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32 Long Dresses & Caftans Under $40 That Look So Damn Good When Lounging Around

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by Scarlett James
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Bustle / Amazon

In buttery soft cotton knit or silky blend, the best long dresses and caftans feel absurdly comfortable but look ethereal and dreamy — so dreamy, in fact, that you could sleep in them. Those sweeping hemlines and dramatic drapes channel Old Hollywood jet-set glamour even if the only travel you’re doing is through a well-curated Netflix queue. Call it a nap dress, a caftan, or a maxi dress – what you won’t call it is tailored, fussy, or tight.

Leggings will always be a loungewear MVP but, when you’re in it for the long haul, it’s time to get serious about building out a wardrobe you want to wear at home: pieces that are seriously comfortable, seriously easy, and seriously affordable. If you’ve gone through a major lifestyle change — which, at this point, is pretty much everyone — a closet overhaul is likely in order, but you might not be able to sink a ton of cash into the project. All of these ultra-versatile dresses ring up under $40 so you can stock up and build out a pandemic wardrobe that’s as stylish as it is comfortable.

And if you think that means itchy shifts or low-quality construction, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to discover metaphorical racks of breezy garments made with soft and lightweight and — oh yes — stretchy fabric blends.

From chiffon caftans to the prettiest floral wrap dress and an iconic loungewear dress with thousands of reviews, these 32 long and languid pieces are the new uniform for the new normal.

1A Retro-Chic Caftan With Pucci Vibes

This floaty caftan comes in vacation-worthy prints with a long, loose body and dolman sleeves. You can choose between two light-as-air fabrics: a silky polyester that doesn’t wrinkle, and a thin rayon that’s light and cottony soft. Lighter colors may be a bit transparent, given the thin fabric, but Amazon shoppers love the breeziness. “Lightweight, comfortable and airy,” one fan raved. “Fits great and makes me feel a bit chic.”

Available colors: 37

Available sizes: One size

2This Airy Floral Pintucked Dress

This relaxed floral dress spins extra details into the easygoing style. Those delicate pintucks running the length of the bodice give the A-line body some shape, while a not-quite-maxi hemline falls just below mid-calf. A few shoppers experienced that this dress ran larger than the size chart, but several commented on the surprisingly nice fabric and pretty colors nonetheless. "Finally a decent fabric! When my dress arrived, the first thing I did was feel the fabric. The fabric is what I should have expected by the description and am not disappointed. It feels like a high-grade jersey (as in T-shirt). It is not thin. It is rather heavy. What a treat," one fan praised. The polyester rayon jersey is machine washable for ease.

Available colors: 9

Available sizes: Medium Plus – 6X

3This Breezy Caftan Dress With A Tie Waist

Another airy caftan style, this pick comes in patterns ranging from homespun to kaleidoscopic. The tie-waist style here channels a retro-fabulous '70s hostess gown, but you can also nab it in shorter knee-length cuts for variety. Some reviewers recommended hand-washing to preserve the colors. “I love everything about this caftan! The fabric is dreamy, lightweight, and opaque enough to wear over a nightgown! It will pack like a dream, and can be used as a cover-up at home or at the beach,” one shopper wrote.

Available colors: 30

Available sizes: One size

4The Classic Tank Dress With Pockets

A spaghetti-strap maxi dress is a solid basic option to round out your lounge capsule. You can wear it to nap inside or you can style it up with sandals for date night or a party. One reviewer raved about the fit, calling it "not too billowy but not too clingy." The rayon and spandex blend is supremely soft and stretchy, while a knee-high slit on one side ensures the skirt won't get in your way. And yes, those are pockets on the side. For care, the brand recommends hand washing in cold water.

