Best Button-Front Dresses for Summer

Dress weather is officially in full swing and this season, it really is all in the details. Button-front dresses have all but taken over at retail and everything from sundresses to sheaths are available adorned with the fastenings. Some are functional, some are purely decorative but either way, these simple add-ons are taking summer dresses to a chic new level. As fashion trends go, buttons are hardly a revelation. After all, they’re pretty much guaranteed to be included on at least one piece we’re wearing on any given day. But the versions we’re seeing this season aren’t just functional, they’re fashion, adding an elevated, vintage-inspired vibe to airy linen and cotton frocks. Whether they’re lined up straight down the middle or adding a dynamic effect off-center, buttons are officially the must-have dress detail of the season. Forget about closures, these are embellishments — and they’re everywhere. So whether you prefer a sleek, tailored frock or a flirty spaghetti-strap style, the button-front dress offerings are plentiful with options that are perfect for everything from a casual Friday at the office to a weekend park jaunt. Ahead, 15 wallet-friendly picks that will give your summer dress game an instant upgrade.

[ Next: 25 Easy Summer Dresses Perfect for the Work Week and Beyond ]

If you Buy One Dress this Summer, It should Be a Button Front

Zara

Striped Dress With Knot, $69.90 at Zara
Lulus

Louetta Rust Red Button-Down Mini Dress, $54 at Lulus
FP Beach

Messenger Midi Dress, $88 at Free People
Moon River

Belted Strapless Dress, $93 at Moon River
Pixie Market

Luna Button V Linen Dress, $119 at Pixie Market
Topshop

Button Ribbed Mini Dress, $32 at Topshop
Urban Outfitters

Belted Gingham Button-Down Mini Dress, $59 at Urban Outfitters
Reformation

Como Dress, $98 at Reformation
1901

Gingham Button Front Cotton Blend Dress, $129 at Nordstrom
Tobi

Sidekick White Button Up Skater Dress, $31 at Tobi
Mango

Striped Midi Dress, $59.99 at Mango
ASOS

Design Button Through Sundress in Mono Check, $45 at ASOS
Faithfull

Linen Midi Dress, $208 at Anthropologie
Mossimo

Khaki Button-Up Dress, $29.99 at Target
J.O.A.

Cold Shoulder Button Up Dress, $98 at J.O.A.