I’m a Fashion Editor Who Loves a Fall Dress—32 Elegant Picks That Look Expensive

Shop the best fall 2026 dresses, from flirty florals to heritage plaids.

Josephine Hadjiloucas's avatar
By
Published In Buying Guides
@_livmadeline wearing a brown dress and turtleneck; @sabinasocol wearing a red dress and suede jacket
(Image credit: @_livmadeline; @sabinasocol)

You could say denim is the workhorse of a fall wardrobe, but I'd argue the dress is. There's nothing more versatile and low-lift than an elegant dress. Wear it with sheer, printed, or no tights. Opt for knee-high boots, a ruched loafer, or a ballet flat. Add on a suede jacket or a denim trucker. Layer a turtleneck underneath or show a little skin. The options are endless; all I know is I've got my entire week's outfits hanging up in my wardrobe right now. Little to no ironing needed, and the right dress does the styling for me.

Scroll on to shop some of my favorite fall dresses for 2026. I called on classics like a faux-suede mini shift dress from Gap and a sultry black mockneck midi dress from Hutch. I also looked for color and texture, which I found in Old Navy x Altuzarra and Alexa Chung's recent collaboration with Reformation. Ahead, you'll find everything from flirty floral maxi to heritage plaid mini dresses.

Shop the Best Fall Dresses of 2026

Josephine Hadjiloucas
Josephine Hadjiloucas
Assistant Shopping Editor

Josephine Hadjiloucas is a New York–based writer. She first interned at Who What Wear UK in 2024 and later joined Who What Wear U.S. as an assistant shopping editor after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2025. When she isn’t covering the latest Gen Z trends or updating her under-$100 Nordstrom wish list, you can find her browsing the racks of NYC’s best vintage stores or rewatching Moonstruck for the 50th time. “Snap out of it!”