Available colors: 43

Available sizes: X-Small – XX-Large

5A Gorgeous Printed Peasant Dress

This colorful peasant dress scores major style points. The unfussy silhouette is offset by a bold, bohemian motif that makes fancy tailoring unnecessary, and a tie neckline keeps it from looking plain. The cotton blend is soft and airy, although some shoppers noted that it had a tendency to shrink (so you'll want to hand wash and skip the dryer). That said, reviewers loved the bold style that felt so easy to wear. "Better than hoped for. A very pretty cotton dress. Roomy fit but that’s what I wanted,” one shopper raved.

Available colors: 42

Available styles: X-Small – XX-Large

6This Snake Print Dress With A High-Low Hem

A faux wrap dress is a hassle-free style whether you're holed up at home or out on the town. This great dress comes in patterns that include motifs both retro — palm fronds or polka dots — and modern, including this fierce snakeskin. A few shoppers warned that you may need to pin shut the wrap portion of the skirt for peace of mind since the slit is high, but overall adored the versatile style. "It looks and feels MUCH more expensive than it is," one review noted, adding, "The dress is casual enough to wear with flat sandals for shopping, but you can easily dress it up with heels for a dinner date."

Available colors: 17

Available sizes: 1X — 4X

7A Casual Embroidered Caftan With Side Slits

This more traditional spin on the caftan features artisan-inspired embroidery on a tunic-style neckline. The short sleeves channel your favorite T-shirt and the side slits mean you can saunter around with ease. "It’s so cute in real life, the embroidery is amazing, and the fit is fantastic!" one shopper raved. "The fabric is thin and breezy just like you’d want in a cover up. It’s almost see through but not quite. You can probably pull it off as a dress to go out in," the reviewer added. The rayon/polyester fabric is soft but the brand does recommend hand-washing.

Available colors: 41

Available sizes: One size

8This Utterly Dreamy Strapless Maxi

It doesn't get much more effortless than this lightweight maxi dress. Comfortable elastic at the chest keeps this find in place without suffocating you, and the skirt comes with just the right amount of flutter. It's available in whimsical florals in a variety of colors. "I really like this dress! It's lightweight and so beautiful. It's really comfortable on and it runs true to size. The pattern is also gorgeous [...],” one shopper was pleased to report.

Available colors: 16

Available sizes: Small – XX-Large

9A '70s-Inspired Floral Maxi Dress

A wrap floral maxi dress is pretty and comfy at home and dresses up with some chic shoes to head out to brunch or a date. The tie waist is fully adjustable on this unlined style, which makes it a lightweight and easy-to-wear option. A few shoppers reported they felt more comfortable with a safety pin on the skirt, but several noted this cute style was well worth MacGyvering. "It's extremely comfortable, moves beautifully and the fabric is prettier in person than I thought it would be," one reviewer observed. The cotton and polyester fabric is machine washable, but it's recommended that you hand dry.

Available colors: 29

Available sizes: Small – XX-Large

10A Fluttery Off-The-Shoulder Maxi

This pretty wrap dress looks party-worthy with its off-the-shoulder ruffles and peekaboo wrap skirt, but the adjustable style is secretly so comfortable. Shoppers were thrilled to discover adjustable straps and loved how easy the dress was to wear, too, but agreed handwashing was best for this delicate style. "This dress.... LOVE! I went to the Bahamas and got so many compliments. The dress made me feel beautiful especially during our photo shoot. I highly recommend this dress!" one reviewer gushed.

Available colors: 17

Available sizes: Large Plus — 4X

11The Cozy, Yet Stylish V-Neck Nightgown With Pockets

Not only is this V-neck nightgown soft, low-maintenance, and stretchy (thanks to its polyester, rayon, and spandex makeup), but it also has two large pockets where you can store your phone or the remote while you’re lounging around the house. It’s available in tons of colors and designs, including both tie-dye and solid shades. One customer wrote, “This nightgown/lounger is exactly what I was looking for. Non-see-through, soft comfortable fabric, over the knee in length, and has pockets.”

