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Paris is known as the city of love, and what better time to visit such a magical place than in the heart of summer? Check out these top summer dresses for a trip abroad, so you can be comfortable and chic each day.
Top Summer Dresses
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When preparing for a trip to Paris in the summer, finding fashionable travel clothes is essential, because Paris is the city of love, but it’s also the fashion capital of the world! Summer dresses for travel will not only keep you fashionable, but they’ll also keep you comfortable in the summer heat.
Most importantly, a traveling dress is an easy packing solution. It can be rolled up into a packing cube in your suitcase and matched with a variety of different shoes, jackets, and accessories from your capsule wardrobe.
You could wear these cute and comfortable travel summer dresses on most any vacation and be cool and stylish. So if not Paris, pick your summer dress destination!
Don’t plan a trip to Paris without reading this guide!
All the dresses shown are from Nordstrom or Amazon. Both of these online stores offer stylish items at a price range to suit all budgets. They also carry a wide selection of brands and sizes, making them more appealing to a broader range of female travelers.
We’ve featured several dress styles here, which are all airy, lightweight, and perfect for a summer in Paris. If you pack seven summer dresses like the ones featured, you’ll have seven unique travel outfits that transition from day to night. All you need is a touch up of makeup and a blazer, and you’ll be Parisian chic!
Boden Anastastia Tie Front Shirtdress
Timeless Summer Dresses Trends: Linen Shirtdress
One of the summer dresses trends that will always be in style is a classic linen shirtdress.
This is one of those must-have summer dresses for a trip abroad, because it is lightweight, easy to pack, and timeless.
Whether it’s worn on its own, used as a swim cover, or styled as a belted day dress, you can’t go wrong with a dress as versatile as this!
One reader says, “I bought two dresses from Boden for my trip. So many great choices from Boden, and I have had my oldest item from them for at least eight years. They are such a great fit. Timeless!”
Where to wear a linen shirtdress: Italy | Caribbean | Mexico
Shop more linen shirtdresses: Nordstrom | Amazon Fashion
Cute Summer Dresses: Paris Shift
A shift dress is another classic traveling dress for any trip abroad. The best part about a shift dress is that it looks great on all sizes and body types. This cute summer dress style is sweet, summery, and will add such a pretty touch to your travel wardrobe!
Where to wear a shift dress: Maui | Amsterdam | Mallorca
Shop more shift dresses: Nordstrom | Amazon Fashion
Fair Indigo Fair Trade Organic Pocket Dress
Comfy Summer Dresses
A casual dress is going to be your best friend while traveling because it’s just so comfortable! This is one of the best summer dresses for a trip abroad, because it can work as a T-shirt dress as well, giving you a relaxed yet stylish 2-in-1 piece for your trip.
Look for dresses with pockets for travel, so you always have an extra place for lip balm, tissue, or even a little cash for buying a drink or snack.
One reader loves this organic cotton dress because it’s easy to dress up or down, it’s comfortable, and it’s not too short!
Pair with sandals, a denim jacket, and a leather cross body purse for a tastefully undone day look, or go with ankle boots and jewelry for a cool evening getup.
Where to wear a comfy cotton dress: Luxembourg | Seattle | Singapore
Shop more comfy dresses: Nordstrom | Amazon Fashion
Casual Maxi Dresses
No summer wardrobe is complete without a breezy maxi dress. They’re one of the easiest ways to look glamorous with minimal effort, making them a must-have for summer trips abroad.
Wear them out sightseeing in the day, and then wear them out to dinner later in the evening. Cover up with a scarf, cardigan, blazer, or jacket for a different look.
Where to wear a maxi dress: Nice | Phuket | Honolulu
Shop more maxi dresses: Nordstrom | Amazon Fashion
Karen kane Botanica Print A-Line Dress
Floral Sundresses for Women
Few garments are as perfect for summer as a floral sundress. They’re a gorgeous complement to warm European days out and about. This A-line floral print sun dress will have you feeling summery no matter your destination!
Floral dresses will remain on the list of summer dresses trends for centuries — we’re sure of it. Don’t forget to pair with some flirty espadrilles!
Where to wear a floral sundress: Venice | Paris | Berlin
Shop more floral sundresses: Nordstrom | Amazon Fashion
Daily Ritual Jersey Sleeveless V-Neck Dress
Travel Dresses for Summer: Tank Dress
A sleeveless tank dress is a great base for any look. It’s a perfect traveling dress that one reader raves about. It “absolutely does not wrinkle and is cute when paired with a scarf, sweater, or jacket. The longer length keeps your legs from sticking to the seat in hot weather!”
Pair with stylish sandals and a cardigan for a stylish day look, or a leather jacket and booties for an evening out.
Where to wear a tank dress: NYC | Barcelona | Bangkok
Shop more: Nordstrom | Amazon Fashion
NIC+ZOE Denim Vibes Shirtdress
Traveling Dresses: Denim Shirtdress
Comfortable and casual, yet chic and stylish. This denim shirtdress is lightweight and airy with a dropwaist cut that makes it ooh-la-la for a foreign dresses look!
