5 Summer Dress Styles For Women Over 40

I love the ease of summer dresses. So I’ve been looking for summer dress styles that looked good on women over 40. Now, there are no rules in fashion, so wear what makes you happy, but if you’re experiencing some of the more typical midlife body and lifestyle changes, this is your guide! These 5 printed summer dress styles are figure-flattering, not too revealing, easy to care for, and on-trend.

*Post updated in June 2024

This post includes affiliate links, so I may receive a commission when you make a purchase after clicking on these links (at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting Fashionipa.

My 5 Favorite Summer Dress Styles

These 5 summer dress styles work for most body types, are affordable, and are easy to care for.

1. Tank Dress

T-shirt and tank dresses are comfortable and versatile. My favorite t-shirt and tank dresses skim the body but don’t cling.

One of my favorite summer dresses is the Santorini Thera Dress from Athleta. I was so smitten with this tie-dyed print, that I bought didn’t even wait for a sale. Currently, the dress is available in solid colors but if you like this print, keep checking the website as I’ve seen it come and go.

It’s made from TENCEL Modal™ which is a sustainable fabric, and it is also rated UPF 50+ (i.e. built-in sun protection!) I love the high neckline, as most scoop and v-necks come down too low on me, but you’ll want to wear a racer-back bra with it to avoid straps showing at your shoulders.

This dress is available in sizes XXS – 3X.

2. Tiered Midi Dress

Prefer a longer dress, try a tiered midi dress. A crisp cotton fabric will look a little more dressy, than a jersey one, but both can be dressed up or down.

My favorite maxi dress style is the Somerset Dress from Anthropologie. It’s available in beautiful printed cotton, linen, and eyelet and they come up with new versions often.

Related Post | Anthropologie’s Somerset Maxi Dress Review

This cotton Midi Tea Dress is similar and comes in lots of beautiful prints.

Looking for a sleeveless dress? Take a look at this Tiered Linen Blend dress.

3. Smocked Midi Dress

If you are looking for a pretty detail on your dresses, try a smocked dress. Smocking is an embroidery technique that scrunches up fabric giving it a little stretch. If you have a smaller bust, try a dress with a smocked bodice. If you are larger, you may prefer a little smocking detail on the back, waist, or sleeves.

Mine is a sold-out style from Banana Republic with smocking at the back. This GAP dress has a similar smocking detail. If you love florals, take a look at this V-neck Midi with smocking on the back.

This Organic Cotton Dress has a smocked waistband.

There are lots of mini dress options too, but I felt like they were just a little too “cute”. I thought the longer length made these dresses a little more sophisticated.

4. Square Neck Dress

I’m seeing a lot of floral printed square neck dresses in stores and online right now. If you find that v-necks are too low on you, a square neck might be a better option.

This Floral Square Neck Maxi dress has a beautiful red and white floral print.

This Staud dress has a flattering fit and flare style. It would be a pretty graduation or wedding guest dress.

If you love cottage core, take a look at this Cottage Core Floral Maxi.

5. Ruffled Dress

Ruffles add a sweet, feminine style to every day dresses. I like a subtle ruffle, either on the sleeve or hemline like this Organic Cotton Dress.

If you don’t mind a low neckline, this dress with ruffles at the shoulders is very pretty.

This pretty shirt dress has a ruffled sleeve and hem.

Other Summer Dress Styles…

There were so many other summer dress styles that I wanted to write about but this blog post would have never ended! A few to consider:

The little white dress

A sleevless shirt dress

A tie-neck dress

A tropical print dress.

And of course, there’s the dress that combines most of these trends, a tiered ruffled, smocked square neck tank dress! Whatever you choose, dresses are selling quickly now that the world is opening back up, so if you love something, don’t wait to buy it! Anthropologie, GAP, & Other Stories, and J.Crew had some really pretty dresses that have limited sizes or are sold out online so if you have a chance to go to those stores, look out for dresses!

Let me know which of these dress trends is your favorite!