White dresses were always a problem to me. One cup of coffee down the front and you’re done. One plate of spaghetti and you’re wearing a sign saying “I ate pasta.” I’d click through websites and think, “Lovely idea, but totally not practical for anyone who can’t go five minutes without spilling something on herself.”
But then I finally paid attention to the people around me and realized I was completely off-base with white. It’s not about being perfect or looking good. It’s about finding something that works in those moments in your life when everything else feels heavy, dark and overwhelming. White dresses do something other colors just don’t — they make you feel light. Lighter than you normally do. More like you than you do when you’re trying to be somebody else.
You need to find the right white dress for the right time in your life. The difference between a linen shift you toss on in July and a stiff white dress you wear to the wedding is huge. Don’t try to mix them up. They aren’t interchangeable. A beautiful linen white dress you wear to the summer garden party will look awful at your winter wedding. And that gorgeous flowy white dress you wear to the beach won’t cut it at the office.
So, for the last few months I’ve tested white dresses, styled them, and found the ones that actually belong in a real-life wardrobe instead of just being a pretty idea. Here are ten white dresses that really work, and more importantly, why they really work.
1. The Sleeveless Classic
I was most surprised by this one because it looks so basic that I thought it would never be useful. A sleeveless white dress with a defined waist and a structured bodice (think garden party where everyone wears fascinator hats and sips champagne). However, it’s really great for so much more than that.
The reason this works is due to the structure. There is no flimsiness or lack of form to this dress. It has ideas about how it wants to sit, and that sounds snobby until you realize that it makes it easier to wear, not harder. You simply put it on and it does what it’s supposed to do. There is no fiddling with belts or adjusting the parts that have moved under your arms.
I have worn this to a wedding, of course (that’s the obvious choice), but I’ve also worn it on a date, to brunch with friends, to a garden center on a Saturday morning because honestly, who cares if you buy compost? The key is what you layer it with. Alone in summer, it is pure elegance. Layered with a fitted leather jacket and proper shoes, it becomes something entirely new — more modern, edgy, less “at an important occasion,” and more “I’m just wearing a dress I like.”
You need to find the right shoes to go with this one. Something that does not compete with it. Delicate heels are obvious choices, but so are white trainers if you want to keep it casual or bare feet if you are at home and fancy dinner. Anything too chunky and it crosses into costume territory. This dress is about creating an image of intentionality and not of trying too hard to show something.
2. The Soft Garden Dress
This one is pure comfort masquerading as elegance. It is a sleeveless A-line dress made from that super-soft, flowing fabric that shines without shining. The type of fabric that follows you everywhere you go without sticking to places it shouldn’t. If you have ever worn a dress and thought to yourself all day, “Everyone can see my underwear,” then this is not the dress for you.
The entire point of this style is that it just works. You put it on and instantly you look polished without doing anything. I wore this to a drink gathering on a random Thursday night and felt far more confident than I do in almost all of my actual “dress-up” outfits. There is something about the way it falls that creates the illusion you have your life together – even if just a little while before you were lying on the couch in your pajamas.
It is incredibly easy to style this dress since it does most of the work for you. Sandals, a leather belt, and a simple necklace are literally all you need. During the summer it is ideal for garden parties, outdoor weddings, etc. However, I have also worn it with tights and proper shoes for fall events and it worked just fine. The fabric is forgiving enough that it doesn’t read clearly as summer-wear even when it’s not summer.
The only major decision is where you’ll be sitting and if you care about wrinkles. This dress will wrinkle if you bunch it up in a car, but honestly, it’s quite easy to smooth out. It is the kind of dress that becomes more pleasant to wear as you spend the day in it – it gets softer, lies better, and appears more intentional by evening than it did at noon. That’s really lovely for a dress that looks as effortless as this one.
3. The Simple White City Dress
This is a proper 3/4-sleeve fitted white dress with a crew neckline and zero decoration. It’s the kind of white dress that says you’ve got your act together. Like you make decisions and don’t question them.
I wore this to a client meeting and honestly it changed how I felt about myself that day. There is something about a well-fitting white dress that is completely unadorned that makes you feel more professional than any blouse and trousers combination I’ve tried. It’s not flashy or attention grabbing – it’s just clean and capable-looking. Which, weirdly, is exactly what most professional environments want even if they don’t always realize it.
Fit is everything with this one. It needs to fit you properly and not just drape loosely across you. Too loose and it looks like you gave up. Too tight and it looks like you are trying too hard to prove a point. When it fits perfectly and sits on your body like it was made for you – that is when the magic happens.
