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Frost is nipping at our toes, and layering season is in full effect. Our first order of business? Curating a carousel of winter dresses to wear all season long. In most cases, winter dresses and fall dresses are pretty similar, with a few tweaks in terms of fabric and cut. A little extra weight to the fabric and a few extra inches of material in key areas will serve you well when you’re up against snow and sleet, or whatever else the season throws at you. Think sweater-like materials and yuletide prints, long sleeves, and high necks.
But how do you know which frock fits the bill as we enter the chilliest period of the year, keeping you covered for office wear, holiday parties, and everything in between? To answer this question, we turned to shoppers for their star ratings and reviews on dresses from all our reliable retail faves, including Free People, Anthropologie, Nordstrom, and more. Scroll onward to see which dresses are earning customers’ approval this winter.
Welcome to Hype Machine, our hit-list of the top reviewed products across the web — according to a crowd of die-hard shoppers. Call this your 4-star-and-up club, with entry granted by our devoted-to-the-goods shop editors.
French Connection Babysoft Square Neck Long Sleeve Midi Dress, $98
The Best Winter Midi Dress To Layer In
The Hype: 4.4 out of 5 stars; 21 reviews on Nordstrom
Just because it’s wintertime doesn’t mean figure-hugging dresses get tossed out the window and into the snow. Keep it modest in the front with a square neck but with pop of the peek-a-boo leg slit. Despite its minimal details, the beautiful olive-green hue leaves room for you to freely accessorize. Whether you’re heading to a dinner party or soirée for a bit of sparkle, accessorize with a chunky cuff bangle.
“For reference, I’m 5 ft 7, 118 lbs. This dress is a little thinner than most sweater dresses, but I love that feature as it will be easy to wear early fall through late winter,” shares a reviewer. “The colors are beautiful and unique, and the slits on the sides add a touch of sophistication and are quite flattering. As other reviewers have stated, the dress is long, and the sleeves are too (as they should be), but if you are tall like me or taller, it will fit you very well!”
Shop French Connection At Nordstrom
Quince Mongolian Cashmere V-Neck Midi Sweater Dress, $129.90
The Best Cashmere Winter Dress
The Hype: 4.9 out of 5 stars; 26 reviews on Quince
Treat yourself to a luxe cashmere dress this winter — without breaking the bank. Quince’s Mongolian Cashmere midi dress is priced just below $130 and comes in three neutral colors: brown, heather grey, and black. Reviewers have noted that the dress runs slightly large.
“Quince has won my heart again. This V-neck cashmere dress is soft, ever so versatile, and drapes effortlessly. It can be worn with boots or dress shoes and is an overall timeless silhouette,” shares one reviewer. “The dress hits at a comfortable mid-calf, a nice length for fall and winter. I took the large, and it’s not too tight. For reference, I normally wear a 12.”
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By Anthropologie The Thea Twofer Sweater Dress, $180
The Best Colorful Winter Dress
The Hype: 4.1 out of 5 stars; 164 reviews on Anthropologie
Who doesn’t love a good two-for-one deal? Anthropologie has crafted a one-piece that merges a cropped mock neck sweater with a woven midi skirt for a polished dress that requires no styling.
“This combination of a sweater top attached to a thin, pleated, flowy skirt is styled well! The sweater part fits small and has long sleeves that must be rolled or pushed up. I ordered the L and Xl and will keep the XL for a looser fit,” writes a reviewer.
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Lulus Chilly Forecast Multi Knit Turtleneck Sweater Midi Dress, $69
The Best Winter Sweater Dress
The Hype: 4.5 out of 5 stars; 31 reviews on Lulus
Oversized sweater dresses are the epitome of winter fashion, and if you add a turtleneck with a Fair Isle-inspired print to it, you’re perfectly outfitted for chilly season. This thick, stretch-knit sweater dress has a turtleneck and tying sash belt that keep you extra toasty while adding a bit of chic detailing atop the charming print. Since the dress has a column silhouette, reviewers recommend sizing down.
“I was truly surprised by how nice this sweater dress is. It is tightly knit, so it’s warm with no chilly air getting through, and you do not need a slip under it. I ordered my usual size of M, and the dress was not too tight or too loose. I do not like sweater dresses that hug my body too much, and this did not do that,” writes a reviewer. “It is long for us shorties, but with the included belt, you can shorten the dress to fit in the middle of your leg. I wore scrunchy knee boots, which set the dress off really well. Overall, a great dress that is very well made.”
