Shopping for clothes at Amazon can be hard, and shopping for summer dresses at the mega-retailer? Well, we’ve had our issues. Even though we consider ourselves to be expert shoppers, all of us have been duped by a nice-looking dress at Amazon, only for it to arrive and leave us extremely disappointed. So that’s why we took it upon ourselves to call in and try on the most popular summer dresses under $50 at Amazon. Even though some of our picks have more than 60,000 reviews, we were surprisingly let down by quite a few of them, so check out the ones that did actually make the cut below.
I’m obsessed with this Amazon dress for so many reasons. Everything from the flowy hem and unique, sheer balloon sleeves make it look and feel like a higher-end fashion piece. I appreciate the double layering of fabric, meaning the dress isn’t see-through. The dark florals really elevate this dress, making it ideal for a cocktail hour or summer outing. The best part of this dress, though, is how comfortable it is. Sure, the fabric may not be the softest, but it fits like a glove with room to breathe too. — Carolina Gazal, associate testing writer
It honestly doesn't get easier — and more flattering — than this simple V-neck dress, which is available in a lot of basic colors and interesting patterns. The style emphasizes all the right places, the material is soft, it’s a great length and you don’t have to worry about wearing any special undergarments. Just a breezy spring dress that could be dressed up with cute sandals or down with sneakers and a denim jacket. What more could you ask for? — Chelsea Stone, editorial director
I’ve never worn any clothing from Amazon, so to be honest, I was skeptical to try out this dress. But to my delight, I loved this wrap dress that I wore to the office on one of the first warm days of the season. A lot of wrap dresses are way too short on me or don’t provide enough coverage, but this one was the perfect length and kept me comfy all day. It was a bit brighter than I expected, so if you’re looking to nail the “butter” yellow trend, you might want to find another option. — Tamara Kraus, senior lifestyle editor
There are so many things to love about this spaghetti-strap dress. For starters, I love how easy it is to slip on and how pretty this pink floral print is (it just screams summer). Thanks to the cotton-and-spandex mix, it’s super comfortable to wear (just like your fave old T-shirt) and stretchy. I didn’t experience any gaping with this dress, which has a snap closure at the bust, and I appreciate that it has adjustable straps. I got this dress in a size medium and would say it fits true to size. All in all, if you’re in need of a cute, fuss-free outfit this summer, this is the dress to reach for. I mean, just look at that cute ruffled hem. — Rachel Dennis, editorial coordinator
This dress strikes the perfect balance between casual and dressy. The flutter sleeves veer more formal, but the textured material is comfortable and not as stuffy looking or feeling as silk or chiffon. You could easily style it with heels and a clutch or with sneakers like me. The bow in the front is a cute detail, and it also helps you customize the fit. There's actually a decent amount of coverage, and I think it would be a great option for larger bust sizes. The back is smocked, which adds some extra stretch and room too. As for the length, I’m petite so it ended up not being a minidress on me, which I was actually happy about. Hitting just above the knee, it felt more appropriate as an everyday sundress. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor
This breezy tunic dress was such a treat to wear! The length and fit were perfect, and the looseness of the dress and how it hung off the shoulders was just right for an oversized-style fit. It came exactly how it was pictured online, and the material felt strong and durable. This dress was definitely heavier than I thought it would be for a summer dress, but I could tell right away that the fabric was quality and that it’d last. My favorite part about it was the cinched sleeves and how airy this dress felt in a cool summer’s breeze. — Madison Yerke, social strategist
I’m always wary about Amazon dresses, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I thought the cutout feature would look ridiculous on me because I have anything but a flat stomach, yet it was actually very flattering. The fabric is really stretchy and comfortable, and being on the short side, it hit me at a really great length. As a pear-shaped human, tight dresses tend to look awkward, but this one looked pretty good. I think this dress is perfect for rooftop parties and can be paired with a denim jacket or an open front-button shirt. — Lindsey Smith, associate editor
I’m totally in love with this extra comfortable, summery ruched short-sleeve dress. The fabric is smooth and breathable, making it a great dress for everyday wear or even for a fun summer activity. It’s perfect for windier weather because it’s form-fitting so it doesn’t blow up in the wind, keeping you safe from any "oops!" moments. Plus, it’s a little warmer without being so warm that it’s too much for a hot day. If you plan on boating a lot this summer, this dress is for you. I got dark blue, though it is more of a royal blue. The photo online of the color was still accurate, so I’m still a fan! — Hayley Kinne, business development manager
