Every Single Kind of Dress You Need This Summer

Whether it is a mini, a midi, or a maxi, this is the dress of the season. The ingenious silhouette allows you to subtly show skin without exposing too much. Trust, you'll be wearing this one every week.

Tibi, $495; tibi.com. River Island, $70; riverisland.com. Zara, $50; zara.com.

The tried-and-true wedding silhouette is yet another way to bare your shoulders, but in a more traditional way. The latest iterations of this style are less dressy and more beachy—think ruffles, florals, and exotic prints.

Thakoon, $590; farfetch.com. Boohoo, $35; boohoo.com. Caroline Constas, $580; intermixonline.com.

Popularized by designer Diane von Furstenberg, the wrap dress draws necessary attention to your smallest part—your waist—while still highlighting your neck. Go big on color and pattern with this classic shape.

BCBG, $178; bcbg.com. DVF, $598; dvf.com. Zimmermann, $975; zimmermannwear.com.

The '90s are back, and with it the ethereal barely there slip dresses favored by stars, like Kate Moss and Courtney Love. Stick to silky fabrics that skim the body for that "I pulled this old thing out of my closet" feel.

Nili Lotan, $550; nililotan.com. Steven Alan, $147; stevenalan.com. Mango, $250; mango.com.

Meant to resemble a traditional men's Oxford, this button-up style is at once preppy and polished. We love our shirtdresses crafted from crisp cotton poplin, but no two styles are alike. Look for details, like high-low hemlines and flouncy skirts.

Victoria, Victoria Beckham, $615; net-a-porter.com. Derek Lam 10 Crosby, $495; dereklam.com. J. Crew, $98; jcrew.com.

Made for lazy days, the T-shirt dress will keep you cool and comfortable on too-hot days. Literally, just throw it on and go.

Wilfred Free, $65; aritzia.com. American Eagle Outfitters, $27 (originally $35); ae.com. Abercrombie & Fitch, $27 (originally $44); abercrombie.com.

The sheath is the dress you want to wear to work. It exudes power and sophistication in one fell swoop. Invest in richer, thicker fabrics, and make sure to tailor this piece if it doesn't hug your body in all the right ways.

Canvas by Lands' End, $125; landsend.com. Theory, $190; theory.com. Reiss, $345; reiss.com.

Perhaps the most feminine style, the fit-and-flare dress highlights your torso, while grazing over your bottom half. It's super easy to wear, but looks totally put together. 

Ted Baker London, $295; tedbaker.com. Banana Republic, $178; bananarepublic.gap.com. Gap, $70; gap.com.

Hitting at about the mid calf, the midi is the dress version of culottes. You show a hint of skin, but not an excessive amount—perfect for the workplace. 

& Other Stories, $95; stories.com. Topshop, $160; topshop.com. COS, $125; cosstores.com.

This ankle-grazing style is perfect for far-flung destinations (perhaps, a beach wedding is in your future?), but still has city appeal when worn with a killer pair of heels. 

Whistles, $280; whistles.com. Tory Burch, $550; toryburch.com. Issa London, $1006; issalondon.com.