The Best Silver Dresses

Silver is the metallic that behaves the least like a metallic, and that is exactly its advantage over gold or bronze at this end of the wardrobe. A good silver dress catches light without shouting about it, which means it works under the low, warm bulbs of a restaurant as readily as it does under the flat white spotlights of a party. The fabric is what decides everything here. Liquid lamé and satin backed crepe move with the body and pool slightly at the hem, which reads as expensive. Anything stiffer, particularly a heavily coated jersey, tends to hold its own shape rather than the wearer’s, and that is usually where a silver dress starts to look costume rather than considered.

Cut matters more with this colour than almost any other, because silver has no warmth to soften a fit that is slightly wrong.

A bias cut or a cowl neck lets the fabric do the work, skimming rather than clinging, while a structured, boned bodice needs to be genuinely well made or the sheen will expose every pull and pucker at the seams.

The better ones are lined properly, weighted at the hem so they do not ride up, and finished with a zip that sits flat rather than puckering under the reflective surface.

Styling it well is largely about resisting the urge to match effort with effort. A silver dress does not need silver shoes or a matching clutch. Black opaque tights and a plain black courtneuse or ankle boot ground it instantly, while gold jewellery, warm rather than cool toned, stops the whole look reading as one flat sheet of metal. A structured coat thrown over the top on the way in and out of a venue also does more for the silhouette than any amount of accessorising, since it breaks up the shine and gives the eye somewhere else to rest.

Occasion wise, this is a category built for artificial light and evening hours rather than daylight. Party season is the obvious home for it, but it earns its place equally at a smart dinner, a milestone celebration, or any event where the brief is dress up rather than dress smart. Worn with confidence and the right foundation garments underneath, since silver forgives nothing in the way of visible lines, it remains one of the few colours that photographs as well at midnight as it did at seven.

Top Picks

SILVER DRESSW CONCEPT (US)Capri Maxi Fitted Wool Dress [Charcoal]

$169.00 W CONCEPT (US)

SILVER DRESSCHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace Earring CN378 - picture color

$10.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

SILVER DRESSVIX SWIMWEARS25 1 - Sale Eyelet Raya Short Dress- Seaglass, Size:

$319.00 VIX SWIMWEAR

TENNIS EXPRESSWomen's London Pro Tennis Dress White $96.00 TENNIS EXPRESS

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace Earring - Picture $7.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

SHOEMALL.COMSeychelles Leeward Dress Sandal Women's Metallic Silver Sandal 10 $118.95 SHOEMALL.COM

THREDUP (US)White House Black Market Casual Dress - Sweater Dress: Silver Tweed Pattern Dresses - Used $51.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US)Express Cocktail Dress: Silver Stars Pattern Dresses - Size X $22.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US)Patra Cocktail Dress: Silver Tweed Pattern Dresses - Used - Size $34.99 THREDUP (US)

HELLOMOLLY (US)Petal Dusk Mesh Halter Maxi Dress Blue $109.95 HELLOMOLLY (US)

EGO (US & CA)Short Sleeve Lace Frill Layered Drape Detail Mini Dress In Black, Women's Size US $34.00 EGO (US & CA)

THREDUP (US)Cocktail Dress - Bodycon: Silver Dresses - Used $22.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US)Express Outlet Cocktail Dress: Silver Dresses - New - Size 2X $34.99 THREDUP (US)

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace Earring CN279 - picture color $10.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

THREDUP (US)Minkpink Cocktail Dress - Fit & Flare: Silver Dresses - Used $23.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US)Current Air Casual Dress - Popover: Silver Tweed Pattern Dresses - Used - Size 3X $35.99 THREDUP (US)

THREDUP (US)AFRM Dress Pants - High Rise: Silver Bottoms - Size $45.99 THREDUP (US)

HELLO MOLLY (US)Disco Dancing Maxi Dress Beige Sequin $99.75 HELLO MOLLY (US)

TENNIS EXPRESSWomen's London Pro Tennis Dress Aurora Ink $96.00 TENNIS EXPRESS

SHOPBOP3.1 Phillip Lim Puff Sleeve Side Tie Flare Dress Black $695.00 SHOPBOP

HELLOMOLLY (US)HELLO MOLLY Pass Me The Diamonds Sequin Mini Dress Pink $169.75 HELLOMOLLY (US)

