
We love the versatility of dresses. There's a dress for virtually any occasion, from an afternoon of tennis to a formal gala. With different lengths, waistlines, and silhouettes, these are some of the dress styles we love.
Sundress

Is there anything better in the summer than a sundress to help you beat the heat? They're so versatile — you can wear them grocery shopping or dress them up for a garden party, and they're a great way to stay cool when the sun is hot.
There are so many styles of sundresses, but they all are sleeveless with some type of straps or halter, and they range in length from mini to tea length.
- We love the vintage look of this , which has a cherry pattern, a flattering a-line shape, and straps wide enough to hide bra straps.
- This has a sweet floral pattern and a relaxed, boho vibe.
Peasant Dress

If you love to cultivate a boho vibe, then a peasant dress will definitely fit the bill. These blousy dresses are usually made from natural fabrics, and they fit loosely and comfortably, with features like ruching, embroidery, or smocking adding pretty details.
This hits mid-thigh and has a smocked waist and a pretty ruffle at the bottom.
Shirtwaist

Shirtwaist dresses feature buttons down the front — either to the waist or all the way to the hem. It has been a popular style since the 1900s and can either be casual or a bit dressier. In the 50s and 60s, it was a popular house dress for women who stayed home and took care of the house and kids.
- The vintage vibe of this is almost too cute to pass up.
- We love this thoroughly modern take on a that's fresh, fashionable, and up-to-date.
A-Line

A-line dresses take the shape of an A when you wear it — either extending from shoulders to hem, or from the waist to the hem. It's a flattering shape for most figures.
- This because it can be dressed up or down, and it's flattering for most figures.
- The gives it shape and movement as it skims the body, and it's super flattering for most figures.
Wrap Dress

While Diane von Fürstenberg is often credited as creating this extremely flattering dress shape, it's a dress style that has been around since ancient times in East Asia. But von Fürstenberg certainly gave it new life in the Western world and created a popular dress sensation that has withstood the test of time.
Wrap dresses have one side that wraps over the other, creating a V-neckline. The dresses tie at the side or in the front, and they hug curves beautifully.
- We love this because it has flattering features like flutter sleeves and a cute hemline ruffle.
- This has a va-va-va-voom feel with a curve-hugging silhouette. It's a classic dress that's perfect for semi-formal occasions.
Sheath

Sheath dresses are form-fitting dresses perfect for business because they dress up well under a blazer. They skim the body but offer good coverage, with a nipped-in waist but no waistline, creating a smooth silhouette from collar to hem.
- This goes from day to evening with just a few accessory changes.
- We think this is perfect for work.
Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses are causal dresses that extend to the ankles or floor. They come in a variety of styles, including peasant dresses and sundresses, for instance. They usually offer great coverage and are perfect for weekend or casual wear.
- One of the things we love the most about this is its pockets. Any dress with pockets is a great dress in our book.
- This has pockets and a slit — perfect for comfort. It makes a great beach cover-up, but it also looks good bopping around town.
Shift

A shift dress falls from the shoulders to just above the knee, and it doesn't have any internal shaping, so it essentially falls in a straight or slightly flared line. It can be sleeveless or have sleeves. Shift dresses work well in the office when dressed up with a blazer, but they're also great for casual events.
We like this for its versatility.
Empire Wasit

Empire waist dresses have been fashionable since ancient times. The empire style gives a lot of dresses a classic, old-fashioned flare that still fits well in modern styling. These dresses cinch below the bustline and above the natural waist, with the dress flowing without fitting from that point. It's a great figure-flattering style, especially if you have a bit of a tummy since the fabric skims over it instead of clinging.
- This dress has smocking just below the bustline. It falls in an a-line to just above the knees in a cute, tiered skirt.
- We love this . It's perfect for heading out to lunch or dinner.
Body Con Dress

