The highest honor that a filmmaker can possibly aspire to is a Best Director Academy Award. Handed out since the very first Oscars in 1929, nominations for this highly coveted award have gone to several of the greatest movie directors the art form has ever had. Much more often than not, a Best Directing nomination comes with at least a few other nods in different categories—including, quite often, Best Picture. Seven noteworthy times in history, however, that wasn’t the case. On these seven occasions, the only Oscar nod a film received was Best Directing.

The reason why this phenomenon is so rare is that it’s almost impossible to conceive a film that the Academy deems worthy of a nomination in what’s arguably the second most prestigious prize of the night, but not in any other category. The directors who have attained such an honor, however, are among the most important filmmakers in history. From David Lynch to Martin Scorsese, they’re directors so strong that the Academy looked at their movies and decided their work was so great that it deserved a Directing nod, even if they didn’t deem the film worthy of any more recognition. They are presented in chronological order.

7

‘The Inn of the Sixth Happiness’ (1958) — Mark Robson

Image via 20th Century Studios

The first time that a movie’s sole nomination was for Best Directing was in 1959, when Mark Robson received the second Oscar nomination of his career, for The Inn of the Sixth Happiness. This was only a year after he had received his first nomination, for the crime drama Peyton Place. As for The Inn, it’s a biopic starring Ingrid Bergman as Gladys Aylward, a British evangelical missionary who ran an inn for traveling merchants in China during the tumultuous years leading up to WWII.

Though terribly underappreciated nowadays, this is one of Ingrid Bergman’s most essential movies, where she delivers a phenomenal performance that was nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe. When it came time for the Oscars, however, it was only Robson who received a nomination, with the DGA having been the only precursor award he’d been nominated for beforehand. It was a perfectly well-deserved nomination, too. Robson bring a dramatic, moving tone to this sweeping historical epic, which doesn’t have a single dead spot throughout its nearly 3-hour runtime.

6

‘Alice’s Restaurant’ (1969) — Arthur Penn

Image via United Artists

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Alice’s Restaurant is an adaptation of the 1967 folk song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” by Arlo Guthrie. Movie adaptations of singular songs aren’t exactly typical, but this dramedy (in which Guthrie stars as himself) shines thanks to its uniqueness. It follows a bohemian musician who, after dumping trash in the bottom of a ravine, gets arrested for littering and is sent on a bizarre journey. It’s a simple, laid-back, countercultural gem that’s kind of like if Easy Rider went easier on the sociopolitics and much heavier on the vibes.

Some have criticized the film for being a bit too politically lukewarm, but it’s such a warm, funny, and welcoming slice-of-life flick that it’s impossible to hate it outright. The Academy certainly didn’t hate it, as director Arthur Penn was Oscar-nominated without having been a part of any precursors. This was his third Oscar nomination after The Miracle Worker in 1963 and Bonnie and Clyde in 1968. Penn’s direction is a complex balancing act of charming humor and countercultural melancholy, a balancing act that he admirably succeeds at. His direction is far and away the most brilliant part of this rather imperfect film, and as such, his Oscar nod was nothing to complain about.

5

‘Fellini Satyricon’ (1969) — Federico Fellini

Image via United Artists

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There has never been an Italian filmmaker more popular, important, or groundbreaking than the great Federico Fellini. Studying his filmography is the best possible way of learning about the trajectory of 20th-century Italian cinema: The auteur began his career as an essential voice in the Italian Neorealist movement, and one can track the country’s move away from that tradition by tracking Fellini’s shift toward more subjective, psychologically personal cinema. By the time he made Fellini Satyricon, the director had already moved as far away from any kind of neorealist aesthetic current as he could possibly get.

Lavish and hedonistic, this episodic series of disjointed mythological tales set in 1st-century Rome is one of Fellini’s most divisive yet audacious works. Precursors didn’t adore Satyricon, but some of them certainly recognized it (it received a Best Foreign Language Film Golden Globe nomination). When the Oscars came, however, it was only Fellini’s brilliance that received recognition. It’s not like anyone’s complaining: This was a well-earned nomination for an artist that was nominated for 12 Oscars throughout his career (but never won), for a film that presents some of the most adventurous, visually striking, and artistically confident direction of any ’60s motion picture.