For travel days when you want dresses with pockets, this shirtdress is fulfills those needs, too.
You’ll get through the warm summer days in ease and style with an ultra cute denim shirtdress!
Where to wear a denim shirtdress: Cape Cod | French Riviera | Tulum
Shop more denim shirtdresses: Nordstrom | Amazon Fashion
Top Summer Dresses Comparison Chart
| BRAND / MODEL | REVIEW | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Boden Anastastia Tie Front Shirtdress |
“I bought two dresses from Boden for my trip. So many great choices from Boden, and I have had my oldest item from them for at least eight years. They are such a great fit. Timeless!” | Check Price | |
|
Karen Kane Tropical Halter |
This cute summer dress style is sweet, summery, and will add such a pretty touch to your travel wardrobe! | Check Price | |
|
Fair Indigo Fair Trade Organic Pocket Dress |
One reader loves this organic cotton dress because it’s easy to dress up or down, it’s comfortable, and it’s not too short! | Check Price | |
|
Zattcas Sleeveless Maxi Dress |
Maxi dress is one of the easiest ways to look glamorous with minimal effort, making them a must-have for summer trips abroad. | Check Price | |
|
Karen kane Botanica Print A-Line Dress |
Floral dresses will remain on the list of summer dresses trends for centuries — we’re sure of it. Don’t forget to pair with some flirty espadrilles! | Check Price | |
|
Daily Ritual Jersey Sleeveless V-Neck Dress |
It’s a perfect traveling dress that one reader raves about. It “absolutely does not wrinkle and is cute when paired with a scarf, sweater, or jacket. | Check Price | |
|
NIC+ZOE Denim Vibes Shirtdress |
This denim shirtdress is lightweight and airy with a dropwaist cut that makes it ooh-la-la for a foreign dresses look! | Check Price |
Pair Summer Dresses with Classic Leather Sandals
When visiting Paris in summer, you’ll want to be comfortable, so be sure to pick shoes that are both practical and fashionable. You can pair any of the above summer dresses with classic leather sandals like these above or even classic Superga style sneakers.
Dress for Europe with stylish and comfortable footwear!
See our list of comfortable walking sandals that are stylish, too!
How to Pack Summer Dresses
Packing dresses is the perfect way to create a fresh outfit every day. If you’re going on a seven-day trip, pack seven dresses. It’s as easy as that!
Then, use slim packing cubes to save space in your suitcase and travel carry-on only.
We put together a five-part YouTube series showing the different methods to use packing cubes for travel. If you use this specific packing strategy, packing cubes can also compress your belongings. This is the secret to traveling carry-on only!
Buy Compass Rose Packing Cubes here!
What are your recommendations for top summer dresses for a trip abroad? Share in the comments below!
For more tips on travel dresses, please read these posts:
- Beach Dresses You Can Wear On and Off the Sand
- Summer Maxi Dresses
- Cute Summer Dresses for Women
- Watch How to Wear One Dress Many Ways
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Your posts have been my go to for a long time now! I love the new packing ideas, styles and comfortable clothing/shoes! We travel a lot, so I’m reading your posts regularly. Thank you for what you do! You are making a difference 🤗
Wow thank you for saying that Amanda, I really appreciate your kind words and I’ll let the team know you feel that way ☺️
Thank you
You’re welcome Brenda 🙂
I wouldn’t have thought to wear dresses a few years ago when I started traveling internationally, but they are a great addition to a travel wardrobe. You only need a few accessories and your packing is done. The red print dress is my favorite, it’s a very versatile design.
Super easy and cute outfits too 🙂
I just got back from a trip to Paris, Rome, Venice and Nice. In Paris, I kept seeing women wearing body-skimming (not tight and not overly revealing) knee length dresses with metallic flat sandals or white thick-soled sneakers. I had taken an ankle length dress and I ditched it because it looked so frumpy.
Not long ago, I don’t think I’d be brave enough to take a dress for every day. No shorts? No skirts? What will I do if….. Then I realized there really wasn’t an “if”. They are pack and require minimal matching (always a good thing for a match-a-holic). Thanks for the cool picks–I really like the patterned red one!
Thank you!
I love the idea of the dresses instead of anything else. Recently bought “one for all and all for one” dress that doesn’t wrinkle or shows stains, has a comfy fit and looks good in any situation. I wish there were more dresses like that because this one inspires me to be more feminine while staying comfortable. OMG, and the way it folds: takes less space than my bra. Thank you for the post! I would love to see what you will recommend for winter of fall.
Thanks Julia!
These dress ideas are perfect! I just came back from a trip to Italy in May and my most comfortable outfits were dresses. You feel put together, but they are nice and breezy for the heat. Also took along a pair of those iPanema’s you suggested and they ended up being the shoes I wore most! We were walking close to 7 miles a day and they were comfortable. Keep the great advice coming 🙂
Glad you had a great trip and enjoyed my tips 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to give me feedback.
Leaving for Rome and Germany in two weeks and loved these tips! I see a shopping trip in my future! 🙂
Thanks!