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A young girl in a white dress stands on the seashore, looking into the distance. Holds the straw hat with his right hand
Julia Moiseeva/istockphoto

As the saying goes, you can’t wear white until after Memorial Day. Whether you buy into that or not, summer is still a good season to wear lightweight, white cotton sundresses. After doing some serious online shopping, I couldn’t resist highlighting these affordable white dresses that are all under $50 — but look much more expensive.

Women’s Puff 3/4 Sleeve Mini Dress

Target

$30 from Target

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This cotton mini dress is currently on clearance, so it’s not likely to last. It has a super cute cutout back — and pockets! Who doesn’t need a dress with pockets? One reviewer said she wore it to a Taylor Swift concert and it was perfect for the occasion. We can totally see that.

Summer Boho Spaghetti Strap Dress

Summer Boho Spaghetti Strap Dress
Amazon

$40 from Amazon

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The “nap dress” is still sort of a thing, especially for summer. This one looks particularly Insta-worthy, with cute bow straps and an easy-to-wear length. It’s also available in a million colors (okay, 33) if you want to go beyond white.

Off The Shoulder Dress

Off The Shoulder Dress
Amazon

$43 from Amazon

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Picture wearing this dress to a romantic sunset dinner overlooking the water. Or wearing it while window shopping on a Greek island. Or really, wherever you go that’s interesting. And if you go nowhere but still wear it, that’s okay, too — because the price is just right.

Short Sleeve Shirt Dress

Short Sleeve Shirt Dress
Old Navy

$45 from Old Navy

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We love how versatile this 100% cotton shirt dress would be for the summer. Wear it to work, as a swimsuit cover up, with leggings or a belt … it basically works for any and every outfit. 

Related: Where to Find Cheap Plus-Size Clothing Online

Scoop Women’s Eyelet Midi Dress

Scoop Women's Eyelet Midi Dress
Walmart

$44 from Walmart

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Seriously, no one would ever know this dress is from Walmart. With 100% cotton fabric and delicate eyelet detailing, it looks like it came from a store like Anthropologie or J.Crew.

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Meet the Writer

Jennifer Magid has worked as a writer and editor in publishing and marketing for almost two decades. She has written for outlets ranging from InStyle magazine to Psychology Today and for a number of grocery and personal care brands. Jennifer is frugal by proxy: She is married to a certified cheapskate, which has been good for her wallet but bad for her shoe and handbag collections. These days, she never, ever buys her fashions at full price. Jennifer holds a Master’s in Journalism from New York University. She lives in Connecticut with her family and an admittedly expensive-to-maintain standard poodle — the one anomaly in her cheap lifestyle. Find out more about Jennifer at www.jennifermagid.com. You can reach her at [email protected].