At work you can, of course, just wear it as is with some proper shoes and a handbag and you’re done. But it’s also a seriously fantastic option for casual events if you style it a little differently. Trainers and a leather jacket makes it weekend-ready. A cardigan and ballet flats makes it some kind of cottage-core. A white shirt-dress with a belt is basically the uniform of people who have their lives totally together, which is intimidating but also kinda the point. This is a dress that allows you to determine what you want to convey, then conveys it.
4. The Spotted Print
This is where I realized that white didn’t necessarily have to be plain. This dress is white with tiny black dots all over it, which sounds like it could possibly be busy or fussy, but it’s the opposite. The pattern is small enough that from afar it just reads as white, but up close there’s something interesting going on. It makes the dress feel less formal, more playful.
There are enough deliberate spots that this dress can’t be layered with a ton of other items. You can’t layer this dress with too many other things; it needs space to breathe. Just wear it alone, basically. Or maybe throw on a denim jacket if you get cold. That’s part of the fun – it makes styling easier, not harder.
I’ve worn this to garden parties, of course, but I’ve also worn it to festivals and to casual brunches. It’s forgiving of stains in ways that plain white isn’t – a stain on the print is so much less noticeable than a stain on plain white. Not that you should intentionally ruin your clothes with stains, but it’s nice to know this dress is slightly more realistic about what life is like.
The material feels sturdy, but not heavy. It’s the kind of dress you can wear all day and still feel relaxed in. For summer garden parties, country trips, anywhere you plan to be outside for longer than an hour and you want to look nice but not overdo it, it photographs well, which is always a consideration these days, even if we pretend it’s not.
5. The Modern Urban Neutral Tank Dress
A tank top that has been stretched out to the length of a dress. While it may seem to be revealing due to the fit, it is actually not. The simplicity of the design creates the illusion that it is a carefully thought-out fit rather than something that has been altered to expose the body.
This is my go-to dress when I want to appear polished but I am not interested in dressing up. Simply pair it with shoes and you will look far more intentional than if you had put on a t-shirt and jeans. One of the reasons why a proper dress is always more attractive than a t-shirt and jeans is that the structure of a dress creates the illusion that you are attempting to look fashionable whether it is dressed up or down.
While the style of this dress allows you to create many different combinations, you can wear it alone in the warmer months or layered over leggings and a long cardigan in the cooler months. You can pair it with a denim jacket for a casual appearance or with a structured blazer for a more professional appearance. The more you style this dress, the more interesting it will become and the less likely you are to think that you are messing with something that is perfectly acceptable as is.
If you prefer to wear fitted clothing, this dress would be ideal for you. However, if you prefer to wear loose clothing, you may not enjoy the fit of this dress as much. Regardless of what type of clothing you prefer to wear, you can still wear this dress and make it look like you have a clue as to what you are doing.
Pair this dress with white sneakers to create a playful and chaotic look or with proper shoes to create a more polished appearance.
6. The Flowing Beach/Nature Maxi Dress
This is a maxi sleeveless dress with a low V neckline. The material is the kind of material that flows when you walk. The flow is not forced; it is simply the result of a well-designed dress.
I wore this to a summer wedding and I looked great in it. There is something about a white maxi dress that creates elegance beyond your expectations. Even if you have been consumed by worry for the past week, this dress will give you a sense of being in charge.
The key to the length of this dress is that it should be almost to the floor, but not quite. The V neckline should be low enough to create interest, but not so low that it creates a problem at any event. Overall, this dress is both stylish and wearable in ways that are difficult to find.
You do not need much else to accompany this dress. A lightweight scarf may be necessary if it is cold. Jewelry should be kept to a minimum so it does not detract from the dress. As for shoes, you can wear them barefoot if you are at the beach, sandals if you are inside, or heels if you want to dress up. The dress will work with each of these options.
One drawback of this dress is that you will need to be mindful of your movements and sitting arrangements, as the length of the dress means there will be excess fabric hanging around your legs. However, this is one of the charms of the dress – it forces you to move more elegantly than you normally do. This is the kind of dress that you will typically reserve for special occasions, but once you try it, you will see how effortless it can be.
7. The Waterfront Wrap Dress
This is a classic for a reason. This is a white wrap dress with a tie waist and that V neckline that wrap dresses have. The advantage of this style is that it will usually fit most body types fairly well because of the way it ties.
I have probably worn this dress more than any other dress in my wardrobe because it is simply that useful. It can be worn to work if you wear it with proper shoes and a handbag. It can be worn casually if you wear it with sneakers and a cardigan. It can be worn to social events because it is dressy without being snobbish. This is one of those dresses that truly works in the world of real life.
The fact that you can adjust the fit of this dress is a major advantage. If you weigh more or less at certain points in the year, you can adjust the tie to accommodate your new size. Similarly, if you want to emphasize or de-emphasize your waistline depending on the activity you are engaging in, you can tie the dress accordingly. Loosen it up and it will be comfortable and flowing. Tighten it and it will provide a more defined silhouette. Ultimately, you are in control of what this dress does, not the dress itself.
