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Each one is comfortable, packable, and ready for summer travel.
Best Plus-size Summer Dresses
- Everyday knit dress: Amazon Essentials Surplice V-neck Swing Dress, $25
- Eye-catching summer florals: Carcos Collared V-neck Midi Dress, $40
- Ultra-polished: Ashley Graham Midi Dress, $53 (originally $100)
- Has pockets!: Torrid Belle Isle Flutter-sleeve Mini Dress, $80 (originally $100)
- Versatile and flattering: St. John’s Bay Short-sleeve Sheath Dress, $19 (originally $54)
Whether the summer ahead holds a Mediterranean cruise, a national park road trip, or a long weekend somewhere with a beach, I always pack these tried-and-true travel dresses in my suitcase. It’s the closest thing to a travel cheat code I’ve found. A well-chosen dress is an entire outfit that packs down smaller than a pair of jeans—plus, it can pivot from sightseeing to dinner with a single footwear swap.
After years of trial and error, I try to choose dresses made from machine-washable and wrinkle-free fabrics. A dress has to be really special to earn its place in my suitcase if it doesn’t fit that criterion. The following 14 plus-size dresses have been tested in heat waves, laundromats, and red-eye flights, with prices starting at just $19.
Amazon Essentials Surplice V-neck Swing Dress
This stretchy V-neck dress has a fit-and-flare shape, so it’s fitted through the chest and waist, flared to the hem, making it a flattering travel addition. Plus, the elastic empire waist stays comfortable from airport to midnight. I like how the dolman short sleeves are relaxed through the arm and shoulder for maximum comfort. The overlap neckline gives it a wrap-style look with no actual wrap to come undone, and with no closures at all, it’s so easy to get on and off. It packs down to nothing, and it’s a dress that never clashes with anything else in my suitcase.
Carcos Collared V-neck Midi Dress
Here’s a summer dress that’s versatile for travel in all the right ways. The collared V-neck and button front are flattering, while the short sleeves are cut generously through the upper arm with an elastic high waist that defines without being uncomfortable. The ruffle-hem midi skirt moves nicely in a warm breeze. The pink floral print is classic, and the polyester-spandex fabric is lightweight, stretchy, and breathable. The button closure means I can adjust the neckline depending on the occasion, and it has pockets, which are convenient when flying or sightseeing.
Vince Camuto Floral Maxi Dress
Save 32%
$79 (32% Off) $53 at Nordstrom
Vibrant blooms set against a dark background give this Vince Camuto dress both instant drama and a summery feel. The square neckline frames shoulders and collarbones beautifully, and I love that it slips on over my head with no closures, which is ideal for travel. It’s lightweight, breathable, and drapes like a dream in a warm climate. I always pack this dress for golden-hour dinners, sunset sails, and any evening where I want to feel a bit glammed up by styling it with flat metallic sandals and statement earrings.
Lane Bryant V-neck Smocked-bodice Midi Dress
Save 54%
$90 (54% Off) $41 at Lanebryant.com
I love how this lightweight, summery dress always feels a bit festive. Its bodice and straps are smock elastic, which means no zippers to wrestle in a cramped hotel bathroom and no closures to catch. Because of this dress’s 48-inch midi length, it’s my go-to for destinations where I want a little more coverage, from cathedral visits to breezy boardwalk evenings. This dress’s fabric is the other reason it makes every packing list: 100 percent cotton poplin, smooth and breathable, which is what I want against my skin in real heat.
Ashley Graham Midi Dress
Save 47%
$100 (47% Off) $53 at Jcpenney.com
This white dress from Ashley Graham photographs so well against blue water, terracotta rooftops, or a sunset. The sweetheart neckline is flattering, and the adjustable straps let me fine-tune the fit. The fabric is primarily cotton with a touch of spandex, so the dress is breathable for the summer heat, with just enough give to stay comfortable through a long day. It’s machine washable, which takes the fear out of wearing white on vacation.
Torrid Belle Isle Flutter-sleeve Mini Dress
Save 20%
$100 (20% Off) $80 at Torrid.com
I pack this for every trip because it’s my wander-all-day dress. The fern green damask print strikes me as so pretty every time I see it, and it photographs beautifully against coastal light and garden backdrops alike. I like the soft, fluid drape of the dress, which is made of hammered rayon fabric. The notched crew neckline with ruffle trim and short flutter sleeves feels fun to wear, and the mini length makes it a natural for warm afternoons when I’m covering serious ground on foot. The dress takes up almost no room in my suitcase, and its functional, on-seam pockets hold a room key and lip balm so I can leave the crossbody behind for short excursions.
