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4 Easy To Wear (Read: Comfortable) Dress Trends + Great Shoppable Picks
Here’s a hot debate: Are all dresses easy to wear? The whole single garment thing should point to yes, but it’s not that simple. I think for a dress to be easy to wear it needs to be at least two of the following: 1. Non constricting so you can move around, eat, and live your life unencumbered. 2. Patterned, colorful, OR structural so on its own it feels like a cute pulled-together outfit. 3. Bra-friendly or easy to wear without a bra. (At least for me, as a larger chested woman, I tend to want some shelf support whether it’s built into the dress or not). 4. Bonus points if it’s a fabric that doesn’t wrinkle easily (i.e. stay far away from linen unless you like the wrinkle look – which I actually DO but I think I am in the minority here). Is that too much to ask for?? Maybe. SO that is why the EHD team worked together to find these easy to wear, on trend dresses for Spring.
Trend #1: The Puff Sleeve
1. Women’s Plus Size Balloon Long Sleeve Dress | 2. Women’s Short Sleeve A-Line Dress | 3. The Meadow Dress | 4. The Pleated Ravine Dress | 5. Black V Neck Dress | 6. Linen-Blend Sophia Midi Dress | 7. Floral Puff Sleeve Dress | 8. Amber Cover-Up Midi Dress | 9. Flannel Lucie V-Neck Smocked Mini Dress
Emily Henderson is the queen of easy-to-wear dresses as you may know, and is no stranger to the puff sleeve. From Emily: “Remember last year when I bought that blue/white striped dress from The Great then proceeded to wear it (and continue to) 30-40 times in one summer/fall? Well, this (#4) is this year’s version. Delicate buttons show off that decolletage, while the puff sleeves distract from my “Covid 10″ if you know what I mean. And that floral is so pretty but not tooooo floral – just spring and summer enough to make me happy without making me feel like a little girl.”
Well, I am sold. I am also very drawn to #2 and #3 of course because I am still a fan of the prairie trend. I just want a dress that will make me feel like frolicking through a meadow. You know, normal stuff.
Trend #2: The Roomy Denim Dress
1. Voluminous Denim Mini Dress | 2. Tie-Belt Denim Dress | 3. Denim Babydoll Shirtdress | 4. Tie-Waist Shirtdress | 5. Time After Time Denim Dress | 6. Tie-Sleeve Button-Front Dress | 7. Ecru Denim Button-Up Dress| 8. Denim Dress | 9. Hannah Denim Mini Dress
You might not think denim and comfort are synonymous but these dresses might just change your mind. They are all roomy or have good amount of stretch so you won’t feel like you are wearing a denim straight jacket. I love the structured sleeve denim trend so I particularly love #1 and #6. #5 is also really catching my eye. Which one is your favorite?
Trend #3: The Maxi Floral
1. Floral-Print 3/4-Sleeve Tie-Neck Maxi Swing Dress | 2. Floral Puff-Sleeved Dress | 3. Cactus Flower Embroidered Cotton Dress | 4. Mixed Pineapple Garden Wrap Dress | 5. Ultraviolet Dress | 6. Elbow Length Sleeve Print Tiered Maxi Dress | 7. Embroidered V-Neck Maxi Dress | 8. Long-Sleeve Tiered Floral Midi Swing Dress | 9. White Spring Bananas Maxi Dress
(Miranda Priestly voice) Florals for spring? Groundbreaking. But seriously, if you are looking for a VERY easy-to-throw on-and-go dress that still looks cute and stylish, any of these picks will hit that mark. If you love pattern and bold color, #4 and #9 are great picks from one of our favorite brands Farm Rio (Caitlin is basically their spokesperson). #1, #5 and #8 are great examples of the micro floral trend and I am a fan.
Trend #4: The Transitional
1. Suelita Dress | 2. Women’s Balloon 3/4 Sleeve Eyelet Dress | 3. Eshal Plunge Neck Dress | 4. The Sage Dress | 5. Sadie Solid Maxi Dress | 6. All Day Long Midi T-Shirt Dress | 7. Jacquard-Weave Shirt Dress | 8. That’s Your Stripe Belted Dress | 9. Sundry Pull Sleeve Dress
A transitional dress is one you could wear in winter with layers or in spring with a light sweater if needed. They are simple but cute and the key with all of these picks is they are flowy and not restricting. I love #5 that has a button-front silhouette with pleating at top and a very cute pin stripe detail. I still love the shirt dress trend so #7 and #8 are great, too. Which is your favorite?
That is all from team EHD. Happy Saturday and happy shopping!
Opener Image Credit: Photo by Veronica Crawford | From: 51 Affordable Spring Dresses (& 1 Awesome Jumper I Couldn’t Resist)
These are cute!
