17 best puff sleeve dresses to buy for summer
No matter the weather, occasion or your personal style, these are the best puff sleeve dresses to add to your summer rotation.
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One of the biggest spring/summer trends of the past few years has been the puff sleeve dress – and turns out it’s showing no signs of slowing down. Inspired in part by television shows like Bridgerton, the puff sleeve – in dress or shirt form – is one of the more flattering cuts and shapes to add to your summer wardrobe.
Nicole Adolphe, head of style at THE ICONIC, loves the feminine look of the puff sleeve trend.
She describes it as a “great look for weddings and long lunches, or an easy throw on when you are late for work.”
What does Nicole love most? “The dress is the look”, she said “you don’t need to accessorise or think much about how to wear it.”
BEST PUFF SLEEVE DRESSES
From mini to midi to black to white, these are the best puff sleeved dresses to add to your summer wardrobe.
BEST MINI PUFF SLEEVE DRESS
AERE Cut Out Linen Mini Dress, THE ICONIC, $150
Green is all the rage right now, so why not combine it with linen and puff sleeves, two trends that are the epitome of summer? This mini dress from AERE is at the top of our summer wishlist. Both the back and sides of the dress have a flattering cut-out and we love the delicate tie fastening on the back.
Curve Side Cut Out Mini Dress, Cotton On, $49.99
Available in both black and cobalt blue, Cotton On delivers a more affordable version of AERE’s dress mentioned above. The puffed sleeves cover your arms, while the side cut-outs celebrate your figure.
Note: Pictured above is the Curve version, you can shop other sizes here.
Floral Ruffle Mini Dress, Seed Heritage, $149.95
An essential for any summer daytime event, Seed Heritage delivers on the classic pretty floral dress. The bright yellow print is super flattering on all skin tones and we love the combination of the V-shaped neckline with the subtle puff on the shoulders.
BEST MIDI PUFF SLEEVE DRESS
Lovers Whisper Midi Dress Charcoal, The Dom, $179 (down from $199)
This has to be one of the cutest dresses we’ve seen in a long time. The heart pattern is oh so sweet and paired with the puffed sleeves and shirred bodice it has that perfect amount of femininity too. It is crafted from 100 per cent lightweight organic cotton making it the ideal summer dress.
Forever New Delilah Puff Sleeve Midi Dress in Multi, Myer, $169.99
Florals for spring? Groundbreaking. No but really, there’s no more perfect time than spring/summer to wear a gorgeous floral pattern. The shape of this dress is super feminine, with the puffed sleeves teaming perfectly with the tiered empire skirt. Pair it with white sneakers or sandals and your summer go-to outfit is sorted.
Forever New Curve Arabella Linen Puff Sleeve Dress in Orange, Myer, $159.99
Crafted from 100 per cent linen and coloured in a bright orange summer shade, this puff sleeve dress from Forever New is an absolute must-have. The natural fabric is super breathable and the length hits just above the ankles – the perfect mix between midi and maxi.
BEST LONG PUFF SLEEVE DRESS
AERE Button Detail Maxi Dress, The Iconic, $190
AERE’s version of the summer maxi dress is super flattering with unique button detailing and cut-outs on the waist. This gorgeous rust colour is sure to make a statement in your summer wardrobe and can easily be dressed up or down.
Tuck Sleeve Maxi Dress, Country Road, $499
Looking for a dress for a spring/summer wedding? You can’t go past this maxi dress from Country Road. It’s crafted from a luxurious silk and linen blend, and the pink is pretty and versatile.
We especially love the combination of the puffed sleeves, V-shaped neckline and front leg slit.
BEST BLACK PUFF SLEEVE DRESS
Atmos & Here Fern Linen Blend Gathered Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, The Iconic, $89.99
Not a fan of colour or prints? Doesn’t mean you can’t participate in the puff sleeve dress trend. This black number is super cute and is the sort of thing you can re-wear multiple times and keep constantly rotated in your wardrobe. Win!
