These ethical summer dresses are must-haves for any woman’s closet! We found dresses to fit all budgets, too
By Katy Caric
Ethical dresses for summer are must-haves in any woman’s closet. After all, the perfect summer frock is a marvellous thing. It’s easy to wear – you needn’t worry about matching tops and bottoms, or sometimes, even underwear – and easy to accessorise: hoop earrings, a great bag and sandals are all you need.
A summer dress is also versatile; casual enough for daytime, light and comfortable enough for the weather, and cute enough to make you feel beautiful, even when you can barely keep your head up for the heat.
But…how much are you willing to spend? On the one hand, these dresses can be worn year after year without looking dated. On the other hand, depending on where you live, you may only have a few months of weather good enough to allow you to rock your look, so you might not want to spend much on your summer wardrobe.
Here, I’ve rounded up some of the cutest ethical summer dresses – and there’s something for you, no matter what your budget.
15 Ethical Summer Dresses For Any Budget
Dresses Under $150
1. The Tiered Cotton Dress
Any body size. All complexions. All ages. This is one of those ethical summer dresses that doesn’t discriminate. It looks fab on anyone! It’s made of 100% polished cotton by Everlane, and comes in 3 different neutral hues, too.
This is the perfect garment for when it’s so damn hot, you just don’t want to wear anything that clings to your body in any way. It’s also the perfect frock for those on a budget
Price: Around $105
2. Amour Vert Lilet Dress
I just love the simplicity of this ethical summer dress! Namely, the side slit, flattering V neck and geometric cut. It’s also a super-versatile style that can easily be dressed up or down for endless, different occasions. It comes from a highly responsible brand – Amour Vert – which ensures its production is fully ethical.
Price: $138
3. MONKI Organic Cotton Dress
Made from 100% soft organic cotton jersey, this dress comes in all sizes from small to tall. It’s the perfect outfit to throw on when you’re working from home. In fact, this is one of those ethical summer dresses that’s so damn comfortable, you’ll never want to take it off! It suits all body types, and even all kinds of weather! Pull the hood on if you’re caught in a summer shower, for example.
MONKI partnered with the Better Cotton Initiative to ensure the material used for this dress used resources in the most responsible way possible. The BCI not only aims to improve cotton farming globally, but also provides farming-practice training and promotes things like water efficiency and reducing the most harmful chemicals.
4. Recycled LBD
Looking for ethical summer dresses for evenings out? This dress by &Other Stories is made from recycled fabrics, and brings a bit of sparkle to the night!
The mini length adds some sex appeal, but the conservative neckline means it’s not too OTT. Plus, here’s a styling secret: a twist at the hip means any bloating your tummy may be going through will be well hidden. You’re welcome!
Price: $62
Priced Between $150-$250
5. Avni Dress
This dress comes from one of the pioneers in the sustainable fashion field – People Tree. Their in-house emerald hued dress is made from eco-friendly organic cotton. You can rest assured that ethical practices were followed every step of the way to create this fun, light summer dress!
I love the fact that you can wear this maxi dress different ways: belted, with a sweater over it, with sneakers or heels, for example. All of that means it’s multi-seasonal. You’ll be able to wear this all year long, if you accessorise correctly! And priced at under $125, this is a great sustainable summer dress for those on a budget.
Price: $124
6. The Gavin Dress
Made from sustainably sourced viscose (a fibre made from wood pulp), this is one of the best ethical summer dresses for work. Its midi-length skirt goes well with any height of heel, and the fitted bodice looks professionally tailored. It also has a sweet diamond cutout at the back, which can be covered up with a blazer for the office.
Not a fan of conservative navy blue? There are 9 fabrics to choose from for this style, including plenty of fun, summery floral prints!
Price: Around $218
7. Gaala Olivia Dress
Olivia is just so pretty! She features a square neckline, open back, and hidden side pockets. Soft, breathable linen gives this sustainable sundress a fresh, crisp feel.
