I am so excited to share this dress guide! This is part one of a two-part installment. The first installment, this guide, has bridal, casual, and cocktail options. The second installment, part two, will be black-tie, black-tie optional, and formal options! In this guide, I included two size groups per category: up to xxl and plus sizes, since I know a lot of you can swing in-between the two. For each category and size range, I selected my top ten favorite dresses. Each dress had to pass a certain check-list: 1. have I purchased from this retailer or brand before? 2. is the silhouette realistically wearable? 3. Is it classic while being current? and 4. Will this be a piece someone can reach for in more than one way? Dresses with objectively bad reviews didn’t make the cut either. I hope that these criteria are met for you!
I aimed to provide a range of styles, lengths, sleeves, colors, and price points within each category. So without further ado, here is the guide! Underneath each collage, if a dress has an asterisk * next to it, it comes in both regular and plus.
FOR THE BRIDES
I always steer all brides in the direction of Anthropologie/BHLDN (they have regular and plus), they have such a great variety of white looks, a couple of which made their way into my roundup! Dillard’s has always been a great destination for white dresses, I found one of my bridal event dresses there, and they have some great options as well. Below you’ll find the first set is up to xxl and the second set is true plus sizes. Underneath each collage, if a dress has an asterisk * next to it, it comes in both regular and plus.
1. Silk Midi Dress* 2. Classic Shift Dress 3. Ruffle Neck Long Sleeve Dress 4. Ivory Midi Dress* 5. Knee Length Classic Tie Waist with Sleeves 6. Casual Shirtdress 7. V-Neck Spaghetti Strap Dress with Lace Trim 8. Puff Sleeve Classic Knee Length Dress* 9. Simple Crepe Strapless Midi Dress 10. Lace A-Line Dress
1. Flutter Sleeve Dress 2. Champagne Wrap Midi Dress* 3. Classic Puff Sleeve Knee Length Dress* 4. Ivory Midi Dress* 5. Lace Dress with Sleeves 6. Classic Shift Dress 7. White Silk Midi Dress* 8. Bow Neck Dress with Sleeves 9. Casual White Flutter Sleeve Dress* 10. Bubble Sleeve Dress*
FOR CASUAL EVENTS
So many of you wrote to me that you have a lot of events like showers, rehearsal dinners (ranging from barbecues to sit down dinners), and everything in-between. I say casual, only because compared to wedding attire, these dresses might be more laid back, but can certainly worn to something a bit fancier. I feel like they can be worn with sandals or be dressed up with the right accessories. These are all staples you’ll wear all spring (and once we get there) summer long! Underneath each collage, if a dress has an asterisk * next to it, it comes in both regular and plus.
1. Midi Slip Dress* 2. Chambray Wrap Dress* 3. Floral Midi Dress 4. Blue and White Stripe Shirt Dress (comes without belt)* 5. Nap Dress 6. Smocked Midi Dress with Sleeves* 7. Gingham Dress 8. Classic Shirtdress 9. Stripe Maxi Dress* 10. Flutter Dress
1. Linen Dress with Sleeves 2. Floral Maxi Dress 3. Chambray Wrap Dress* 4. Floral Tiered Dress* 5. Stripe Maxi Dress* 6. Linen Floral Dress 7. Navy Tie-Waist Dress* 8. Slip Dress* 9. Blue and White Stripe Shirt Dress 10. Floral Maxi Dress*
FOR COCKTAIL OR SEMI-FORMAL EVENTS
The number one request you all sent in were dresses for wedding guests, but there can be so many different dress codes! So, I figured cocktail and semi-formal styles should cover most of our bases. If you have a wedding coming up that’s a little more casual, I would revert back to the options above, or opt to pair the below with sandals etc. If you have a wedding that’s a bit more formal, stay tuned for the second installment of this post! Underneath each collage, if a dress has an asterisk * next to it, it comes in both regular and plus.
1.Silk Fringe Caftan 2. Ruffle Neck Dress 3. Antique Lace Midi Dress* 4. Silk Taffeta Dress 5. Silk One Shoulder Dress 6. Blue and White Floral Mini Dress 7. Cornflower Midi Dress* 8. Silk One Shoulder Dress*
9. Gingham Maxi Dress 10. Navy V-Neck Tiered Dress
1.Navy Midi Dress* 2. Wrap Dress 3. Pale Lavender Floral Wrap Maxi Dress 4. Navy Pleated Dress with Sleeves 5. Tanya Taylor Floral Wrap Dress* 6. Cornflower Blue Midi Dress* 7. Navy Floral Dress (this just sold out after I made the collage, but you can sign up for waitlist!) 8. Silk One Shoulder Dress* 9. Antique Lace Dress with Sleeves* 10. Navy Midi Dress*
Thank you guys for hanging in with me while I worked on this, I hope this guide is helpful and there is a little something for everyone. Part two coming right up!
Thank you for this great list of dresses part 1. I indeed have several events coming up this summer and I will purchase the green silk fringe caftan dress for a guest at a wedding. I will dress it up with sparkly wedge sandals and clutch, a dressy wrap and jewelry with a bit of glitz, too. Perfect! Thank you for doing the shopping for me.
Elsa – so grateful for you and your content today and always! This is the most wonderful resource and the love and care you put into it show! Thank you!
This is amazing!! Thank you so much!
All I can say is THANK YOU!!! This could not have come at a more perfect time for me – I have begun the hunt for a dress for my brothers wedding (and have also given up). The cornflower blue reformation dress was already in my short list and now that you voucher for it I’m going to try it on! Thank you Elsa!!
Thank you for creating this incredible site! I love your outfits. Would you be comfortable sharing the size that you are showing in your pictures? I have the exact same body type as you so it would be immensely helpful! Otherwise I generally buy additional sizes and return what doesn’t fit but if you would openly share – I bet a lot of ladies would be very grateful!