Vintage Summer Dresses

VINTAGE SUMMER DRESSES

Celebrate your summer in ModCloth's EXCLUSIVE collection of vintage-inspired, cute summer dresses. Discover our most popular styles of summer dresses, which include darling mini dresses, effortless maxi dresses, vintage-inspired halter top dresses, babydoll dresses, boho dresses, romantic floral dresses, pinafore dresses, and more. 

ModCloth loves carrying a wide variety of silhouettes and a great selection of patterns and solids, but we are most proud of our abundance of sizes. From XS, S, M, L, 1X, 2X, 3X, and 4X, our dresses are for everyone.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VINTAGE-INSPIRED SUMMER DRESSES? Well, that depends on what era of fashion you feel like channeling today:

• 40’s Summer dresses: Classic A-line sundresses, often with button-up detailing are a timeless staple of 1940s women’s fashion. Breezy midi sundresses in floral prints, and vibrant solids (especially navy blue sundresses) were all the rage during this era.

50’s Summer dresses: Rockabilly style began influencing fashion in the 1950’s, and this is the era when swing dresses, fit-and-flare sundresses, and sleeveless midi sundresses first made their debut! (Think Marilyn in her timeless, white halter-top dress). Tie-neck collars became a fashion must-have, and don’t forget the prints! Polka-dot sundresses, plaid sundresses, and deep emerald green sundresses have been stealing hearts ever since.60’s Summer dresses: In the 1960’s, all manners of sleeveless mini dresses became mainstream! The babydoll sundress, smock sundresses with Peter Pan collars, off the shoulder sundresses, belted shift sundresses, shirred sundresses, smocked sundresses, and FINALLY dresses with pockets! Bold floral print sundresses, leopard print sundresses, and colorblock sundresses are still fashion hallmarks of this iconic era. 70’s Summer dresses: Flowy maxi dresses and kaftan dresses with bold geometric prints can be traced back to the 1970s fashion era. Pinafore dresses made a comeback in the 70’s, boho sundresses first hit the scene, and the groovy seventies also saw the emergence of bold floral sundresses. 80’s Summer dresses: Cute mini sundresses reached new heights in the 1980’s, and metallic print sundresses reflected the spirit of the eighties. Sundresses with puff sleeves, neon sundresses, and T-shirt sundress with playful graphics were all the rage, and Madonna made us fall in love with black mesh sundresses as well as sundresses with ruffles upon ruffles.90’s Summer dresses: Plaid mini skirts, and plaid sundresses came back in a major way during the 1990s fashion era. Floral sundresses and sheer sundresses hit the streets, and nothing beat a floral slip dress layered under a flannel button-up top. Cute and casual sundresses, bodycon dresses, and color block sundresses also show up in timeless 90’s era dresses.

Whatever era in fashion you seek to inspire, we're here to support you with cute summer dresses in every size! 

Women’s clothing for our ModCloth community is about variety and creative expression! ModCloth loves representing the perfect fit for every woman, especially in vintage-inspired styles that go above and beyond the status quo. ModCloth makes it fun and easy to express yourself in sizes ranging XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL, 1X, 2X, 3X, and 4X. 

Yes, we have all our favorite essential clothing basics that include relaxed-fit tees, leggings, tunics, cardigans, and stretchy denim jeans. ModCloth also has you covered with workwear essentials like sophisticated blazers, trousers, dresses, and button-up tops, but here’s how ModCloth goes beyond basic to showcase your retro-chic sensibilities:

• Era-based fashion so you can channel the art deco-inspired 1920s, classic pin-up vibes from the 1930’s, the mod 40’s, the rockabilly 50’s, retro 70’s vibes with high-rise, wide-leg pants and psychedelic prints, the neon 80’s, and the pop, punk, and goth movements of the 90’s!
• Exclusive collaborations with exciting brands like Hello Kitty, Barbie, Care Bears, Collectif, Princess Highway, and more!
• Hard-to-find options for vintage-inspired coats, jumpsuits, overalls, swing skirts, sleepwear, outerwear, and swimwear.
• SO MUCH to choose from in women’s dresses! Fit-and-flare dresses, swing dresses, maxi dresses, cocktail dresses, party dresses, mini dresses, babydoll dresses, shirt dresses, midi dresses, sweater dresses…and MOST of them have POCKETS!
• Our most popular women’s clothing styles offer exclusive hand-drawn prints that range from elegant to quirky with an emphasis on current trends. Whether you love cats, dogs, books, deep sea creatures, outerspace, moon phases, stars, celestial, dinosaurs, bunnies, bugs, bears, florals, rainbows, or reptiles, our talented design team is always coming up with unique ways for you to express yourself. 
• Elegant dresses for special occasions including stunning wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, cocktail dresses, and evening gowns that are full of unique, vintage-inspired detailing. 

So how do you feel like expressing yourself today? Are you feeling a bit kawaii? Cottagecore? Boho-chic? Feeling your goth streak? Or maybe you just want to wear something that lets everyone know how much you love your cat. Whatever you want in vintage-inspired women’s clothing, ModCloth is with you all the way. Come explore our latest women’s clothing collection now! 

Take your sunny-day styles back - way back - with vintage summer dresses from ModCloth. Shop across the eras that interest you most to discover all of the feminine '50s dresses, easygoing boho dresses, and summer shift dresses we have in stock. Though, the retro fun certainly doesn't end there. Once you've found a few new fab looks, take a stroll over to our assortment of '60s sunglasses to pull together a totally throwback ensemble, or to lend some nostalgic panache to a more modern outfit. Summertime is an excellent opportunity to showcase the full range of your aesthetic, and with our vintage summer dresses, you'll be ready to turn quite a few heads.

EXPERIENCE VINTAGE SUMMER DRESSES FOR YOURSELF
It's one thing to admire our vintage summer dresses from afar, and to hear your friends rave about the looks they chose for themselves, but these styles are best experienced in the first person. Once your order arrives, indulge in all the textiles, silhouettes, and details that are a natural fit for your unique wardrobe. You won't be able to get enough! Whether you're buttoning into the front, zipping up from the side, or sliding in from the bottom, the moment you're situated in any of our vintage summer dresses, your inner light can't help but shine. Summer maxi dresses with sentimental touches are some of our favorites for the season, and we're certain you'll love them, too. Don't forget to share your new looks with us!

VINTAGE SUMMER DRESSES WITH PLENTY OF VIM
When it comes to vintage summer dresses, our collection has personality in abundance. From exclusive, hand-drawn patterns you won't find anywhere else, to a full size range and plenty of pockets, these vintage summer dresses are styles you won't want to pass by. You'll need some shoes to go with the looks you're eyeing, so why not add some vintage-inspired Oxford heels and bohemian sandals to your cart as well? Look out, summertime fashion circuit - here you come.