Two Fall Maxi Dresses I Cannot Stop Wearing This Season
Fall dressing gets so much easier once you have a couple of great maxi dresses in rotation. Pull one over your head, add boots, and you are done. These two dresses from Ivy City Co have become exactly that for me this season, and they could not feel more different from each other while both hitting that same easy, seasonal mark. One is a plaid smocked dress that feels a little prairie and a little cozy, and the other is a polka dot wrap dress that feels soft and a bit romantic. Let me walk through both.
Dress One, The Plaid Smocked Maxi Dress
This rust and cream plaid dress is giving me every fall feeling. The smocked bodice is fitted through the top without being tight, and then it releases into a full, flowy skirt that swishes when you walk. The sleeveless cut makes it easy to layer, which matters a lot once the temperature actually drops. I am wearing a size small and it fits true to size, with the smocking giving a little extra give through the chest.
The plaid print is what sells this one for me. It is warm and rust toned rather than the traditional red and black you see everywhere, so it reads as fall without feeling like a costume. I paired it with suede ankle boots and kept everything else simple so the dress and the print could be the whole outfit.
Plaid is one of those prints that shows up every single fall and never really goes away. If you want more plaid outfit ideas for the season, my post on plaid outfit ideas for fall rounds up the pieces I am loving right now.
How I Would Style The Plaid Dress Through Fall
Right now I am wearing it on its own with boots, but this dress is built for layering. A cropped denim jacket over the top keeps the smocked bodice visible while adding warmth. A chunky cardigan open over it makes for a cozier, more casual version. And once it gets properly cold, tights underneath and a wool coat over the top would take it straight into winter without missing a beat.
Dress Two, The Polka Dot Wrap Dress
This one is a completely different mood. A soft brown polka dot wrap dress with puff sleeves and a delicate lace trim along the neckline and the tie. It wraps and ties at the waist, so you can adjust the fit depending on how fitted or relaxed you want it to sit, which is one of my favorite things about a true wrap dress. I am wearing a size small here too, and it fits true to size with room to adjust through the wrap.
The polka dot print feels a little vintage in the best way, and the lace trim keeps it from feeling too casual. This is the dress I would reach for when I want to feel a little more done up without actually doing much. I styled it the same way, with ankle boots and nothing else competing for attention.
A true wrap dress is one of the most flattering silhouettes out there because you control the fit yourself. If you love this style, I have more favorites in my post on wrap dress outfit ideas, including a few in other prints for the season.
How I Would Style The Polka Dot Dress Through Fall
The puff sleeves mean this dress already has a little more coverage than a sleeveless style, so it takes you further into the season on its own. From there, a fitted cardigan layered underneath the wrap adds warmth without changing the silhouette. Tall boots instead of ankle boots dress it up for an evening version, and a wide belt over the tie would add definition if you want a more cinched waist for a night out.
Which One Should You Choose
If you want something a little more structured and prairie leaning, go with the plaid. If you want something soft, romantic, and adjustable, the wrap dress is the one. Honestly, I would not choose. They solve two different moods and I have already worn both more than once this month. That is the real test for me with a fall dress, whether I actually reach for it again, and both of these have passed.
Both are also proof that a good maxi dress is one of the easiest ways to build a fall capsule without overbuying. I keep a running list of the dresses and pieces I trust for the season in my post on fall capsule wardrobe essentials, and these two are now on it.
Where To Shop Both Dresses
Both dresses are from Ivy City Co, which has become one of my favorite spots for feminine, seasonal pieces that still feel wearable for everyday. You can browse their current arrivals in the Ivy City Co dress collection, and if you want a broader look at the maxi dress silhouettes trending this fall, this fall maxi dress trend overview is worth a read.