4

‘Blue Velvet’ (1986) — David Lynch

It was incredibly divisive among critics and audiences alike when it originally came out, but today, David Lynch‘s cult classic Blue Velvet is recognized by many as one of the greatest movie masterpieces of the 20th century. The late David Lynch was a genius madman with a camera, an easy choice for the title of “most important surrealist filmmaker of modern times.” For this sexually-charged neo-noir masterpiece, some started seeing Lynch as a master of subversive cinema, while others heavily criticized how explicit his work was. In the end, though, after a pretty decent run throughout the 1986-87 awards season, Lynch made it all the way to his second Best Directing nomination, and third Oscar nod overall.

Blue Velvet may have been controversial back in ’86, but with the years’ passage, this Oscar nomination has come to age as one of the most inspired and satisfying of the decade. Erotic, sensual, intense, and as perfectly dreamlike as the rest of Lynch’s filmography, Blue Velvet is a nearly faultless example of what the work of an auteur in full control of his craft looks like. The way Lynch pushes both the characters and the audience to constantly shocking—but never exploitative—places was more than enough to make him worthy of that Oscar nod.

3

‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ (1988) — Martin Scorsese

Image via Universal Pictures

There are those who would refer to Martin Scorsese as the single greatest living filmmaker, and no one would blame them. He’s made several of the greatest films in history, but like any great director worth their salt, his career hasn’t been without its fair share of controversy. There’s really not much of a question as to what Scorsese’s most controversial picture is: That title would have to go to The Last Temptation of Christ. This religious drama penned by frequent Scorsese collaborator Paul Schrader was based on the equally-controversial novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, and is a fictional exploration of the spiritual conflict of Jesus’ human side. Despite the “fictional” part, however, various Christian groups across the world attacked and boycotted the movie, calling it blasphemous.

With time, that rage has cooled down and cinephiles have come to appreciate this criminally underrated gem as what it is: One of Scorsese’s biggest masterpieces and greatest epics. Despite all the controversy and no significant precursors to his name, Scorsese obtained the Best Directing Oscar nod. The decision has aged beautifully. Meditatively paced and shockingly powerful (both intellectually and emotionally), Last Temptation offers some of Scorsese’s strongest 20th-century work. His direction has arguably aged even better than that of the 1989 Oscar winner, The Last Emperor‘s Bernardo Bertolucci.

2

‘Short Cuts’ (1993) — Robert Altman

Image via Fine Line Features

Robert Altman was one of the greatest and most important voices of the New Hollywood film movement, offering some of the era’s most subversive and brilliantly satirical films, often with huge ensemble casts. He kept doing terrific work for the rest of his career, too, which obviously includes the ’90s. His best film of that decade? There’s hardly any question about it: It has to be Short Cuts, an anthology movie inspired by nine short stories and a poem by Raymond Carver.

The movie was a tragic box office flop, but it performed wonderfully with critics, who labeled it a beautifully complex ensemble piece. For his flawless balance between humor and emotion, his ability to keep the story engaging throughout every second of the 189-minute runtime, and the fact that he pulled equally-exceptional performances out of every actor in his star-studded cast, Altman made his way to the fourth Best Directing (and fifth overall) Oscar nomination of his career, following a decent precursor run. It’s easily one of the best films of this masterful director’s career; so, if anything, it deserved even more Oscar nominations.

1

‘Mulholland Drive’ (2001) — David Lynch

Image via Universal Pictures

Who else but David Lynch could possibly be deserving of the honor of being the sole recipient of an Oscar nomination for one of his films twice? In all fairness, as one of the greatest films of not just the 21st century, but of all time, Mulholland Drive deserved many nominations on top of Best Directing. At a minimum, Best Picture, Best Actress for both Naomi Watts and Laura Harring, Best Supporting Actor for Justin Theroux, and a Best Screenplay nod for one of the best scripts of the 2000s would have been in order. But it’s a tried-and-true sad fact of life that the Academy doesn’t always get things right (particularly when it comes to arthouse and surrealist films), so a Best Directing nomination is better than nothing.

