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There are a few items we’re not willing to part with in the Vogue offices come winter. Fashion-forward coats (in addition to those essential heavy-hitters like puffer jackets and shearling styles), and dresses, are two of them. The best dresses for winter can be worn in the day, or at night, and transcend drastic temperature shifts thanks to their versatile nature. But, with all there is on the market today, how do you choose which styles are worth the purchase? That’s where we come in with a catalog of dresses waiting to be discovered this winter.
Vogue’s Best Dresses for Winter List:
- The Dotted Maxi: Favorite Daughter The Nita polka dot pleated maxi dress, $298
- The Striped Knit: Ulla Johnson Evangeline striped knit maxi, $790
- The Velvet Midi: Sea Alia devoré-velvet midi dress, $395
- The New Shirtdress: Loewe belted dress, $2,500
- The High-Neck Find: Banana Republic silk tie-neck midi dress, $400
- The Artistic Drape: Helmut Lang draped knit protection dress, $395
- The Pop of Color: Zara wool midi dress, $170
- The Dramatic Twist: JW Anderson front drape dress, $850
- The Animal Print: Zimmermann Crush tie-neck pleated leopard-print dress, $1,450
- The Classic Black: Norma Kamali turtleneck gown, $150
Just like your favorite breezy maxidress during the summer, an arsenal of weightier dresses will become your new go-to this season. The updated knit dress will easily become a one-and-done savior for those chilly mornings when you’d rather stay beneath the comforter. There are styles that lean more minimalist, like Guest in Residence’s classic grey cashmere turtleneck midi, and Altuzarra’s Cuddy dress with its pleated hemline and allover ribbing. Both are the ideal blank canvas for accessorizing, or layering. Then, think beyond the holiday season for velvet: the luxe fabric is as winter-appropriate as it is festive—and we’re taking everyday preciousness seriously. Make a statement at a party, or a dinner gathering, with a crushed velvet turtleneck dress from Alaïa, or Saloni’s floral-print option.
Wondering how to style a lighter winter dress for the office? Easy—look to the modernized shirtdress. These aren’t the basic A-line silhouettes of yesteryear, though. The new crop of shirtdresses have unique details to give them a stylized update. Check out Salon 1884’s Anais dress, which is cut to resemble a trench coat. Proenza Schouler’s take comes in a striking blue fit-and-flare silhouette, great for teaming with black accessories like knee-high boots and oversized wool coats. But wait, there’s more. Some of our favorites include animal-print finds from Zimmermann, high-neck details from Banana Republic and Bottega Veneta, and liquid-like draping seen on the likes of JW Anderson, Toteme, and Brandon Maxwell. Complete your chicest cold-weather rotation yet with these winter dresses, ahead.
The Updated Knit
Dresses, particularly knitted dresses, are one of those unique wardrobe essentials that combine comfort with sophistication. Beyond their endless wearability (they can complement literally everything), sweater dresses pack a lot of versatility. Wear a pared-back one with smoking loafers or kitten-heel boots, or contrast into a striped style—from Ulla Johnson or Zankov—with something suede.
Mango
ribbed lapel collar dress
$130
MANGO
Altuzarra
Cuddy ribbed cashmere maxi dress
$1,595
NET-A-PORTER
Ulla Johnson
Evangeline striped mock-neck knit maxi dress
$790
BERGDORF GOODMAN
$790
NET-A-PORTER
Toteme
cable-knit wool maxi dress
$740
NET-A-PORTER
Zankov
Leigh striped dress
$1,095
FWRD
Guest in Residence
ribbed cashmere turtleneck maxi dress
$595
NET-A-PORTER
A Little Lustrous
These days, the velvet dress isn’t exclusive to the holiday season, although we love to rely on its festive sensibilities for occasions surrounding the season. Now, thanks to fresh brands giving the fabric a modern look, like a ruched bodice, cut-out waist, mock-neck, and added lace details, the velvet dress can be worn before, after, or during, the celebrations.
