Wearing dresses during the fall is like walking the extra five blocks to get your favorite neighborhood coffee; it takes a bit more effort, but it’s well worth it. Unlike the spring and summer, you can’t just throw on a mini tube dress and head out the door, unless shivering with every gust of wind is high on your list. It takes strategy, relying on design elements—like long sleeves and heavier fabrics—to master the art of the ideal fall dress. And while personal style is ultimately, well, personal, there are a slew of autumn-approved prints and designs making waves this season.
It girls, including Kaia Gerber and Charlize Theron, are spearheading the fall dress trends, reaching for minimalist silhouettes and fringe-adorned styles. Meanwhile, the Instagram fashion crowd can’t get enough of jacquard, lace hemlines, sweaterdresses, and plaid. Each version is extremely different from the next, covering a range of occasions, moods, and style aesthetics.
Whether you gravitate toward a sleek turtleneck dress or a bold pick with movement, the best fall dresses effortlessly pair with cold-weather accessories. After all, layering is essential during this time of year, so slip on your sheer tights, wool shawls, and toasty coats all season long.
Ahead, discover the trendy fall dresses It girls can’t quit this autumn.
Shop It Girl–Approved Fall Dresses
The shawl collar takes it to another level.
Perfect for fall dinners.
Cozy and chic!
Made for cocktail lounges.
This dress and your favorite knee-high boots.
Dress it up or down.
Velvet is back.
Classic and timeless.
The fringe dress of your dreams.
The dress you grab when you don’t know what to wear.
How can you say no to a flirty bib collar?
Wear it from work to happy hour.
Layer it over pants for a Y2K moment.
Quietly sophisticated.
I may have to order this one for myself.
A coy closet staple with a sultry twist.
A jacquard dress in the season’s hottest color? Say less.
Potentially my favorite pick on the list.
A two-in-one dress that takes the guesswork out of getting ready.
The velvet ribbon and delicate lace make it an instant win.
Made for the woman who wants to stand out.
So popular it’s bound to sell out.
Worth the splurge.
The only thing that could make this dress better is if you wore it.
I’ve never met a tweed dress I didn’t fall in love with.