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Lane Bryant Textured Satin Long-Sleeve Wrap-Skirt Midi Dress, $119.95 $47.98
The Best Winter Holiday Dress
The Hype: 5 out of 5 stars; 4 reviews on Lane Bryant
As you gear up for dinner parties and Christmas events, spruce up your collection of holiday dresses with this shiny green satin V-neck dress. The smocked wrap skirt gives a flutter with every step, and the cinched wrists have button cuffs for a polished touch. The best part? The dress also comes with pockets.
“I absolutely love this dress! It’s a beautiful radiant green dress that is elegant and perfect for Christmas Day. The fit is perfect and the fabric is so glossy and soft. I took the model’s inspiration and styled my dress with a black belt too,” exclaims a reviewer.
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Tuckernuck Pomander Place Hazelwood Vivianne Dress, $128
The Best Winter Mini Dress
The Hype: 4.5 out of 5 stars; 340 reviews on Tuckernuck
This lightweight mini dress is the perfect piece to pair with your tights, tall boots, and trench coats. It has a light shimmer to it — perfect for festive gatherings — and is easy to coordinate with accessories for upscale and laidback events alike. The mini dress falls a few inches above your knee and is slightly loose for a comfortable feel.
“This is an amazing dress; the 3/4 length sleeves and turtleneck make this look sophisticated, and the length is perfect. The fabric is warm and makes it a great winter dress. I’ll be wearing this to work all the time this winter,” raves a reviewer.
Shop Pomander Place At Tuckernuck
Free People Rosha Sweater Midi Dress, $98
The Best Winter Midi Dress
The Hype: 4.6 out of 5 stars; 16 reviews on FreePeople
This lovely mauve midi dress is laidback and cozy, but gives you shape with its fitted silhouette that hugs you in all the right places. Style it with black pointy ankle booties and a leather jacket or your favorite winter coat to top it off. The banded balloon sleeves and textured ribbed fabric add subtle detail to the one-piece, allowing you to fashion it however you please.
“This dress speaks volumes. It is comfortable and a great material with some stretch. It is a great addition to anyone’s fall/winter wardrobe, without over heating,” a reviewer shares. “At 5’5, the dress stops a little above the ankle. I plan on styling it with peep toes for fall and then cowboy boots for the winter. All I know is that I’m ready.”
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UGG Aderyn Hoodie Dress, $118
The Best Casual Winter Dress
The Hype: 5 out of 5 stars; 13 reviews on Saks Fifth Avenue
Hoodie season is the best season, and now you can enjoy an oversized version to wear with no pants at home — we’re not judging — or joggers and leggings for outside. Whether your preference of color is black, black, or black, or you’re a girly girl who lives in pink, UGG has both options available to shop.
“I’m obsessed with this hoodie. I have it in black, and I often wear it with tights and boots or a mix of joggers and sneakers. You can’t go wrong with it,” raves a reviewer. “Since I live in Missouri, it’s very warm, so I might wear a tank underneath and either a light jacket or no coat because it’s so warm. Don’t let me forget the pockets. I love pockets, and the hood is a nice feature, too.”
Shop UGG At Saks Fifth Avenue
Bardot Aliyah Midi Dress, $109
The Best Winter Date-Night Dress
The Hype: 4.4 out of 5 stars; 64 reviews on Revolve
From Bardot, consider this bold, semi-sheer dress your one-and-only winter date-night dress. The figure-hugging statement piece is flirty with a crisscross design, front cutout, and ruched design that deserves all the attention in the world — and your date of course.
“This dress is incredible. I am a true pear shape, and it hugs my curves like a dream. The mesh and cut-out make it sexy, but the length is perfect to keep it classy,” a reviewer raves. “I’m a true size 4. I tried both small and medium and kept the latter. The small fit was a little shorter and tighter; the medium is more forgiving. Now I just need to be invited somewhere to wear it!”
Shop Bardot At Revolve
Skims Soft Lounge Long Sleeve Dress, $88
The Best Winter Lounge Dress
The Hype: 4.7 out of 5 stars; 1,496 reviews on Skims
Live out your most luxurious holiday dreams at home in Skims’ best-selling lounge dress. Imagine resting on your couch in the drapey slip with a nice mug of hot cocoa and “Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire” playing in the background. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, now you can bring it to life by prepping with the best winter lounge dress.
“I’ve been obsessed with Soft Lounge dresses for the past few months. The long-sleeved version of the slip dress is perfect for colder weather coming up. It can easily be dressed up or down and is just as comfortable as the spaghetti strap version. There are plenty of shades, and I chose Onyx, which is less sheer than the lighter colors,” writes a reviewer. “The only con I can think of is that it’s a bit challenging to wear a bra or bralette with this dress, so it may be too revealing. However, I don’t mind them and I wear them often. If you’re on the fence whether it’s worth it I wholeheartedly recommend buying it.”
Shop Skims
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