I’ve started my hunt for the best day dresses for 2024.
Ready to shop? Skip to my picks by clicking here. Last year, I had some difficulty finding stylish, easy, comfortable day dresses.
Last year, pickings were slim. Of course, despite the limited selection, I still managed to find some hits. You’ll see a few in my post on long-sleeved dresses.
And then, there’s also this denim dress I wore nonstop in warmer months. I’ve also continued to wear it with a turtleneck tee and boots this winter too. I’m certainly getting my cost per wear out of that one.
So, let’s go into 2024 with a more hopeful outlook with better options in nicer fabrics.
For these day dresses, I had a few criteria:
- No dry cleaning required. I specifically chose options that are machine washable as this is one of the top requests from my personal styling clients.
- Under $400. I chose to focus on dresses that are between $50 and $400.
- Flattering for multiple body types.
- In stock. The dresses had to be available in multiple sizes at the time of this writing. Unfortunately, good garments go fast. I tried my best to ensure these links were still shoppable at the time of this post.
I’ve included a wide range of casual dresses, from the sporty to the chic to the office-appropriate.
The Best Day Dresses of the Year (So Far)
Read on to see some of my favorite day dresses of 2024
Amour Vert Abigail Paris Sweater Dress
I’ve finally found a sweater dress that doesn’t require a completely flat stomach. This lovely wrap style is flattering and comfortable. Since this brand tends to run small, order your usual size as well as a size up to compare.
ba&sh Kosee Dress
The flattering cut and soft material will make this ba&sh dress an instant favorite in your closet. It looks great with a pair of sneakers or cowboy boots.
Bell Rainey Mini Dress
This comfortable, cotton dress is perfect for warm, humid weather. It’s also easy to dress up with metallic sandals or dress down with a pair of sneakers.
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Midi Icon Dress
This flattering, casual dress is comprised of Beyond Yoga’s soft, stretch fabric. It’s available in sizes XS-4X.
Beyond Yoga Spacedye Movement Dress
The bodysuit inside this dress has interior pockets! Their signature spacedye fabric keeps you cool and comfortable while offering up SPF 50. You know I’m serious about sun protection.
Derek Lam Crosby Satina Stripe Shirt Dress
While the manufacturer claims this dress needs to be dry cleaned, it’s not true. Simply wash on the delicate, cold cycle and let it air dry. I recommend ordering your regular size and a size down to compare.
Grace Karin Online Bow Knot Wrap Hem Midi Dress
This is a total workhorse of a dress. Wear it with black pumps to your next meeting. Pair it with gold sandals for a wedding. And it’s an absolute steal at just $50.
Grace Karin Wrap Hem Midi Dress
Here is another affordable, versatile day dress from Grace Karin.
Farm Rio Ocean Tapestry Cotton Midi Dress
This lovely dress from Farm Rio is perfect for a vacation, brunch, or stroll around a farmer’s market. Keep your legs protected from the sun with this fun number. Note that this maxi day dress works best for women who are over 5’7″.
Rachel Antonoff Gwen Dress
If your sense of style leans toward the retro or whimsical, I can’t recommend this fun Aperol Spritz tank dress enough. It’s available in 3 other patterns in sizes 0-26.
STAUD Wells Mini Dress
This dress is so incredibly flattering. I just had a client buy it in three of the four available colors.
Tommy Bahama Chambray Swim Cover-Up Dress
Talk about a perfect vacation dress! Wear it from the beach to dinner. Note it runs large and long. A size XS fits a size 4/6 woman. I only recommend it if you’re over 5’6″.
Veronica Beard Jeans Jax Button-Front Mini Utility Dress
I am unsure why they chose this model to wear this particular dress. It doesn’t compliment her skin tone at all. However, if you’re much lighter or darker than her, this fabulous mini utility dress belongs in your closet.
Vuori Topspin Dress
Can you tell I’m still loving tennis dresses? This style from Vuori features a higher neckline for extra SPF.
Cinq a Sept Mina Square Neck Pinafore Dress
This beautiful spring dress is so flirty and feminine. A great option for apple, inverted triangle, and rectangle body types, this spring dress is true to size.
How to Wear Day Dresses
I recommend having a few accessory clusters. These are small groupings of accessories that go together.
For example, you might have a rattan tote, a wide-brim hat, espadrilles, and gold hoops that all pair well. You can wear these beige and beachy accessories with a little black dress to make it appropriate for travel or daytime events.
Another example of an accessory cluster might be based on the metal. For example, you may possess a pair of silver earrings, a handbag with silver hardware, and a pair of loafers with a silver buckle. This would look excellent when paired with a crisp shirt dress. When you wear these items together, it can help make your outfit look intentional.
These go-to accessory clusters are key in making you feel put together.
What Shoes to Wear with Day Dresses
The options here are almost endless. Day dresses can pair well with sneakers, sandals, wedges, loafers, and some open-toe heels.
As a general rule, flatter shoes like casual sneakers and sandals look best with hems that rise above the knee. If your day dress is longer, something with a bit of height will be more flattering.
Final Thoughts on The Best Day Dresses in 2024
If you still haven’t found your favorite day dresses yet, check out my styling tips here, or consider hiring me as your personal stylist. As usual, I will do my best to add to this post when I come across more great day dresses in 2024.