Lane Bryant Lena Flutter-sleeve Short Dress
Save 67%
$95 (67% Off) $31 at Lanebryant.com
Red and white dots are basically the official print of summer, and this Lane Bryant dress is a fun, classic take on the eye-catching pattern. It’s a throw-on dress which is great for travel, but its princess seams give the bodice real shape. The elastic waist means it’s extremely comfortable, and an attached self-tie belt lets me define my waist without hunting for the belt in my suitcase. The dress is lined, so there’s no need to pack a slip, and the pull-over style with no closures allows for fast changes and no zipper anxiety.
St. John’s Bay Short-sleeve Sheath Dress
Save 64%
$54 (64% Off) $19 at Jcpenney.com
Every summer packing list needs one super-versatile dress, and this simple but elegant dress is just that. It has a sheath silhouette with a split crew neckline and raglan short sleeves. I love the dress’s streamlined cut and its two side slip pockets. It drapes well and is very breathable even on sweltering-hot summer days. Although I love wearing this dress in green, I’m considering getting it in navy floral or white floral colorways, too.
Cicidudu Boho Flowy Maxi Dress
This tiered boho maxi dress is pure ease. It has a V-neck, relaxed short sleeves, and an elastic waist. My favorite thing about this dress, though, is the flowy skirt that catches every breeze and looks incredible in motion, whether I’m walking along a shoreline or twirling for a travel photo. It’s extremely comfortable, and the pockets are generous enough to be actually used. Plus, it’s featherlight, which is just what I want a summer dress to be.
Torrid Puff-sleeve Tie Mini Dress
Save 20%
$70 (20% Off) $56 at Torrid.com
This is a dress I reach for when I don’t want to put in a lot of effort but need to look put together. The rayon slub fabric has that soft, linen-like texture that reads polished in photos but feels like loungewear, with a medium stretch that keeps it comfortable on long flights. I love the sweetheart neckline and short puff sleeves with little self-ties. At mini length with a breezy tiered skirt, this Torrid mini is ideal for hot-weather destinations where a longer hem just feels like extra fabric. I style it with sneakers for walking-heavy days, then swap in sandals and earrings for dinner.
St. John’s Bay Floral A-line Dress
Save 56%
$44 (56% Off) $19 at Jcpenney.com
Some dresses just seem created for the destination, and a blue palm print is picture-perfect for beachy vacation spots. It’s sleeveless with a V-neck, an easy A-line shape, and a pullover style with no closures. It’s short and breezy, and I find myself reaching for it on the hottest days. It can be thrown over a swimsuit as a cover-up or paired with flat sandals for a stroll through a beach town. The rayon-spandex knit is soft, stretchy, and virtually wrinkle-proof, so it can be balled into the corner of a tote bag as a backup outfit and still look fine at dinner.
Lane Bryant Sleeveless T-shirt Dress
Save 53%
$65 (53% Off) $30 at Lanebryant.com
This dress always seems to perk me up no matter where I’m traveling. It’s a classic sleeveless V-neck swing dress in a sweet purple hue, with macrame crisscross at the top of the back. The relaxed swing fit skims rather than clings, and the midi length works across dress codes. I especially appreciate that it has a pullover style with zero closures. Fabric-wise, it’s the most forgiving thing in my suitcase: a soft rayon-spandex jersey knit that stretches, breathes, and never wrinkles.
Torrid Halter Tea-length Sundress
Save 50%
$86 (50% Off) $43 at Torrid.com
This is the dress I pack for hot summer days. The ditsy daisy print in soft pink hints of summer in the best way. The V-shaped halter neckline is flattering, while the self-tie at the back neck lets me adjust the fit exactly where I want it. Elastic at the underbust means the dress moves with me all day. I appreciate that it rolls up small in a suitcase and shakes out ready to wear. Because it’s sleeveless with an open-back neckline, I toss a light denim jacket or linen shirt over it when the evening breeze picks up.
Unique Vintage Devon Swing Dress
$110 (14% Off) $94 at Unique-vintage.com
If I’m going somewhere I want to be photographed, from Palm Springs to Positano, this is the dress I often reach for. The Devon comes in a saturated hot pink scattered with pale pin dots, with a darted bodice, a bateau neckline that dips into a low V in the back, and a swingy knee-length skirt that moves beautifully in vacation photos and videos. Three-quarter sleeves make it more versatile than most summer dresses, giving me coverage for breezy evenings and destinations where I want a little more modesty without sacrificing style. It comes in sizes XS through 5X, and the included belt lets me define my waist exactly the way I like. Hidden side pockets are convenient during travel, too.
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