Donning a dress gives you the smug satisfaction of "I just made an effort" while keeping you nearly as comfortable as that velour tracksuit you almost wore this morning. (Congratulations on stifling that urge.) Given the comfort factor and this season's lovely shapes, dresses have become both the goal and the fallback plan. Here are three of my favorite dress styles.

Sweater Dresses

Ranging from elegant to cozy, sweater dresses are a good way for those Michigan gals to avoid becoming fetchingly garbed popsicles (hint: this equation includes high boots, textured tights and a very large coat).

Proving that alpaca wool can still say "siren with a scoop neck", the Ya Ya Cable Knit Sweater Dress is available here for $395.


Soft wool angora with short fluttered sleeves, Anthropologie's new wave sweater dress makes me want to curl up in an armchair with a fire, a long fork and some marshmallows. Available here for $158.


Perfect for schlepping around the house or comfortably running errands without resorting to the velour tracksuit, the Free People Stripe Sweater Dress is a wise choice. Available here, on sale for $60.


Mod Shift in Black

Update your little black dress with this sleek sheath style. Crisp lines flatter virtually every shape and look fabulous with all the flats in your closet.

Silk with a boatneck and elegant silhouette, this Foley for Foley + Corinna Boat Neck Shift Dress is my top pick. Available here for $315.


Above dress a bit too restrained for your taste? Try the rosettes and extra gathers of the Rebecca Taylor Solid Silk Shift Dress. Available here for $350.


True Bond Girl Glam is in the bag with this vintage 1960's Rhinestones Little Black Dress. Available here for $109.


For the "Bond Girl on her day off" look, the Curved Seam Dress with Hip Pockets is here for $119.


The Pouffe

Guaranteed to cover a multitude of fudge brownie sins, short skirts with volume are a prime way to make your legs look both slender and miles long.

Here's a trust fund baby version and it's a beauty. The Temperley London Silk Halter Minidress is available here for $1068.


A beautifully structured dress in earth tones du jour, the Max Studio Corseted Tulip Dress is available here for $398.



Mixing the shift and the bubble skirt into one lovely brocade style, Anthropologie's Short Dress is available here for $248.

Labels: dresses