQs, park hangs, and other 2pm-beers-because-it's-finally-summer gatherings.
Zoe Karssen, $110 | Myne 'Catalina,' $198
House of Holland, $410 | Equipment 'Mina,' $270
Pineapple-print dress, $44 at Pixie Market | Free People 'Everlong,' $108
The All-Purpose LWD
When in doubt, little white dress (barring, of course, a wedding where you are not playing the part of bride).
Oak, $446 | Alice McCall, $285
White net pocket dress, $70 at Pixie Market | River Island, $70