Body con dresses show off what you've got. Whether they're short-sleeved or long-sleeved, they cling to your curves. They're the perfect dress for clubbing, and they make a great LBD for dates or fun nights out with friends.
- This to all your curves and has added interest with ruching in the skirt.
- If you're looking for something with a little more coverage, this falls all the way to the floor.
Cocktail Dress

Cocktail dresses are semi-formal attire, perfect for cocktail parties, nice dinners out, and more. They typically fall to the knees (or just below), mid-calf, or ankle and tend to be well-made and well-structured in elegant materials (so not cotton).
- This falls to just below the knee and has flattering ruching. It's the perfect date-night dress.
- We love how simple and elegant this is.
Slip Dress

If you're not from the 80s or earlier, you may not have ever known a slip as anything other than a dress. But back in the day, we always wore slips under dresses to help them hang properly. Today, many slips are dresses, and they look a lot like super pretty versions of what women used to wear as an undergarment. They have strap sleeves and body-con shapes that skim curves. They can extend any length. They're definitely date-night dresses because they're super sexy.
This is the picture of sexy elegance.
Fit and Flare

A fit-and-flare dress has a flattering shape. It's a type of A-line dress where the bodice is fitted through the waist, and then the skirt flares out from the waist in an A shape. Depending on the dress, it can work well for all kinds of occasions — from the boardroom to a gala.
- With 3/4 sleeves, falls just to the knees and is the perfect day-to-evening dress.
- This has a faux-wrap style that's adorably boho.
Trapeze

Trapeze dresses, sometimes called tent dresses, fit at the shoulders and then flare out, falling to a wide flare in the skirt. These roomy dresses are super casual.
We love this with a lace halter neckline and tiered skirt. It's perfect as a swim coverup or for a casual summer afternoon outing.
Caftan

A caftan is a super flowy long dress with a floor-length design. They're usually relatively shapeless and comfy, and they make great loungewear or casual clothing. They also make great swimwear coverups.
This is perfect for days at the beach.
Sign up for our newsletter featuring all the latest stories and products we love.
Ball Gown

Ball gowns are formal evening wear, perfect for fancy parties and galas. They typically extend all the way to the floor and have pretty embellishments that make them super formal. Think grown-up prom dress.
- This brings the drama with a structured neckline and a flaring skirt.
- We love how flattering this is with its voluminous tulle skirt.
LBD

It doesn't matter how old you are or what your body shape is — every woman needs a little black dress in her wardrobe. It's a mainstay for all kinds of occasions, from layering under a blazer at work to wearing for a party or night on the town.
- We love the elegance and versatility of this .
- If you prefer a more body-con LBD, this has an empire waist, v-neck, slit skirt, and flattering ruching.
Peplum

A peplum dress has a flared ruffle sewn into the waistline. It's a good business dress. For example, with subtle piping trim is perfect for professional environments.
Mermaid

Mermaid-shaped dresses are called that because the flare of the skirt looks like a mermaid's tail. These long, formal dresses are fitted to the knees and then flare out at the bottom. They're best for formal occasions. Take, for example, this .
Bouffant

A bouffant dress has a wide, full skirt that flares from a nipped in waist. Often, petticoats are used to flare the skirt. Think 1950s dresses. We love the vintage feel of this .
Wedding

From beachy casual to super formal, the wedding dress always ends the fashion show, so we'll end our tour of dresses here. Bridal gowns have evolved over the years, and there are so many gorgeous styles in all kinds of colors (even though white is still the most common and traditional). We're all about anything that makes a bride feel her best on her special day.
- We love the simple elegance of this .
- We adore everything about this elegant , from its v-neck to the embellishments at the waist to the clean lines.
So Many Types of Dresses

There are so many types of dresses that it would be impossible to list them all here, and there's a lot of overlap among categories. We love just how versatile dresses are, going from casual daytime wear to the most formal of occasions. So whether you're headed to the beach or you need to be red-carpet-ready, there's a dress style to suit the occasion.