When things heat up, a summery sundress is easy to dress up or down — depending on how your day plays out. It’s the perfect canvas to convey your personal style, making it a must-have for your summer outfit rotation. I always try to look for ones in natural, breathable materials like this super-lightweight, 100% cotton denim. Linen and silk are good options, too.

What defines a sundress? Even the internet can’t seem to decide. From the biggest TikTok influencers to yours truly, everyone has an opinion. Summery? Duh. Weightless fabrics? A necessity. Color? You’ve got a whole spectrum to choose from. Whatever you decide is your best version, it should be both stylish and practical. And of course provide ease of movement and comfort — even in extreme heat.

I’m a big fan of this silhouette — a smocked bodice for shape and support atop a flowy maxi length skirt. And it’s got pockets! When things cool down, I can picture it over a white tee or shirt like the one in this post.

Since it was beyond sweltering, I kept my accessories simple but with a hint of sparkle and shine. I found this amazing beaded necklace while on a girls trip to Delray Beach, Florida. We were hit with two straight days of rain, so shopping was definitely on the agenda! This mini embellished straw bucket bag is (barely) big enough for the basics, but it was just too darn cute to resist. And these rhinestone-studded, airy mesh slingbacks are go-with-everything dazzlers that I can see wearing well into Fall.

What’s your stance on sundresses? Yay or nay??

Dress: (Gap, sold out) Similar here (under $50!), here (under $100) and here (love the seamed structure).

Necklace: (Beach Paradise, lots of colorways) Similar summery vibes here, here and here.

Bag: (Target, sold out, but you may be able to find it in store) Loving this (steal!), this (another steal) and this (splurge).

Shoes: (Steve Madden, limited sizes in this color but more options in black). Also like these (under $25!) and these.

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Photography by Kristin Moore-Gantz @artdirectthis.