I have a muscular build but not busty. These cuts aren’t very flattering on me. PrAna has always a good brand for my build and meets the criteria set here too.
I’d love some suggestions of shoes to wear with these dresses…whatcha got for me? :)
Me too
Like if a couple dresses where styled like how ‘Em used to do with her friend like the post from the first photo a couple years ago.
I feel like a simple flat leather sandal in a neutral color would work with most if not all of these. Or a simple sneaker, or even loafers with socks if the weather is cooler.
My Birks are working with most of these for running kids around, and my clogs elevate the look a little if I have a daytime lunch or meeting, but a cute wedge can take them to brunch or summer dinner date.
I’ve been trying to help my sister find a Mother of the Bride dress for a July wedding in a rustic setting. I’d love any advice on where to find midi or maxi florals which don’t have balloon sleeves or tiers and ruffles. TIA
I was Mother of the Groom, and Mother of the Bride as well in 2017. My son was married in April, my daughter in August.
I found one beautiful dress on the BHLDN website. They are a part of Anthropologie. I ordered another directly from Tadashi Shoji.
Thank you!
I was just looking at this dress for my 10 year anniversary! think it would be great for a MOTB dress as well.
That’s a great dress, thank you! Unfortunately, can’t wear ivory to a wedding…
Argh! Why do they make the color look like a clickable button when it isn’t? I’m not going to a wedding, and I’m a klutz, so no white or cream for me. But that cut and length is great.
Lots of cute dresses and so easy to wear! I am partial to the floral, longer styles
Very early in Covid and staying at home, I decided it was much easier to wear dresses, so bought 6 inexpensive summer dresses that I wore into winter (with sweaters & sweatshirts when colder) to wear at home, still wearing!. Then in Jan 2021, I found wonderful, inexpensive, boho, flowy, floral, midi/maxi dresses on Amazon and bought 4 to wear when “outside” shopping and have been wearing them ever since – I LOVE them! I wear them with woven slides, sandals or boots, cropped denim jacket or other cropped jackets or belted over sized sweaters + hats (stress caused hair loss – it’s growing back!!) and get so many complements AND they are so easy and comfortable to wear! I am totally embracing dresses and will be adding more, plus shorter styles too – fyi, I just turned 63 and it’s a great look for any age. :)
Links? I cringe at Amazon, but would love to see the styles you liked. I’m 48 and puffed sleeves and unfitted dresses make me look like I’m trying too hard to be young, plus with a large chest I look larger than I am in unfitted dresses. Would love to see what you chose.
Hi Molly! Here are links the 4 dresses I bought the prints/colors are a little different from what was available last year, they all have multiple colors and prints to choose from and once you begin looking Amazon will show you more similar styles too:
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The top 2 I bought in X-large (the biggest size they had) and the bottom 2 I bought in XX-large (the X-large would also have worked I think).
I hope you see my reply Molly!
I’m not Molly, but you helped me! I love your choices and am shopping for the same kind of dresses.
Glad you saw them and liked them DeniseGK! Have fun! :)
I ordered another one today, though it won’t arrive until after May 8th, but it’s cute, so worth the wait! :)
But what is the blue dress Emily is wearing in the top photo?
Looks like an old H&M dress:
Great roundup! Wanted to encourage maybe adding a category of “sustainable” or “ethical” brands – I know Emily has had some great posts lately about environmentally friendly choices, and would love her take on this in the clothing space too! For example, Madewell’s “Good on You” rating is “Not good enough,” which means there is no evidence it reduces its carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, no evidence it has taken meaningful action to reduce or eliminate hazardous chemicals, and no evidence it implements water reduction initiatives.
Hope this is an okay suggestion, because I love these posts and try really hard to choose clothing brands that don’t damage the planet!
This is a great suggestion. I admit it’s hard to find good options that are sustainable. I think Christy Dawn is the only one that they suggested that falls in the sustainable and ethical category. I have two of their dresses, and I like them, but they are pricey. I also wish I would have sized up. You have to be careful, because each style and fabric measures differently, so look at the finished garment measurements and figure out what kind of ease you want in the fit.
A dress (and brand) that fits the easy to wear and is sustainable is Outerknown’s Canyon dress. I only wish it had pockets. I have it in two colors, purchased on sale. Unlike Christy Dawn, the dress is lined, which is nice. And it’s a nice lightweight organic cotton.
Another place, other than Good On You, to check out brands is For example, they really like Madewell’s eco-denim line, but the rest of their apparel doesn’t keep up:
What dress is Emily wearing in the top photo?
I’m looking for nursing friendly dress that aren’t too.rogjt on the tummy, and not a maternity dress!
Any suggestions welcome!