Available colors: 32

Available sizes: Small – XX-Large

12This Dark Caftan With Pom-Poms

This solid-hued caftan is a way to test drive the style without the intimidation of bright shades or eye-popping prints, but a row of pom-pom trim perks up the otherwise plain cut. The cotton- polyester fabric is thicker than traditional beachwear, and several shoppers reported wearing it out to dinner as a dress (although no care instructions are provided). "I don't feel like it's overly big. It's super comfortable and my favorite casual dress," one noted.

Available colors: 3

Available sizes: Small – 3X-Large

13A Retro Caftan Available In So Many Different Styles

A notch-neck tunic caftan has a handcrafted look and feel with delicate artisan embroidery and loose elbow sleeves. You can also score it in several different style variations, including a satiny lace-up, a bright mosaic-inspired pattern, and a sweet white eyelet with ruffles. "I bought this as a cover-up for a recent trip to the Caribbean, but it's nice enough to wear as a maxi dress out to dinner. It's very good quality," one reviewer praised, adding, "The length is very dramatic! It washed well, too." This pick needs to be hand washed and line dried to keep the delicate fabric looking its best.

Available colors: 35

Available sizes: One size

14A Plunging Maxi In A Vacation-Ready Palm Leaf Print

Even if you aren't headed to the tropics any time soon, this long-sleeved maxi dress is a vacation state of mind you can wear all year long if it pleases you. Its deep faux-wrap neckline stops above the elastic waist — it might seem dramatic, but it helps keep you from drowning in the swooping hem and elegant blouson sleeves. A thin sash tie anchors the chiffon for a defined waist. "I usually prefer natural fabrics in the heat, but it was very warm and I felt comfortable because it’s loose. I got tons of compliments on this dress. Even just walking people stopped to tell me they liked it," one fan remarked.

Available colors: 1

Available sizes: Small —X-Large

15A Versatile Tank Dress You'll Want In Every Color

This long tank dress is so, so versatile. You can nap in it, throw on some sandals to run errands, then change shoes and add some epic jewelry for a dinner date — all on the same day. Shoppers loved how the deep V-front and back offset this dress' oversized cut for a piece that was comfortable but still felt very pretty. "[...] The material is soft and the deep v in the front and back is modest enough and you can still wear a bra. [...] This dress is amazingly comfortable and easy to throw on!” one reviewer raved.

Available colors: 14

Available sizes: X-Small – 3X-Large

16A Caftan In The Richest Jewel Tones

This wispy caftan nods to the traditional West African dashiki in saturated prints. A drawstring waist cinches the billowing fabric and gives the flowing style a hint of shape, while the batwing sleeves are covered but not constricting. "Fabric is so lightweight I lounge in it all day. Washes and dries beautifully," a reviewer was pleased to note. The polyester microfiber is soft and silky, but wonderfully machine washable.

Available colors: 21

Available sizes: Small-Medium – 2X-3X

17A Colorful Caftan With 2 Functional Pockets

Perfect for any artistically-inclined creatives, this printed caftan is vibrant and colorful — a total statement piece. Made of 100% cotton, this long dress is lightweight and breezy, perfect for days when you’re out and about or even a much-deserved vacation trip. The three-quarter-length sleeves are great for changing seasons, and this caftan even has two functional pockets!

Available colors: 32

Available sizes: Small - 5X

18This Beachy Dress With Goddess Vibes

Amazon fans praised this tropical maxi dress for its easy, breezy style that was totally showstopping yet deceptively easy to throw on. "The material is so soft and breathable," one reviewer pointed out. Another reported, "This dress is my fave!!! So comfortable so many compliments. Perfect for a night in Cancun Mexico! The material is so soft and breathable. [...]. I didn’t wear a bra with it and the slits were perfect without showing too much with windy weather [...]." Although the satiny polyester isn't stretchy, there's an elastic waist and the back features adjustable ties so you can get your most comfortable fit.

