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If there’s one thing we hate about summer, it’s the fact that it ends. The death of summer means the death of rosé season, open-toed shoes, and sun-kissed complexions—need we continue? But before you start mourning #hotgirlsummer, don’t think you need to immediately bundle up in coats, sweaters, and boots. Fall maxi dresses are having a major moment, and they’re the perfect transitional fashion staple to bring a bit of summer’s breezy aura into your autumn wardrobe.
To cure your end-of-summer blues, we suggest donning a maxi dress: the grass-skimming, breeze-catching item everyone should own. It’s the perfect piece for the transition from summer to fall—flowy enough to keep you cool on the hottest summer days, but long enough to protect your bare legs from the cold breeze that often strikes during post-August evenings. You can style them with everything from an oversized denim jacket and chunky kicks to your go-to leather jacket (Nothing like the first wear of the season!) and some boots.
If the idea of a maxi dress only brings to mind flowy, prairie girl energy—which, not for nothing, is a huge trend for 2023 anyway—you should know that there are actually far more options than you might think. There’s nothing prairie about a body-con maxi paired with Docs and a moto jacket, is there? Maxi dresses are the kind of staple you can style a million ways, and while I do suggest getting some tiered, patterned statement options, a few basic layering maxis should make the cut, too.
With that, read on for eight maxi dresses that are perfect for styling this fall. Not only are these picks completely practical for cross-seasonal wear, but they’re also so cute, that you’ll forget how sad you are that summer is pretty much over. (Sorry, too triggering?)
This stunner from Boden has everything you could want in a fall maxi dress. Full length, bright fall mustard color, and puff sleeps for just a touch of whimsy. Style it with platforms like the model or bust out your knee-high boots for an edgier look. Either way you can score 25 percent off all full priced items when you enter code T4W6 at checkout through September 16, 2023.
The Capucine Dress by Shona Joy is the perfect fall staple. The tiered skirt and dramtic puff sleeves make for a beautiful, floaty vibe, but the colorway still screams autumn. Better yet? It’s 36 percent off right now.
TikTokers — and hundreds of five-star reviews — say this dress available on Amazon is a great SKIMS alternative. And we can’t really argue with them, as the dress is only $37.
This dress is so stunning, I can’t believe it’s under $40. You can seriously even rock this number at your next black tie fall wedding. It’s gorgeous and comes in so many different prints.
This boho meets grunge lounge dress is cute enough to wear outside of the house, despite its thermal material. Pair it with moto biker boots and you’ll instantly look like an off-duty NYC model.
I’m literally not listening to you when you say you can’t wear white after Labor Day. I mean, this dress? With black cowboy boots? That just screams fall, I don’t make the rules. This stunner is also under $40 and when I wore it out recently I got so many compliments, I couldn’t keep track. It’s part of the Rachel Blutstein x Future Collective collection at Target and mark your calendars because new styles drop Sept. 17, 2023.
This is the ultimate fall transitional piece. You can add boots to keep your legs warmer and a light denim jacket over the top to dress it down if needed on date nights.
It’s rare to see a maxi dress cut paired with this high halter neckline, but I love the end result. It’s kind of like the 2023 version of the Carrie Bradshaw dress worn in Sex and the City. Pair this with sneakers and small sunglasses and you’ll be the coolest one on the block. You can even wear it to work!