It also couldn’t have happened for a more deserving directing work. Mulholland Drive is widely praised as Lynch’s best film, and as such, as the best directing work of his career. What starts out as a quirky, melodramatic, mysterious critique of the Hollywood Dream slowly starts transforming into a waking nightmare, and Lynch handles that transition like a pro. Dreamlike, thought-provoking, and full of fascinating symbolism and imagery, Mulholland Drive has aged as the greatest film of 2001 by a decent margin. No shade to Ron Howard or A Beautiful Mind, but this would have been remembered as a far stronger and more satisfying Best Picture and Best Directing recipient.

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Mulholland Drive

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Release Date

October 19, 2001

Runtime

147 minutes

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Director

David Lynch

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Writers

David Lynch

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By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 31 seconds ago

Starfleet Academy had a satisfying Season 1 finale, but as I watched, I kept asking myself a blunt question: “why do I like this so much?” Sure, the episode was free of many things I hated from earlier stories, including the vulgar slang and potty humor of earlier episodes. It also focused on drama and characterization instead of terrible comedy, which is a major improvement over the first half of the season. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something else made this episode infinitely better than most of what had come before.

That’s when it hit me: it was the characters. Or, more precisely, the lack of characters: thanks to the season finale’s premise, several characters are left out of the episode altogether, and other characters who appear are sidelined in favor of focusing on a few key storylines. The result was that this episode (“Rubincon”) is a shining example of what this new Star Trek series is capable of. But it’s also proof of a simple fact: Starfleet Academy has way too many characters, and it needs to let some of them go in order to become a successful show.

A Seriously Crowded Cast

Starfleet Academy has, to put it mildly, a huge cast of characters. There are 11 main characters who are prominently featured in almost every episode. For comparison, Star Trek: The Next Generation started with nine main characters, but this included Tasha Yar, who died midway through Season 1. It also includes Wil Wheaton, who left after Season 4. This means that for just a little under half of its iconic run, TNG sported only seven main characters, which made it easy for episodes to focus on the entire cast.

In case you’re wondering, Star Trek: The Original Series had only eight main characters. Deep Space Nine had nine main characters, and that’s counting Worf, who joined in Season 4. Voyager also held steady at nine main characters, eventually substituting Kes for Seven of Nine. At 11 main characters, Starfleet Academy is obviously overcrowded by the standards of the franchise, and its limited number of episodes per season keeps us from getting to know everyone.

Time Is The Fire In Which We All Stream

Star Trek: Discovery began what would become a fairly depressing trend with NuTrek shows: a limited number of episodes per season. While the so-called Golden Age of Star Trek had 26 episodes per season, shows like Starfleet Academy only get 10 episodes per season. That means that even if SFA gets four full seasons (a goal that seems increasingly difficult to meet), it will end with fewer episodes than Voyager got in only two seasons!

That’s important because, each season, Starfleet Academy only gets 10 episodes to develop its 11 main characters. There’s just not enough time to do so, and some characters really get the short end of the stick. For example, Genesis is the only cadet who doesn’t get a solo episode devoted to her; the closest thing she gets is a side story with Caleb, where we learn that her dark secret is that her previous instructors thought she would never be a good captain. 

The Season 1 finale puts her in the captain’s chair, but she inexplicably doesn’t get to do anything notable while she’s in command except announce that she has to pee. Unfortunately, this lack of resolving her story highlights a big problem with Genesis: because she’s also a highly driven, Type A overachiever, she is often written as “Darem with boobs.” But Darem got his own episode, a romantic subplot, and a special effects-heavy sequence where he saved the ship; comparatively, Genesis got absolutely nothing, making her character feel weirdly redundant.

Main Character Syndrome

Given the limited number of episodes and the outsized number of lead actors, it’s also bizarre how much screen time Starfleet Academy devotes to supporting characters. We got entire episodes focused on stories with the War College and its frosty chancellor, only for them to all disappear from the narrative in the last two episodes. We also get a lot of screentime dedicated to weird comic relief characters, including Tarima’s beta brother and that one cadet who swallowed her comm badge. 