Available colors: 6

Available sizes: X-Small – XX-Large

19The Weekend-Ready Racerback Maxi

This buttery-soft maxi dress feels like a full-body version of your favorite tank top in a supremely smooth rayon jersey, with some spandex for stretch. A high-cut racer front spotlights your shoulders, and the drapey skirt has two pockets. "I've dressed this up and worn it to a gala dinner. I've also slept in it and lounged around in it for days. I love it! Totally comfortable," one shopper gushed in their five-star review, echoing more than 34,000 other raving fans who reviewed this amazing pick. It's machine washable, but make sure to air dry.

Available colors: 51

Available sizes: X-Small — 3X-Large

20A Chic Caftan You'll Live In

This breezy chic caftan has a wide V-neckline and open split hems. Get it in a globally-inspired design, homespun stripes or embroidery, plus festival-worthy brights. "I now have three of these and would live in them if I could," one reviewer declared, calling this pick "Something casual that makes you feel beautiful." It washes well, according to shoppers, who advised hanging to air dry.

Available colors: 27

Available sizes: One size

21A Soft, Strapless Maxi Dress With Pockets

This soft, stretchy maxi dress is made out of a buttery polyester/spandex blend that's similar to what you'd find in a great pair of leggings — except you'll also find pockets deep enough to hold a smartphone here, plus a snug but not tight elastic waist on the minimalist ruched bodice. "This is super comfy. [...] The material is stretchy long to the floor and pockets are seamless. [I’m] ordering another one," one shopper noted. This piece is ridiculously effortless, pairing with sneakers or sandals to run to the store, and dressing up over a pair of wedges if you're going out for drinks.

Available colors: 54

Available sizes: Small – XX-Large

22An Ethereal Ruffled Maxi Dress With A Strappy Back

This gauzy cotton-blend maxi dress has a crinkle texture and delicately smocked bodice with a flouncy tiered skirt — but there's no missing that showstopping strappy back between an adjustable halter tie neck and gathered drawstring waist. "So flowy and dramatic, but comfy enough I wear it without a bra," a reviewer shared, and several echoed how surprisingly comfortable the style was. Several reviewers noted that it's a gorgeous alternative to some of Free People's similar, pricier pieces.

Available colors: 28

Available sizes: Small – X-Large

23This Cottagecore Midi Dress

This simple midi dress has a bygone feel with vintage-inspired details, especially that blousy shirtwaist bodice and flounced petticoat skirt. Those saturated shades and boho bell sleeves are thoroughly modern, though. Amazon shoppers were pleased with the quality, noting the dress seemed quite well-made (but a few reported their dress was shorter than the featured picture). "Very good and comfortable material. Loved the vibrant colors. Gives you major Bohemian vibes," one fan shared. Hand washing is recommended to keep those colors looking bright.

Available colors: 18

Available sizes: Small — X-Large

24This Easygoing T-Shirt Dress With A Cult Following

This casual T-shirt maxi dress boasts over 46,000 reviews from Amazon shoppers who gave it top marks for being soft and comfortable yet incredibly cute. It's made from a stretchy rayon blend with an open V-neck and two knee-high slits that keep the overall look airy instead of baggy. (One popular hack was knotting the front and back hem for a completely different look.) "Love this dress. Super comfy casual, received a ton of compliments. It's large, in a good flowy way [...],” one review said.

Available colors: 46

Available sizes: X-Small — XX-Large

25And A Patterned T-Shirt Dress That Comes In Moody Tie-Dye

A patterned spin on the dress above, this relaxed maxi dress comes in dozens of tie-dyed designs (plus a few rogue florals). It shares the same straight body and split hem with a slouchy V-neck, but the rolled sleeves on this dress are a nice added touch. "Has a lovely organic drape with some substance to it," one fan gushed. "I've been wearing it around all afternoon while jumping between working at my computer, lounging on my bed, doing house chores, etc. It's felt so soft and comfortable every step/position of the way."