The dress is ethically made in Belarus from upcycled materials – namely pure, European linen and cotton.
Price: Around $210
8. Eco Gypsy Seseh Dress
Planning to hit the beach? Want to wear the most Instagrammable summer dress, like, ever? As seen in our main image for this article, the Seseh dress by Eco Gypsy is a loose, breezy piece of gorgeousness that fits any body size or shape.
Ethically made from naturally dyed organic cotton by artisans in Bali, it comes in four different colours. This is one of those ethical summer dresses that’s bound to be a summer staple in your wardrobe for years to come.
Price: $210
9. The Dawn Dress
Calling all romantics! This short-sleeved midi dress is superlight, and comes in over a dozen dreamy prints. We love the fact that it comes with pockets, too! Made ethically by Christy Dawn from organic cotton, it’s bound to be one of those first-thing-you-reach-for-in-your-closet pieces.
Pair it with tennis shoes, boots, sandals, loafers – anything!
Price: $189
Over $250
10. The Brooklyn Dress
Boasting a full, tiered skirt, the Brooklyn Dress features delicate, poetic sleeves with elastic and ruffles. The fully ruched bodice hugs your natural curves, and the V-neck and ankle-length hem create the perfect vintage silhouette.
This is the perfect investment dress. Its classic black colour and girlish cut means you’ll be wearing this summer after summer.
Price: $298
11. Lux Dress
Hey, cowgirl! This romantic dress is perfect for wearing with boots. It features organic cotton voile, a midi length and plenty of ruffles! Made by conscious brand St Roche, it also boasts great attention to detail, which is evident from the pintucks and hand-embroidered French knots.
Price: Around $375
12. The Rosehip Dress
Can’t decide whether you like florals or solid colours in a summer dress? The Rosehip model by Reformation comes in mix of 10 colours and textures! Choose from soft lavender, navy blue, basic black, yellow, white floral – or maybe best of all, this elegant ballerina pink.
We love the straight-cut bust line, midi length, delicate spaghetti straps….everything, really! In fact, of all the ethical dresses for summer, this may well be one of the most classic designs.
Price: Around $250
13. Jordana Dress
I love everything about this sweet little dress, from the linen blend fabric to the cheery buttercup colour! Made ethically by Cult Gaia, this is one of my favourite ethical summer dresses on the list. It’s perfect for the hottest days, and can be worn during the day at a resort, or in the evening for cocktails out on a rooftop.
Pair it with some of Cult Gaia’s incredible sandals and gorgeous bags for the perfect outfit.
Price: Around $385
14. Venus Wrap Dress
How romantic is this ethical summer dress by Aurora Sage? We love the pink colour. Especially knowing that the hue comes from crushed rose petals instead of nasty dyes!
Wrap dresses fit your figure perfectly, since they’re adjustable at the waist. They’re also a perennial, classic style that never looks old.
Each piece is made and dyed to order and can take up to 6 weeks. But given the beauty of this dress, and the fact that it’s made on slow fashion principles, it’s worth it!
Price: Around $410
15. The Nairobi Hibiscus Dress
This classic kaftan dress by MALA CHETTY will be a summer staple. The fresh white and bold hibiscus flower print lends an elegant style to the relaxed fit dress.
The dress will not only function as a graceful garment during daytime but one that will be just as refined in the evening. The kaftan looks fabulous with a simple sandal or paired with a heel and a statement clutch.
Price: Around $1,200
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Those dresses!!! i like all of ’em. Nice choices!
Thanks for saying so! 🙂
I cannot take an article serious when it includes H&M. H&M is anything but ethical OR eco. It makes me wonder how much effort was actually put into finding ethical brands or if you just took everything these companies say at face value.
Those are amazing. I’m gonna look fancy with those on.
Those dresses!!! i like all of ’em. Nice choices!
amazing post keep it up
I’m obsessed with that caftan! Too bad that’s a bit outside my budget. These are some great other choices too.