Compounding this is the fact that Caleb Mir is undeniably the main character of Starfleet Academy’s first season. This isn’t inherently a bad thing: Caleb has proven to be a very compelling character, and actor Sandro Rosta has the charisma and magnetic screen presence of a leading man. But every moment spent developing Caleb is a moment not spent developing anyone else. This is to the show’s detriment, but the Caleb focus of season finale “Rubicon” revealed the easiest way to improve Starfleet Academy: namely, Paramount needs to thin this cast out!

Less Is More

The Starfleet Academy Season 1 finale, “Rubincon,” had a reduced number of characters for a simple reason: the previous episode had most of the minor and some of the major characters stuck inside Federation space when supervillain Nus Braka trapped everyone there with futuristic mines. Lura Thok (the half-Klingon, half-Jem’hadar) was trapped back home, as was Admiral Vance. Similarly, Chancellor Kelrec and the rest of his War College brute squad were stuck inside Fed space.

This left us with a streamlined crew of cadets, and the show wasn’t afraid to sideline a few of them, too: as mentioned before, poor Genesis doesn’t get to do much more than look pretty and sit in the captain’s chair. Darem, meanwhile, gets to do even less. But as a result, everyone else gets to shine: Chancellor Ake gets to dramatically defend Federation honor during a show trial, the Doctor saves the ship, and Kraag saves the Doctor. Caleb gets to save his biological mother and his surrogate mother, all while cementing his relationship with Tarima, who uses their newfound bond to help locate the bad guys and ultimately save the day.

That was all it took for Starfleet Academy to shine: by giving fewer characters the spotlight, it made it easier to develop everyone else while delivering a tight and compelling episode of Star Trek. This new spinoff has already shot its second season, and superfans are crossing their fingers that this won’t be the last voyage for these plucky cadets. But for this futuristic show to survive, it will need to take a cue from the past. Namely, ditching some of these main characters, occasionally sidelining others, and doing what The Next Generation always did so well: focusing on just one or two characters per episode, ultimately giving everyone a chance to shine.

In recent years, there have been several movies about the origins of popular American products. Apple released a film about Beanie Babies a few years ago, which means that we can probably expect a film about Labubus soon. Hulu released a movie about Cheetos, titled Flamin’ Hot, while Jerry Seinfeld directed an absurdist comedy about Pop-Tarts for Netflix, titled Unfrosted. This year, John Cena will star in The Matchbox Movie, which was probably green-lit because of the culture-defining success of Greta Gerwig‘s Barbie. This trend began a decade ago, with a movie that traced the origins of McDonald’s. Unlike Barbie, which positioned itself as a feminist fable, or even Flamin’ Hot, which highlighted the contributions of the immigrant population, the McDonald’s movie had fewer layers than a Big Mac. It was, quite literally, about how an ambitious businessman took a mom-and-pop operation and turned it into a massive corporation. The ambitious businessman was, in fact, the protagonist of the story and not the villain.

The businessman was played by Michael Keaton, who had been freshly nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Birdman. The film also featured Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch as brothers Richard McDonald and Maurice McDonald, who created an assembly line of sorts that significantly reduced the time it took to cook burgers. Impressed by their operation, salesman Ray Kroc (Keaton) urged them to create franchises before buying them out some years later. The movie was directed by John Lee Hancock, who previously made the war film The Alamo, and has since directed the “copaganda” movie The Highwaymen and the Se7en rip-off The Little Things.

Related

From Broadway to Hollywood — The Collider Movie Quiz!

Plenty of movies were based on plays. So whip out your program and find your seat because the quiz curtain is about to rise.

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Here’s the Pro-Capitalism Movie that Netflix Has Blocked for Capitalist Reasons

The movie in question is The Founder, which grossed $24 million worldwide against a reported budget of $25 million. It earned solid reviews and is now sitting at a “Certified Fresh” 80% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes. The website’s consensus reads, “The Founder puts Michael Keaton’s magnetic performance at the center of a smart, satisfying biopic that traces the rise of one of America’s most influential businessmen — and the birth of one of its most far-reaching industries.” The movie also featured B.J. Novak, Laura Dern, and Linda Cardellini. However, it is among the 140 titles that Netflix has restricted access to this month for subscribers to its ad-supported tier.

Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

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December 16, 2016

Runtime

115 Minutes

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Director

John Lee Hancock

Writers

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Robert D. Siegel

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Nicki Minaj has the internet goin’ IN on her after she shared a message about the world losing its mind.

RELATED: Whew! Social Media Is Goin’ OFF After Nicki Minaj Called Herself Trump’s “Number One Fan” & Held His Hand At Account Summit (WATCH)

Nicki Minaj Shares Message About The World Losing Its Mind

On the evening of Friday, March 13, Minaj took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to repost a message about neurodivergent people initially being rejected but now being unable to be replaced.

https://t.co/MkgbfudjBd pic.twitter.com/7V0YhyEpEA

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) March 13, 2026

From there, Minaj reposted a message about the CEO of Palantir declaring that neurodivergent people own the future. Additionally, Minaj noted the group as her “tribe.”

*takes my rightful place in society with the rest of my tribe*

Neurodivergents of Gag City gather here.

It’s our time

*looks menacingly @ the “normals”.

*begins implementing the payback they never saw coming*

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Reads to congregation: and the stone the builder rejected… https://t.co/k1GD8Bkhg3 pic.twitter.com/FKqjG0Vopi

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) March 13, 2026

From there, she shared a message about Elon Musk.

Neurodivergents watching our leader Elon be the richest & smartest while the others realize they’re cooked. pic.twitter.com/3d1RH3Z595

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) March 14, 2026

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Then, Minaj shared her own tweet, which has now garnered over 2.3 million views.

Then, she shared two final follow-up messages.

#NeurodivergentRapLines

I look beyond what ppl saying and I see intent.

Then I just sit back & decipher what they really meant.

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— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) March 14, 2026

X wins b/c they understand community. Not just identifying the communities—but enhancing the actual community itself.

Enhancing the experience that allows the community to function completely outside of the overall population w/o feeling alienated from said population.

Do you…

— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) March 14, 2026

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To note, per the University Hospital, neurodivergence covers a wide range of conditions from those diagnosed with autism, to ADHD, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, speech disorder, Tourette syndrome, and other conditions.

The Internet Is Goin’ IN On Nicki Minaj

Social media users entered TSR’s comment section, goin’ IN on Nicki Minaj.

More On The Recent Events With The Rapper & The World

As The Shade Room previously reported, in November 2025, Nicki Minaj sparked reactions when she spoke at the UN and supported Donald Trump’s addressing of alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria.

RELATED: Screenshot Appears To Show Tammy Rivera Calling Nicki Minaj A “Bootlicker” As Clip Resurfaces Of Charlie Kirk Saying Rapper Isn’t Good Role Model

In January, Minaj continued to surprise fans when she appeared at Trump’s account Summit, held his hand, and called herself his “number one fan.”

Most recently, Minaj’s apparent alignment with Trump’s MAGA party made the rapper spark even more reactions when she doubled down on feeling as though she is not “transphobic.”

RELATED: Nicki Minaj Sparks Reactions After Saying She Is Not Transphobic (WATCH)

When the weather starts to warm up, you’ll find yourself starting to reach for your favorite laid-back dresses over and over again. Cool but classy, casual-chic dresses are wardrobe staples that make getting dressed and feeling put together a breeze. Just slip one on with a pair of crisp white sneakers, sandals, or your tried-and-true flats and you’re ready to walk out the door.

If your everyday dresses need a refresh, worry not. Amazon is packed with easy dresses that strike that “just right” balance of relaxed and refined. From flowy, flirty silhouettes to elevated neutral basics that can be dressed up or down, Amazon’s casual-chic styles make your everyday outfits feel totally effortless.

Casual-Chic Dresses on Amazon for Everyday Wear

1. Comfy Cotton: Made from 100% cotton, this button-down dress delivers a soft, feminine twist on the classic dress shirt style. The stripes add a subtle pop of color without overpowering your look.

