I’m the type of person who always chooses to dress up, including when I travel. Most of the time, that means packing stylish dresses and matching sets for my trips. But for those days when I want to dress more practically in athleisure — especially when I’m headed somewhere hot — packing a cute athletic dress or two has become my go-to move. Whether I’m going for a hike, walking miles around a new city, or just trying to stay cool in a warm climate, a workout dress is an easy one-and-done outfit that I can rely on to feel both comfortable and cute. 

As a self-proclaimed active dress enthusiast, I have high standards for the style. Last summer I was gifted Spanx’s Get Moving Square Neck Dress, and it has remained a staple in my warm-weather wardrobe ever since. The exercise-style dress is flattering, breathable, and stylish. I wear it at least once a week at home in New York City and have packed it for trips everywhere from Virginia to Bermuda. At this point, the dress has racked up more travel miles than some people I know. It may be a splurge at $128, but I think the quality and versatility warrant the price. 

Spanx Get Moving Square Neck Dress

If you haven’t experienced sweltering New York City heat, trust me on this: you want to wear as few layers as possible. I find myself reaching for this Spanx dress on over 90-degree days in the city because it’s made from moisture-wicking material that doesn’t show sweat marks. It also has a built-in bodysuit, so you don’t have to worry about wearing bike shorts with it. Although there’s no padding on the top, it’s thickly lined and offers enough support for my small chest. However, you can also layer it with a sports bra if needed. The built-in shorts don’t roll up, so you won’t have to worry about chafing, and they also have a pocket on one side, perfect for stashing your phone, wallet, or airport essentials.  

The major downside of exercise dresses is that you can typically only use the bathroom if you strip down. But, Spanx has a genius solution for this all-too-common problem: the biker shorts are detached in the back, so you can easily pull them down without taking off the entire dress. 

“I love the thoughtfulness of the design,” said one reviewer. “I am a fan of all-in-one pieces, but hate having to get completely undressed to use the restroom — this design makes it so easy.”

However, what really drew me to this exercise dress is its versatile style and flattering silhouette. Some activewear dresses are more form-fitting, which in my opinion, isn’t as comfortable on a hot day or when you’re on the go. Instead, the Spanx Get Moving Square Neck Dress is a fit and flare style, meaning it’s fitted on top and flares out at your waist for a breezy and ultra-flattering silhouette. Circle skirts can sometimes feel dated to me, but Spanx created a more updated look with a square neckline and raw hem. At first, I wasn’t sure how this would wear over time, but I’ve frequently worn and machine-washed the dress during the last year, and it still looks brand new.

Spanx Get Moving Square Neck Dress

The Spanx active dress currently has a 4.2-star rating on their website, with reviewers praising its high-quality material, all-day comfort, flattering silhouette, and of course, the shorts that provide easy bathroom access. One traveler who wore the dress on a Europe trip said it “has everything I need for walking around when overseas” and “packs very well.” They continued, “The shorts help prevent chafing when walking through cities all day in Italy, Spain, [and] France when I travel.” Another shopper claimed to have worn the dress every day in Italy for four weeks. It’s no wonder Spanx has celebrity fans such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah, who included the brand’s comfy AirEssentials sets on her favorite things list.

The Spanx active dress is available in three colors and sizes extra small to 3X. I opted for white because it’s my favorite neutral to wear in warmer months. However, black would be a great option if you want to dress this piece up with a cardigan or ballet flats since it looks the least like activewear. The dress currently has limited availability in red, which is no doubt due to the shade’s recent popularity. 

If you’re ready to add this dress to your cart, I’d recommend sizing up for a loser fit or going with your regular size for a more fitted silhouette. I’ve found that Spanx activewear runs small in comparison to other brands. While I’m typically a size small in tops and extra-small in bottoms, the size small works best for me in this dress. If you wear different sizes on the top and bottom, go with your top size since that’s where the dress is more fitted. Other reviewers also noted that they sized up in the dress to avoid it being too tight. Once you find your perfect fit, you’ll be on your way to wearing this Spanx dress at least once a week, too.

Still looking for an active dress that checks all of your boxes? Keep reading for more shopper-loved styles at every price point. 

Shop More Athletic Dresses

​​Ewedoos Womens Tennis Dress 

Halara Backless Twisted Active Dress 

Abercrombie YPB SculptLux Mini Dress 

Offline By Aerie Real Me Hold Up! Strappy Dress

Old Navy PowerSoft Square-neck Athletic Dress 

Athleta Vital Dress

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