Linen Cut Out Shirred Midi Dress, Seed Heritage, $169.95
If you’re a fan of the midi dress, we love this black version from Seed Heritage. Made from 100 per cent French linen, it’s the kind of dress you can easily chuck on and head straight out the door. We adore the square neckline, shirred bodice, puffed sleeves and sexy cut-outs on the waist.
BEST WHITE PUFF SLEEVE DRESS
French Connection Cutwork Puff Sleeve Dress in White, Myer, $159.95
On the hunt for a pretty and playful white mini dress? This is easily our top pick. The geometric cut-out pattern throughout the fabric makes it super breathable, while still adding a unique design element to this dress.
Curve Harley Full Sleeve Mini Dress, Cotton On, $49.99
A mini dress like this is such an easy outfit for the warmer weather, and the slight puff on the sleeves makes it a great pick for those who prefer a whimsy summer look.
If you love the fit and want to get more colours, you’ll be glad to know you can also pick it up in a classic black and bold green.
BEST FLORAL PUFF SLEEVE DRESS
Maya Full Sleeve Mini Dress, Cotton On, $49.99
We all know a floral dress is a summer staple. One five-star rating customer said they “got compliments all day” while wearing this dress, so how can you resist that?
The puff sleeve is combined with a shirred open back, and the elastic at the shoulder and sleeve opening ensures you’ve got a comfortable fit.
This dress also comes in a pretty blue floral pattern or a classic white.
Atmos & Here Primrose Linen Blend Midi Dress, The Iconic, $119.99
This is by far one of the prettiest summer dresses we’ve seen in a long time. The delicate floral pattern paired with the soft puffed sleeve and front leg split is an absolute must-have for the season.
Wildflower Belted Dress, Witchery, $249.95
Perfect for a garden party or summer wedding, this wildflower patterned number from Witchery couldn’t not make it onto our list.
The puffed sleeves make their way down to your elbow, and we love the flattering V-shaped neckline combined with the fixed waistline and gold tone buckle belt.
BEST PINK PUFF SLEEVE DRESS
AERE Cut Out Linen Maxi Dress, The Iconic, $180
Love an adorable pink dress for the summer? This linen maxi is calling your name with cut-outs on the side and back and a puffed sleeve for extra drama.
Puff Sleeve Belted Dress, Witchery, $249.95
Another puff sleeved dress that is designed to give you some coverage, this pick from Witchery makes its way down to your elbows, but gives you some shape with a cinched waist and a V-shaped neckline. The carnation pink is a great colour to rock in spring and summer and the feature of the gold tone hardware adds some drama to your look.
HOW TO STYLE THE PUFF SLEEVE DRESS FOR DIFFERENT BODY TYPES
To get the lowdown on how different body types can best rock the puff sleeve dress trend, we spoke to Nicole Adolphe, head stylist over at THE ICONIC.
If you’d rather not show off your shoulders, Nicole recommends the bishop sleeve – like this one here. She said “this style is not as voluminous on the shoulders but rather has more volume around the elbow and wrist areas. This type of sleeve also tends to be more loose, floaty and less structured.”
Want to try the puff sleeve trend while still accentuating your upper half? According to Nicole, you should try a shorter puff sleeve, or the Juliet or Leg of Mutton sleeve.
Keep on scrolling to see more of Nicole Adolphe’s tips when it comes to styling the puff sleeve dress trend.
More Coverage
- For a cute casual dress, the short puff sleeve linen dress is a no-brainer.
- A puff sleeve, nipped in at the waist with a fuller skirt suits almost everyone.
- If you’re a more modest dresser or the occasion calls for something more polished, then the longer length dress is perfect for you.
- If you prefer separates, a puff sleeve top with a matching skirt is excellent for weekend vibes. Another chic silhouette is the puff sleeve top with a pair of flares or wide leg pants.
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