2. T-Shirt Dress: Keep it simple with this classic T-shirt midi dress that comes in a dozen different colors. Small slits on both sides elevate this unfussy style.

3. Vacation Staple: If there’s one dress to pack for your next vacation, let it be this super cute empire waist striped, flowy dress. You can wear it to the beach, to brunch, or to dinner, just switch up your shoes to match the occasion.

4. Delicate Denim: Denim has a reputation for being tough and rugged, but this playful denim babydoll dress says otherwise. A neutral piece, the possibilities for styling this dress are truly endless.

5. Boho Sun Dress: This easy, relaxed boho-style dress can be worn as loungewear just as easily as it could be worn to a low-key wedding. Style it with sneakers or flats for running errands on a warm summer day, or throw on some strappy heels to head to a party or for a sophisticated affair.

6. Short Sleeve Shirt Dress: A great shirt dress is a closet staple, and this button-down style is one you can quickly throw on to look effortless chic. Plus, it doubles as a swimsuit cover-up.

7. High Neckline Hero: A high neckline can instantly make a dress feel regal and elegant, a perfect example of which is this sleeveless tie-waist midi dress. It looks so much more expensive than it is, and it’s surprisingly soft and comfy.

8. Flattering Florals: Spring and summer are synonymous with floral prints, and this sleeveless maxi dress has so many stunning options. It honestly might be hard to choose just one.

9. Classic A-Line: A simple A-line silhouette is universally flattering, and this lightweight, breezy dress is one you’ll practically want to live in. Style it with sneakers for a casual look, flip-flops to look chic on your beach day, or dressy sandals for an early dinner.

10. Beachy Tunic: If an easy, beachy style suits your mood, this tunic dress fits the bill. It’s artsy and bohemian, while still feeling totally polished and put-together.

11. Polo Perfection: Preppy style is most definitely back, and this V-neck polo dress is an updated take on the timeless Americana style. Pair it with simple sandals or sneakers and let the color combination and wide collar do the talking.

12. Rich Mom Vibes: Rich mom style takes on warm weather in this ribbed knit button-down sweater dress that is the epitome of casual-chic. No matter where you’re headed throughout your day, this dress ensures you’re the best-dressed in the room.

13. Gimme Gingham: Gingham never goes out of style, and neither does this loose, cotton midi dress. It comes in so many colors, and the best part is that it has pockets!

14. Wrap Dress: Accentuate your natural curves with this lightweight, flirty wrap dress. It comes in dozens of colors and patterns, and it’s effortlessly chic and super flattering.

15. Spaghetti Straps: With its smocked bodice and simple silhouette, this spaghetti strap sundress is as comfortable and flattering as it is effortlessly elevated. Choose from a wide range of solids and prints to find your favorite go-to day dress.

16. Retro Sleeves: Borrowing inspiration from groovy 70s style, this long-sleeve babydoll dress is super cute and can be dressed up or down with the right bag and pair of shoes. Style it for a casual coffee date or a beachfront wedding and every occasion in between.

17. Sleek & Sleeveless: This minimalist dress makes getting ready feel effortless thanks to its relaxed fit and easy, throw-on-and-go design. The wrinkle-resistant fabric keeps it looking polished all day long, making it a fun, low-maintenance pick you’ll reach for every time it’s freshly washed.

18. Sunshine Seeker: Once the weather reaches peak summer warmth, this is the sun dress you’ll wear on repeat. Slip it on for sunny strolls or outdoor cookouts — just add sandals and you’re good to go.

19. Cozy Tie-Waist: This sophisticated tie-waist style is fun, flirty, and easy to wear. It’s the kind of piece that you can toss on with sneakers for daytime plans or sandals for a slightly dressier warm-weather look.

20. Golf-Inspired: The best part about golf is the opportunity to play with chic, preppy style, like this ruffle hem polo dress. After all, who says you have to carry your clubs to sport a look straight off the course?

21. Simple Slip: This minimalist slip dress is a blank canvas for summer style. Pair it with your favorite cardigan or denim jacket on chilly nights, or a power blazer before heading to work. This one dress does it all.