As for fabric, you want something that is structured enough to allow the wrap to stay in place. Fabric that is too flimsy will simply billow around your body and lose its shape. On the other hand, you do not want to use a fabric that is so stiff that it loses its ability to flow when you move. The goal is to achieve a balance, and when you find it, the results are simply wonderful.
One consideration regarding the V neckline is that if you plan to attend a workplace, you may wish to layer a jacket over it to avoid drawing attention to the neckline. However, I believe that most workplaces will tolerate it. The dress is not showing excessive cleavage; it is simply a neckline. You can wear flats and tights to look professional, or you can wear high heels and jewelry to look like you are going out. The choices are endless.
8. Off-the-Shoulder Beach-Shirt Dress
This is essentially a white button-down shirt that has been lengthened to be a dress. It has a collar and buttons down the front. Normally, you would wear it as a shirt, but extend it to the knee and it becomes a dress.
What I love about this style is that it is absolutely perfect for beaches and warm weather. You can wear it on its own or wear a swimsuit underneath it and remove it when you get out of the water. This is both functional and visually appealing, which is a rare combination to find.
I wore this to a coastal luncheon and it was perfect. It was neither too casual nor too formal, and it was completely comfortable enough that I didn’t spend the entire time wishing I could take it off. The collar and buttons help prevent the lightweight fabric from sagging or drooping.
There are no restrictions on the styling of this dress. In the summer, you can wear it as is. You can add a linen belt if you want more definition, or you can simply leave it loose and relaxed. The same applies to shoes — you can wear them barefoot, sandals, sneakers, or anything else that suits your mood.
One negative aspect of this dress is that the linen tends to wrinkle easily. And, to be honest, that is part of the charm of this dress — it looks like you didn’t bother to iron it, as opposed to looking like you were unable to iron it. This is a dress for people who don’t mind appearing a little rumpled after spending their day enjoying themselves.
9. Off-Shoulder Maxi Dress Dreamer
This is a white off-shoulder maxi dress with flowing, gathered fabric that looks like it belongs on someone who has it all together, but doesn’t care about anyone else noticing. The off-shoulder detail adds some visual interest to a plain white dress, but it doesn’t feel trendy or like you are trying too hard.
I wore this to a summer party and I loved it. I think there is something about an off-shoulder neckline that makes you feel special, without making you feel like you are putting on airs. It is dressy enough for special occasions, but casual enough to be worn because you feel like it.
Because of the gathering in the fabric, this dress is quite forgiving in terms of fit. It hugs where it should, and drapes where it should. It is comfortable enough that you can forget you are wearing it, which is the ultimate test of a good dress.
I like to play with the neckline of this dress because it is such a strong feature of the overall design. I keep the rest of my jewelry to a minimum so that I don’t compete with myself. With shoes, I can wear just about anything — flat sandals for casual, heels for going out, or sneakers if I want to look effortlessly cool. The dress works with all of these options.
Overall, I think this is one of those dresses that makes you feel like you are a better version of yourself. Not in a self-doubtful way, but in a “wow, I’m wearing this lovely dress and I feel rather lovely” way. That’s really what we want from our clothes, isn’t it?
10. The Street Style Urban Everyday White Shirt Dress
Finally, this is a white button-down shirt that has been made into a dress. It has a crew neckline and short sleeves. It is not trying to be more than what it is. And that is precisely why it is so wonderful. It is so easy to wear to the grocery store or to a coffee shop that you can’t even think about it.
This is the first dress I reach for when I don’t want to think about what to wear, but I don’t want to look like I don’t care. You can never look bad in a white button-down shirt dress. If you are too casual, add a belt and proper shoes. If you are too formal, add a denim jacket and sneakers. This is a dress that will adapt to your needs regardless of what you decide to do.
I have worn this to work dozens of times. I have worn it to the market. I have worn it to brunch. I have worn it on casual dates. I have worn it to garden centers. I have even worn it around the house when I wanted to feel comfortable. It is the most versatile piece of clothing in my wardrobe despite the fact that it is the simplest.
All you need is a good-quality white cotton or linen blend. It will shrink and lose its shape if you don’t take care of it. But otherwise, it is a good basic piece of clothing.
This dress does not require styling because it is already styled. Just wear it. Wear a belt if you want to define your waistline. Don’t wear a belt if you don’t want to. The dress will work either way. Choose the shoes you like based on the location of your destination. You can choose casual flat shoes, proper heels, white sneakers, or walking shoes. It will work with all of them.
This is the dress you choose when you want to look polished without thinking about it. When you want to feel confident without pretending. When you want to look like you have your life together even if you are totally faking it. Which, let’s be honest, is most days.
