22 of the Best Fall Dresses, Approved by NYC Editors

Pants are great and all, but when we fantasize about the perfect fall outfit, the sort that makes walking to work or strolling out for an afternoon latte a slightly self-indulgent activity, it usually involves a dress. Maybe it's a floral dress, maybe it's a high-neck long-sleeve prairie dress that all the hip kids are waxing poetic about of late, or maybe it's a moody plaid maxi dress that looks especially appealing when worn with a pair of lace-up utility boots à la 1990s Perry Ellis. Whatever kind of dress scenario you may have concocted in your head, there is one underlying, universal truth here to remember, folks: Invest in a great fall dress, and you invest in your future. The problem with said fall dress is finding it—that's where we come in.
When we tapped a few of our fellow friends in fashion to share their personal faves of the moment, we were delighted by what came back at us. From patchwork patterns to night-out gowns to slinky silk iterations, the fall frocks below are sure to delight your inner fashion fantasies. Scroll down to shop the NYC fashion-editor fall dresses roundup, choose your favorites, and stylishly thrive the rest of the season.
Hannah Baxter, Editor at Coveteur
Gina Marinelli, Senior Editor at Who What Wear
"This dress stopped me in my tracks when I was scrolling through Net-a-Porter a few weeks ago. (I blame the color. I mean, have you seen a more perfect shade of yellow?) It's still on my mind because it strikes me as the perfect special occasion dress for colder weather. It's elegant yet bold. It has just a hint of shine and can be styled to be dress-up or slightly more casual. Clearly, I could wax poetic."
Lauren Caruso, Managing Editor at The Zoe Report
"This vintage tunic from Walk of Shame pulls double duty. I love the way the ladies at Either And styled it, too.
Lauren Eggersten, Fashion Editor at Who What Wear
Véronique Hyland, Fashion Features Director at Elle
Nicole Eshaghpour, Market Editor at Who What Wear
"I have a pretty good feeling this is going to be the It dress of fall."
Next up: It colors for fall clothing that we're buying in bulk.

Nicole Kliest is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City who focuses on fashion, travel, food, wine, and pretty much anything else that's amusing to write about. After graduating from Pepperdine University with a bachelor's in journalism and creative writing, she started her career back in 2010 as Who What Wear's photo editor and throughout the last decade has contributed to publications including Fashionista, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, The Zoe Report, PopSugar, Fodor's Travel, and several others. She also copywrites and has worked with clients such as Frame, Sea, 3x1, Intelligentsia, and others to develop brand voices through storytelling and creative marketing. She's very passionate about the ways we can improve our sustainability efforts in the fashion industry as well as cultivating content that's diverse and inclusive of all people. When she's not checking out the latest restaurant opening in her West Village neighborhood or riding her bicycle along the West Side Highway, she can be found scheming her next trip somewhere around the world. (Up next is Vienna.)
-
This Dated Denim Pairing Is Suddenly the Chicest Way to Wear Jeans for Fall 2025
Easy and stylish.
-
Everything Who What Wear Editors Saw, Wore, Did, and Ate During NYFW
Let's dive in, shall we?
-
Paris Hilton's World: Her Pink Motorola Razr, Favorite Y2K Looks, and What 11:11 Media Means to Her
A glimpse into the life of this savvy entrepreneur.
-
These 33 New Fall Zara Items Are Giving Off "I'm Chic Walking in a Metropolitan City" Energy
Cool, elevated, and forward pieces.
-
This Simple Fashion Person–Approved Layering Technique Changed the Way I Wear My Basics
Effortlessly cool.
-
My Aunt Is Heading to NYC—29 Nordstrom Items I Sent Her to Dress Like a Local
Blending right in.
-
Tunnel Vision: How the New York Liberty Became the WNBA's Best Dressed Team
Spotted at the Met Gala.
-
I Just Got Back From NYC, and Now, I Want to Order These 7 Trends From Reformation
My cart is very full.