& Other Stories
split-detailed velvet midi dress
$140
AND OTHER STORIES
Alaïa
ruched crushed-velvet turtleneck dress
$2,800
NET-A-PORTER
$2,800
BERGDORF GOODMAN
Rixo
Simone lace-trimmed velvet maxi dress
$440
MYTHERESA
Reiss
Brooke stretch velvet maxi dress
$240
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Saloni
Domino cutout floral-print velvet turtleneck midi dress
$795
NET-A-PORTER
Sea
Alia devoré-velvet midi dress
$395
NET-A-PORTER
The Modern Shirtdress
As far as everyday dressing is concerned, no wardrobe is complete without at least one or two shirtdresses. A must-have for workweeks and beyond, think of it as your foundational silhouette. Whether you’re investing in The Row’s white cotton maxi (perfect for layering over turtlenecks), or playing with the season’s checked and plaid prints, you can’t go wrong.
Salon 1884
Anais cotton and cashmere-blend twill maxi shirt dress
$2,790
NET-A-PORTER
Loewe
belted dress
$2,500
NET-A-PORTER
$2,500
LOEWE
Proenza Schouler
Walker eco poplin shirtdress
$1,290
BERGDORF GOODMAN
The Attico
checked cotton-blend shirt dress
$1,030
MYTHERESA
Zara
midi shirt dress
$90
ZARA
The Row
Izumi cotton-poplin shirt maxi dress
$1,690
NET-A-PORTER
High-End, High Necklines
Few styles are quite as chic, and as comforting, as a high-neck winter dress. For the season, it’s the perfect time to pile on those foundational basics—you know, those tees, tanks, and long-sleeved knits for layering. There are classic turtleneck styles in poppy red from Zara, and traditional black from Norma Kamali. And then, there are those with fresh flair, from Banana Republic’s scarf-neck dress to Bottega Veneta’s color-blocked style.
Mango
knitted turtleneck dress
$60
MANGO
Banana Republic
silk tie-neck midi dress
$400
BANANA REPUBLIC
Zara
wool midi dress
$170
ZARA
Norma Kamali
belted turtleneck midi dress
$250
MYTHERESA
$250
SHOPBOP
Bottega Veneta
fluid viscose piercing dress
$5,600
BOTTEGA VENETA
For The King's Foundation
cable-knit wool turtleneck midi dress
$820
NET-A-PORTER
An Artful Twist
Beautifully draped and liquid-like artful tops are still trending, and we’re taking the interpretation into the winter with fluid dresses punctuated by shrouded layers and wrapped details. Take, for example, JW Anderson’s twisted and flowing red dress, or, Brandon Maxwell’s grey cape-like maxi.
Zara
draped midi dress
$50
ZARA
Toteme
asymmetric gathered jersey midi dress
$690
NET-A-PORTER
Helmut Lang
draped polo knit dress
$395
NEIMAN MARCUS
JW Anderson
front drape dress
$850
JW ANDERSON
Brandon Maxwell
The Holden draped wool turtleneck midi dress
$2,895
MODA OPERANDI
Stella McCartney
draped wool midi dress
$1,490
NET-A-PORTER
$1,490
BERGDORF GOODMAN
Prints, Please
Step aside, minimalists! For those who prefer to stand out with bold colors and maximalist details (like animal print, florals, and polka-dot’s), look no further. There’s a winter floral print from Ulla Johnson, a gathered and checked option from Dries Van Noten, and a bold leopard in a boho-inspired silhouette from Zimmermann.
Ulla Johnson
Giselle belted floral-print silk midi dress
$790
NET-A-PORTER
$790
NORDSTROM
Cos
printed scarf-detail midi dress
$190
COS
Favorite Daughter
The Nita polka dot pleated maxi dress
$298
SAKS FIFTH AVENUE
Rabanne
draped jacquard maxi dress
$1,740
MYTHERESA
Dries Van Noten
gathered draped checked crepe midi dress
$1,190
NET-A-PORTER
Zimmermann
Crush pleated leopard-print midi dress
$1,450
NET-A-PORTER
$1,450
NEIMAN MARCUS