7 Essential Summer Dresses to Embrace the Warm Weather in ...

I love Zara’s summer dresses this year; they look really cute and are in theme with the neutral, nautical look. This black and white horizontal striped dress hits at the mid-thigh line, there is quite a high neckline and it zips all the way at the back. It has well-angled pockets so it doesn’t make your hips look any bigger than they need to be. The dress is made from polyester with a touch of elastane giving it a stretchy composition and the best part about this dress - you can wash it in the machine! Priced at $59.99, it is available from Zara stores as well as online.

I like the peachy color in this dress and the large flower print on it too. It’s great for summer simply because it’s a cotton dress with a lovely fit and flare skirt making it on trend too. It states that it’s a little tight through the bust, so you might want to size-up, particularly if you’re well- endowed in that area. Priced at $130 (on sale), it is available from French Connection stores as well as online.

I love maxi dresses as they elongate most figures when worn with espadrilles or heels of any kind. I had to include this maxi partly because of the price and partly because it’s just such an elegant black dress to have as a staple in your wardrobe for summer. H&M’s quality isn’t always there but since it’s made of jersey (rayon) fabric, it’s a classic item that you simply can’t pass up. Priced at $20 (on sale), it is available from H&M stores and online.

I couldn’t leave off a white dress from this list as white is the color of the season! This Zara dress has cute straps that have buckle details in the back and I like the angular, boxy look this dress creates. It is cotton (with a touch of elastane) and features a cotton lining too. The best part about this dress is that you can wash it in the machine. Priced at $39.99 (on sale), it's a steal from Zara you simply can’t pass up this summer!

This is such a slimming cotton dress. It looks beautifully structured and it's colorful with a lovely bold print of graphic checks and bright tones, making it recognizable from afar. I also like the v-neck aspect as it can prove hard to find v-neck dresses. The zip at the back is concealed, so the only drawback of this dress is that you have to have it dry cleaned. Priced at $149.99 (on sale), it is available from French Connection stores as well as online.

This is such a pretty dark green floral polyester dress with a bandeau fit across the chest - it’s a perfect length too. I like the fact that you can easily wear a cardigan or scarf with it should you need to cover up your shoulders and there are adjustable straps if you don’t like the bandeau strapless look. Lastly, it is machine washable making it even more desirable! Priced at $39.95, this dress is available online as well as in H&M stores.

A delicate printed black or white rayon dress with a halter tie that leads to a crisscross at the back below some lace paneling. There is a longer hemline at the back and sides of the dress than at the front, and there is a fit and flare skirt shape at the bottom making it on trend. The dress is lined with cotton, so it's easier to wear without a bra and you can also wash this dress in the machine. Priced at $128, it is available from Free People shops as well as online.

This is the time of year when you can expose more skin and flirt in a summer dress. Which summer dress will you be wearing to embrace the warm weather?