Meet the Comfortable Smocked Dresses Everyone Will Be Wearing This Summer

From New York It-girls to Taylor Swift

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - AUGUST 08: A guest wears black sunglasses, silver earrings, white scrunchie, light green puffy sleeve midi dress, silver metallic bag, white socks, silver sneaker shoes, outside Marimekko, during the Copenhagen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024-2025 on August 8, 2024 in Copenhagen, Denmark. (Photo by Edward Berthelot/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

I have a simple philosophy when it comes to putting together my summer outfits: less is more. So, I often turn to smocked summer dresses on mornings when I don't know what to wear. They’re easy to throw on, look chic without much styling, and, above all, they're supremely comfortable.

The dresses, known for their stretchy fabric and (often) zipper-free design, have gained a cult following inclusive of fashion’s savviest shoppers and celebrities alike over the years. For reference, Taylor Swift loves options from Dôen. Marie Claire’s senior fashion and beauty news editor, Halie LeSavage, finds the style to be as “comfortable as pajamas but nice enough to wear on video calls or out on quick errands.” One of her favorites is Dôen's Ischia style, which also happens to be on my "Italian Girl Summer" fashion wishlist.

Ahead, I found a few options at Nordstrom that work for just about any situation. Some of the picks on this list make for the perfect summer work dress, while others would be more suitable for a wedding. You can’t go wrong, so why not pick up a few? Many of my finds go for under $200, with some retailing for half that price.

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Julia Marzovilla
Former Fashion E-Commerce Editor

Julia Marzovilla is the former Fashion E-Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she reviewed 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 created 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.