The 18 Best Smocked Dresses for Summer 2024

The building blocks to an easy summer wardrobe.

Model wearing green smocked Dôen dress on the beach.
(Image credit: Dôen)

I don’t know about you, but comfort is at the top of my list when it comes to the best summer dresses. Sure, I could deal with zippers, ties, and buttons, but why would I want to do that when the temperature is downright scorching and I’m nearly always in a rush? Enter my quest to find the best smocked dresses on the market. The ruched and scrunched silhouette has been taking over my social media feeds, signaling that it'll be a huge summer 2023 trend.

The smocked dress trend has been around for quite some time, spurred on by the popularity of brands like Hill House and their range of best-selling Nap Dresses, most of which feature stretchy-smocked bodices. “The smocked dress is popular because it’s such a versatile, flattering, and comfortable style,” says Nell Diamond, Hill House Home’s Founder and CEO. “I love being able to dress [a smocked dress] up or down, feel feminine and stylish, while also being comfortable. These are all major components that I look for in a dress,” she says.

A smocked dress’ versatility is one of the main reasons why I personally love them, too. They look just as good worn to the office with your best loafers as a summer work outfit or with slingback heels for a date night. Keep reading to shop the best smocked dresses at every length and style, including frocks from fashion-insider faves like Dôen, GANNI, and STAUD and well-loved retailers like J. Crew, H&M, and Gap.

The Best Smocked Dresses

Best Smocked Mini Dresses

Best Smocked Midi Dresses

Best Smocked Maxi Dresses

Meet the Fashion Expert

Nell Diamond
Nell Diamond

Nell Diamond founded Hill House Home with a dream to make happy things for happy places.  As the Founder and CEO, Nell’s unique design aesthetic and customer-centric approach has helped build a fiercely loyal and engaged Hill House Home community. Born and raised in London, Nell lives in New York City with her husband and three children, Henry, Willow and Sebastian. 

TOPICS
Julia Marzovilla
Fashion E-Commerce Editor

Julia Marzovilla is the Fashion E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she reviews the latest launches from fashion and beauty brands, finds the best on-sale items around the internet, and interviews experts to find the best products in any category to share with her readers. She also creates shopping guides that span every vertical on the site as an expert in everything from the best laptop bags to the best laser hair removal devices.

In her near decade of experience, Julia has both written for several top outlets in the E-Commerce space and worked at major fashion labels. Prior to joining the Marie Claire team, she contributed similar shopping stories to sites such as Bustle, InStyle, The Zoe Report, Who What Wear, and worked as the Trending Fashion and News Writer STYLECASTER. You can find her across the internet at @JuliaMarzovilla. In real life, you can find her creating shopping guides for her friends, cooking or baking in her too-small kitchen, or buying tickets for the next time Harry Styles is in town.

Julia has a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Journalism from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. She lives in New York City, her hometown.

With contributions from