EGO (US & CA)Lace Trim Corset Overlay Mini Dress In White, Women's Size US $49.00 EGO (US & CA)

CLOTHING SHOP ONLINEDevon & Jones - DG510W - Women's Crown Collection Micro Tattersall Woven Dress Shirt - White/ Silver/ Slate $7.35 CLOTHING SHOP ONLINE

THE LUXURY CLOSETRetrofete Silver Sequin Jersey Flynn Ruched Mini Dress $163.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET

HELLOMOLLY (US)Icon Incoming Halter Maxi Dress Navy $95.95 HELLOMOLLY (US)

TENNIS EXPRESSWomen's Devon Tennis Dress Ink and Silver Sand $68.97 TENNIS EXPRESS

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace Earring CN378 - picture color $10.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

PETAL & PUP USPontee One Shoulder Pleated Midi Dress $100.00 PETAL & PUP US

CLOTHING SHOP ONLINEDevon & Jones - DG510W - Women's Crown Collection Micro Tattersall Woven Dress Shirt - White/ Burgundy/ Silver - 2XL $7.35 CLOTHING SHOP ONLINE

CLOTHING SHOP ONLINEDevon & Jones - DG534W - Women's Crown Collection Striped Woven Dress Shirt - Silver/ White $8.53 CLOTHING SHOP ONLINE

HARVEY NICHOLS USJW Anderson Twisted Satin Mini Dress - Silver - 12 (UK12 / M) $708.41 HARVEY NICHOLS US

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace Earring CN238 - picture color $14.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

W CONCEPT (US)Velvet Slim Fit Cami Dress [Silver] $267.00 W CONCEPT (US)

MAJE USJewelled taffeta maxi dress $740.00 MAJE US

DANCEWEAR SOLUTIONSUltra Sparkle Shift Dress - Silver - Intermediate Child - Dance Dress 15148 $64.95 DANCEWEAR SOLUTIONS

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace Earring CN342 - picture color $10.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Necklace Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace CN92 - picture color $17.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

HELLO MOLLY (US)Solange Long Sleeve Maxi Dress Green $95.95 HELLO MOLLY (US)

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDFlash Diamond Tassel Luxury Dress Accessories Dinner Clavicle Necklace Earring CN328 - picture color $10.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

NINA SHOESWomens Nerice Silver Crystal Mid-Heel Platform Dress Sandal $70.00 NINA SHOES

VIX SWIMWEARS25 1 - Sale Eyelet Raya Short Dress- Seaglass, Size: $319.00 VIX SWIMWEAR

HELLOMOLLY (US)Shimmer Lake Maxi Dress Silver Sequins $137.38 HELLOMOLLY (US)

W CONCEPT (US)Capri Maxi Fitted Wool Dress [Charcoal] $169.00 W CONCEPT (US)

CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDNew matching wedding dress, wedding shoes women's bridal shoes sequined white large size high-heeled women's shoes $69.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED

−66%

NINA SHOESWomens Blakely New Silver Satin Pointy-Toe D'orsay Mid-Heel Dress Pump$88.21 $29.99 NINA SHOES

−49%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARNaturalizer Women's Bristol Dress Sandals (Silver Faux Leather) - Size 10.0$98.02 $49.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−75%

SHOPBOPALIGNE Blaze Satin Mini Dress Silver$215.00 $53.75 SHOPBOP

−45%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARJewel Badgley Mischka Women's Galen Dress Sandals (Silver Fabric) - Size 10.0$109.07 $59.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−50%

NATURALIZERNaturalizer Heidi Dress Sandals, Silver Satin, 12.0M Open Toe, Block Heels, Ankle Strap$129.98 $64.99 NATURALIZER

−31%

NATURALIZER27 EDIT Grace Dress Sandal Shoes, Warm Silver Leather, 10.0W Open Toe, Rubber Outsole$144.91 $99.99 NATURALIZER

−11%

NATURALIZERNaturalizer Vera Dress Sandals, Silver Leather Satin, 7.5W Almond Toe, Block Heels$134.82 $119.99 NATURALIZER

−7%

FAMOUS FOOTWEARNaturalizer Women's Joy Dress Sandals (Silver Sand Leather) - Size 10.0 W$150.53 $139.99 FAMOUS FOOTWEAR

−65%

IFCHICMSGM Printed V-neck Puff Sleeved Mini Dress - IT$900.00 $315.00 IFCHIC

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