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The tail end of the year is packed with events, from cozy dinners to holiday bashes, meaning there are plenty of occasions to try on the fall dress trends that are trickling down from the runways. Between maxis and minis, structured leather styles and free-flowing silks, this season’s standouts are artful and effortless all at once.
Take the sweater dress, for example, which popped up in almost every collection from Michael Kors to Miu Miu, flawlessly combining winter-ready knits with figure-flattering silhouettes that feel cozy not bulky, with a touch of homespun charm. Likewise, we loved the frayed and fringed edges on dresses at Khaite, Gabriela Hearst, and Fforme, where handcrafted details were on full display. Meanwhile, minimalist sheaths, à la Altuzarra and Alberta Ferretti, play up the sophisticated sheen of satin.
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Romantic maxi dresses swept down the runways at Louis Vuitton and Chloe, featuring airy chiffon layers, while Erdem, Prada, and Proenza Schouler all made convincing cases for florals this fall. Our love for lace carries into the cooler months thanks to lots of lingerie-inspired slips in a range of candy pastels. In fact, pink appears to be the color of the season—from peach to peony, dresses are coming up rosy.
Keep an eye on details like dropped-waists, thigh-high slits, and dramatic draping which feature heavily for day and night alike. And of course, it’s never too early to start gathering a selection of glittering gowns for party season. Dive into all of our favorite fall dress trends below, from the runway straight to your wardrobe.
The Sweater Dress
The sweater dress has certainly emerged as this season’s MVP (...or should we say D?). Miu Miu offered up ladylike sweater-shifts while Michael Kors and Victoria Beckham went for hanky-hemmed maxis, and Isabel Marant and Prada embraced the oversized pullover look. Spring for a light gauge knit and shorter hem for the early days of fall, then layer up with matching scarves, wraps, and gloves as temperatures dip.
The Romantic Maxi
If you were on a bohemian kick this summer, you’ll love the bevy of romantic maxi dresses on offer this fall. Louis Vuitton trimmed long gowns with contrasting lace, while Chloe and Dôen made the most of light-as-air chiffon layers. Pair your dress with boots to balance all that romance with some ruggedness.
Fraying and Fringing
Fringe was on everyone’s minds this season. New York contemporaries like Khaite and Fforme left their hems and seams raw-edged, with The Row and Tod’s letting tweed take the lead and Gabriela Hearst and Calvin Klein going long with dramatically lengthy fringes. It all lends a handcrafted charm to autumn’s offerings, letting fringe fly and embracing the natural state of materials like tweed, silk, and wool.
Long Sleeves and Low Waists
You’ve likely been enjoying the drop-waisted dress silhouette for a few months now. Usually a combination of a knit top and floaty skirt, it’s basically an outfit all in one. So we’re glad to see that this fall, the staple dress is getting a cozy upgrade. With long sleeves, turtlenecks, and longer skirt lengths, one of summer’s hottest dress trends gets nice and warm for fall.
Wine Reds
Is there a color more fall-friendly than deep merlot? From bordeaux to burgundy, this rich take on red was seen everywhere and in every silhouette this season—in twists and ties at Alaïa and Lanvin, to slinky satin slips by Nili Lotan and Mango. This dramatic hue is equal parts sophisticated and seductive, just like its namesake.
Party-Ready Paillettes
Festive events are rapidly approaching and it’s never too early to prep. There’s nothing worse than a last-minute scramble for the right thing to wear! Luckily, designers went all in on shine so the options for playful ornamentation or super-sparkly sequin are plentiful. From Dries Van Noten’s paillette-adorned pieces to the sequined shine at Rabanne, let yourself glitter from head to toe.
Wallflowers
It turns out florals can be groundbreaking when sweet prints meet moody color palettes. From Prada to Proenza Schouler, Erdem to Dôen, ditsy fall florals seemed to harken back to retro wallpaper, lending bohemian flair to long-sleeved styles. Yet unlike your summer garden, these blooms will remain vibrant well into winter.
From the Boudoir
Our love affair with lace is far from over as lingerie-influenced details spilled into fall’s offerings, from vintage-inspired, candy colored slips at Chloe to sheer layers at Fendi and Coach. We’re pretty obsessed with Bettter’s unconventional take on the boudoir look. The mirrored neckline and hem of their slip dress transforms into a layered cami!
La Vie en Rose
In every hue and tone—from bright Gucci bubblegum to Calvin Klein salmon, and soft rose at Prada and Tove—this season is all about the little pink dress. It may be an unexpected choice beyond spring, but pink becomes ever so autumnal when paired with neutral accessories in gray, taupe, and brown.
Draped, Gathered, and Tied
Effortless and artful, we remain big fans of the draped dress. Whether in bold monochromatic tones like the chili red at Calvin Klein and chartreuse from Proenza Schouler, or in subdued neutrals seen at Alaïa and Sportmax, the dramatic impact of drapes, gathers, and ties are as flattering and elegant as ever in this season’s iterations.
The Leather Dress
The leather dress took an unexpected turn this fall as designers like Simkhai, Fendi, and Ulla Johnson married structured bodices with full skirts. Even Toteme’s shirtdress and Khaite’s mod mini feature elegantly draped details.
Satin Made Simple
In an array of neutral tones, satin made a star turn in stunningly minimalist cuts. Between floor-sweeping slips and bold shouldered options with slinky draped details, these dresses feel utterly modern while still making a statement in as little as one zip (or just a quick slip over the head).
The Big Reveal
Saying goodbye to summer doesn’t mean we have to get all covered up. A peek of leg courtesy of a thigh-high slit is a great way to show a little skin despite longer hems. We love styling the silhouette with a sheer stocking, as illustrated on the runway by Balenciaga and Coperni.
Wild Side
Snake, leopard, and zebra, oh my! The boldest dresses of the season didn’t hold back on taking animal prints from top to toe. Gabriela Hearst, Tory Burch, Saint Laurent, and Brandon Maxwell number among those who went all in on the wildest of patterns.