Sometimes you just want to luxuriate in comfort when the sun is out and the heat is on. This Anrabess maxi dress is soft, flowy and cute enough to throw on for the beach, pool, drinks or just general hanging. It has side slits in case you feel like hopping on a bike and pockets, which for me is always a plus. It comes in over 30 colors and patterns to choose from, and I loved the sunset tie-dye of this Gradual Red number. If you ask me, it’s a perfect summer match. — Tobey Grumet Segal, reviews editor
From being breezy and lightweight to adjustable and bright, I couldn’t think of a more perfect dress to wear this summer! It doesn’t matter if I’m going for a stroll or headed out to meet friends, this tie-front dress fit perfectly and was exactly how it was displayed online. The bow in the front is adjustable and can be tied or untied, and the dress came with a slip liner on the bottom half so it wasn’t see-through. I personally love the liner because it’s great for providing a barrier between my sweat and skin and allowing room for movement when I’m out and about! It came a little wrinkled out of the original packaging, but other than that little hiccup, this dress will definitely be included in my summer rotation. — Madison Yerke, social strategist
This light wrap dress is super cute and comfortable. I love the boho print (which comes in 40 colors!) and flattering fit-and-flare style. The material is super soft and lightweight, making it perfect sundress material. I can see it being a nice swim cover-up, although I wore it for a day running errands in the city. The only issue I ran into was that the wrap skirt had a tendency to blow around in the wind, giving a peek at more skin than I wanted to show. A safety pin would’ve fixed this, but I just had to hold it in place with my hand. Overall, I was happy with the quality, fit and style of the dress. It’ll definitely be a go-to choice for brunch dates and beach days throughout the summer. — Sophie Shaw, associate beauty editor
This is a great day-to-night transitional dress. It would be perfect for travel, as it can go from the farmers market in the morning to dinner and drinks in the evening. Initially, I was worried that this dress might look a bit frumpy on, but the elastic waistband helped add shape to the silhouette. The dress runs true to size, and the open skirt is forgiving and comfortable. The arm holes and cap sleeves run a bit large, which can make the bust a bit baggy, but that adds to the breezy, relaxed vibe of the dress. I will say that as a petite person (5 foot 1 on a good day), this skims the tops of my feet, which makes pairing the dress with flats doable but a bit precarious. It’s lightweight and breathable but not see-through. Held up to the light, this dress seems a bit sheer, but it passed both the bright- and dark-underwear tests with flying colors. Overall, this is a great sundress: light, comfortable, cute and versatile. — Maureen Clark, business intelligence analytics manager
A swingy tank dress is basically my summer uniform, so I was extremely intrigued by this style. After all, it has pockets! It feels very soft, and the print and colors are super vibrant (it looks almost identical in person to the product photos). I did have the same issue that a few reviewers mentioned, which was that the elastic hit just a little high enough above my natural waist that it hung a bit strangely. Apparently, this is something that can happen for the larger chested among us. It’s not a huge flaw, and I imagine it wouldn’t happen to someone with a smaller chest, but it’s just enough for me to keep this in beach cover-up/throw-on-for-errands territory rather than a going-out dress. — Rena Behar, copy editor
The fit and shape of this casual summer dress is so flattering! The waist is cinched and felt secure and allowed me to move freely while wearing it. It also comes with a fabric belt you can tie around your waist, but there are no loops or belt attachments on the dress itself and the color of the belt was a slightly different shade of blue. I ordered this dress in a dark blue but noticed that the material in person looked different from the dark-blue material pictured on Amazon. Though not a 100% match to what I was expecting from my order, this is a simple, no-frills dress that I can see myself wearing to summer get-togethers. — Madison Yerke, social strategist
Again, I love a swingy tank dress. I don’t love polyester, but I was willing to give it a try for a versatile style and pockets. I’d classify this one as “solidly fine”: the print is cute, the cut is easy to work with and it’s pretty soft. It does have a bit of a weird polyester sheen to the fabric, though. I also noticed that the white areas between the green on the print I chose were a little see-through. That’s not a huge issue for me since I mostly plan to wear this to the beach, but I’d be wary of the lighter colors if you’re not wearing a swimsuit underneath. — Rena Behar, copy editor
I’m usually not a bodycon dress person, but I loved how this one looked online and wanted to try it out for myself! I can confidently say that after wearing it, I’m a fan! This ruched bodycon dress was comfortable and can be dressed up or down for the occasion. It wasn’t super tight and left room for movement without looking boxy on my frame. Since I am on the shorter side, it did feel a little longer than what was pictured, but overall, this dress was a pleasant surprise and a wonderful addition to my closet! — Madison Yerke, social strategist