Summer Dress Try-On: My Favorite Twirl-Tested Picks. These are six fun, flirty, floral, comfy, twirl-approved, celebration-ready dresses that I tried on and loved. What's your fave??
Summer Dress Try-On
Summer is full of special moments - brunches, garden parties, and yes, even preschool graduations. Finding the perfect dress to celebrate these occasions can be a joyful journey. Let's go..
My Search for the Perfect Summer Dress
My daughter is only graduating from preschool once. It’s a short ceremony in a Los Angeles parking lot. But something about this moment feels big. Really big. And I know it's going to be sparkly. So florals, twirl and color it is.
This moment marks a shift in our rhythm. A new season. A goodbye to babyhood. A hello to the next version of us.
And after five years of mostly wearing sweatpants, grabbing whatever is cute-ish and comfy, clean-ish, and skipping makeup in favor of extra minutes with my daughter (or let’s be real, extra minutes in bed), I decided to make this moment feel different.
So I went dress shopping. And no, I don't have bandwidth for stores.
Spoiler alert: here is the one I chose for preschool graduation!
Online Summer Dress Shopping
This was a multi-day project. I really got into the research, guys. I'm a bit embarased to admit that. Like real, online-scroll-deep-dive, cart-filling, porch-package-stalking dress shopping.
I wanted something special. Something floral, soft, beautiful — but still me. Must be twirl-worthy. Something that said: “I’m showing up for this.”
I tried on maybe ten dresses. A few instantly went back. Mostly due to fit, colors and texture of fabric.
Below is the list of six dresses I tried on and will probably keep — some I loved, and a few I’ll be wearing long after graduation day. Whether you’re celebrating your own little one’s milestone, hunting for a twirly summer dress, or just trying to feel a little more human again, I hope this roundup helps.
My 6 Favorite Floral Dresses for Summer (and One Preschool Graduation)
Here’s what I ordered, tried on, and twirled in — with all the juicy details…
short list:
- DOEN - Benoit Dress
- DOEN - Ischia Dress
- DOEN - Marcy Skirt + Top Set
- HILL HOUSE - Serafina Dress
- HILL HOUSE - Ellie Nap Dress
1. Doen Benoit Dress
Color: Noir Wild Rose and Ivory Wild Rose (Yes, I tried two colors..)
Price: $298
This is my dress of sassy girl summer. It's the first one I tried on that just worked. And then, a week later, Taylor Swift wore it out to dinner in New York. So… yes, I felt extremely validated in my taste.
It’s made of a structured linen that’s shockingly soft and lightweight. I usually avoid linen (it wrinkles, feels stiff, and doesn’t stretch), but this one is special. It has shape without being boxy, float without being fussy. I bought it in both the black and the white floral versions — because I couldn’t choose — and they both feel timeless and elevated.
The black version is moody and bold, while the white version feels dreamy and romantic. I may end up keeping both, honestly. (white version at shown above.)
2. Doen Ischia Dress
Color: Blanc Anenome Bloom
Price: $348
This is my wild card — and possibly my actual graduation pick. So soft!! If you are texture snob, this is your dress.
This summer dress is romantic, soft, full of movement, and just a little dramatic (in the best way). The florals include pinks, yellows, greens, and soft blues — like a watercolor painting. And while it’s definitely a statement piece, it’s also comfortable. It doesn’t just look pretty — it makes you feel pretty.
It was the most expensive piece I tried, but I genuinely think it’s worth it. I don’t buy designer dresses often, but when I do, I want them to last. This one feels like summer in a dress.
3. Doen Marcy Skirt + Top Set
Color: White with Red Poppies - Poppy Field
Price: $268 (Skirt only)
This set is soft. Like unbelievably soft. It’s made from the kind of fabric you want to live in, float around the garden in, or nap in — all of which I considered doing.
I’m still deciding whether I’ll keep both pieces. The skirt is stunning — feminine, flowy, and comfortable. The top is pretty but feels a little too prairie-chic for my personal style. Still, I may keep the skirt and pair it with something simpler. Bonus: there’s a matching version for kids. (Yes, I swooned.)
4. Hill House Serafina Nap Dress
Color: Pink Sweet Peas
Price: $150
I didn’t expect to love this one. Bright pink isn’t usually my go-to. But the minute I put it on, I understood why Hill House has a cult following.
This dress twirls. Like full-on, storybook-princess-level twirl. The fabric is light and bouncy, the cut is flattering, and it’s just… fun. My daughter will probably try to steal it from me someday, and honestly, I wouldn’t blame her.
This is the dress you wear when you want to dance, laugh, and be in the moment. It may not be my final graduation pick, but I’ll definitely be wearing it all summer long.
5. Hill House Ellie Nap Dress
Color: White Daisy Eyelet
Price: $150
This one’s a forever piece. It’s not fancy enough for a big event like graduation — but for everything else? It’s perfect.
Soft, simple, and endlessly wearable, this dress is made for farmers markets, beach days, or just feeling cute on a Sunday morning. It’s easy to throw on but still makes you feel like you’ve chosen an outfit. And sometimes, that’s half the battle.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t expect to fall in love with these dresses. I didn’t expect to feel so seen in a mirror, after months (years?) of forgetting what I looked like in fun clothes. But there’s something about dressing up for your kid — about celebrating both of you — that hits differently.
Preschool graduation isn’t just about them. It’s about us, too. The moms who showed up every day, tired and in messy buns, giving and giving.
This dress is for her — but it’s also for me.
You can see all of these dresses in motion in my Instagram Reel — and if you’ve been looking for something soft, floral, fun, and a little fabulous to twirl in this summer, maybe one of these will be your moment, too.
Let me know your favorite — and definitely tag me if you find your preschool grad (or summer picnic) dress.
shoes: worn for many years, stella m