Available colors: 42

Available sizes: X-Small — XX-Large

26A Light And Airy Slip Dress

A casual cami dress is light and airy on its own and easily layers when the weather gets cold — this one comes in botanical prints and tie-dye that feel just right under denim and field jackets or nubby long cardigans. The stretchy polyester slips overhead easily. "Does not wrinkle! I swear," one reviewer promised. And the spaghetti straps are fully adjustable for comfort. Two built-in pockets on the side seam offer plenty of storage without bunching. "This dress totally exceeded my expectations. I ordered this on a whim, not really expecting too much. But wow, I am impressed! It’s so soft, flattering, has adjustable straps, has pockets, and is a lovely v-neck and v-back design [...]," another fan praised.

Available colors: 20

Available sizes: Small — 1X

27This Bold T-Shirt Dress With A Tiered Skirt

This lightweight maxi dress has plenty of movement and a tiered skirt that really gives this loose dress some texture and definition. Available in 45 different colors (florals, geometric prints, and solid colors, by the plenty), this dress is super versatile and is easy to throw on. This black-and-white hue would be perfect for any season, or you can opt for summery shades like a pink floral.

Available colors: 32

Available sizes: XX-Small - 3X

28The Gorgeous Wrap Dress You Can Dress Up So Easily

A cute dress you can style up or down is a closet essential, and this adjustable wrap dress couldn't be more comfortable in stretchy polyester with half sleeves and a tie waist over its A-line midi hem. "I can't get over how GORGEOUS I feel in this flowy dress," one fan gushed. And, if you're not a fan of the "true wrap," there is also the option for a more secure surplice style. "Very comfy and stylish dress," another reviewer praised, adding, "Fabric is a good weight not too heavy or light." Wash this piece gently to keep it pristine.

Available colors: 2

Available sizes: Large Plus — 3X-Large Plus

29The Grecian-Style Dress That's Incredibly Soft

"This dress is incredibly comfortable and I would totally wear it to bed," one shopper wrote of this laidback maxi dress. It has a fitted bodice and empire waist, with a deep V-neckline. The polyester-spandex blend is wildly soft – reviewers compared it to a T-shirt and loved its easy elegance. "My favorite 'around the house' dresses," another reviewer remarked, adding that they now owned two. Hand washing is recommended, but reviewers reported success on a delicate machine cycle as well.

Available colors: 41

Available sizes: Small – XX-Large

30A Stylish Wrap Dress In Cheerful Florals

A knee-length wrap dress with three-quarter sleeves can be worn at home on the couch, to class, or at the office with classic white sneakers, and even for date night when you add a pair of heels and some statement earrings. A versatile floral print helps get extra mileage from outerwear items already in your wardrobe, but the comfortable stretchy polyester blend has a peachskin finish that feels so much like pajamas, you might skip going out entirely.

Available colors: 17

Available sizes: X-Large – 4X-Large

31A Day-To-Night Maxi That's So Stretchy & Comfortable

This strappy maxi dress looks like something you'd wear to an event but is shockingly comfortable. The surplice style slips easily over your head thanks to an elastic waist, while the polyester/spandex blend is thin and lightweight yet incredibly stretchy. “The perfect dress it is literally so comfortable and fits perfect...[...] .. I want 5 of these dresses no bra needed and you feel like a million bucks wearing it buy it!” one reviewer raved. The delicate racerback straps are adjustable just like a regular bra strap, and you can even toss it in the machine on delicate, then air dry.

Available colors: 50

Available sizes: Small – XX-Large

32A Gauzy Floral Sundress That Never Wrinkles

The floral sundress is easy and breezy in lightweight and colorful rayon that features a richly textured crinkle finish — which is quietly brilliant given the fabric's propensity to wrinkle. As one shopper noted: "Can you say NO IRONING necessary?" The V-neck style has loose dolman sleeves and a gently flared skirt that's relaxed yet perfectly floaty. "Great for days when I don’t want something form fitting," another reviewer shared. And good news: it's machine washable.

Available colors: 14

Available sizes: Small Plus – 6X

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