The Hunt: The Best Dresses for Work

Sure, we all know what wardrobe essentials for work professional women are supposed to have in their closets, but if you’re buying one for the first time or replacing one you’ve worn into the ground, it can be a pain to find exactly the right incarnation in stores. In “The Hunt,” we search the stores for a basic item that every woman should have.

What are your best dresses for work this year, readers — what are you hunting for, what do you love, and what dress trends are you frustrated by? I know a lot of readers dislike the “rufflepuff” styles, as they call them, for example.

(We try to keep this roundup updated — other more specific dress roundups we've done recently include plus size work dresses, work dresses with pockets, day to night work dresses, fit and flare work dresses, work dresses with matching blazers, colorful sheath dresses for work, work dresses with built-in shapewear, and (over at CorporetteMoms), the best maternity dresses for work.)

{related: these are all of the best work dresses we've loved recently, from our daily Workwear Reports}

What Makes a Dress Appropriate for Work

For my $.02, here's what I think makes a great dress for work:

• thick enough straps or sleeves that there is no chance of bra straps showing through — look for lingerie snaps inside dresses to keep your bra in place, or ask your tailor to add them if you have a problem with falling bra straps
• a work-appropriate length that isn’t too trendy — usually within an inch of your kneecap (here was our last discussion on when a dress is too short for work) 
• if there's a slit, it doesn't rise too high when you're seated (sit down and do the mirror test to make sure!)?
• a fit that is tailored and polished but not “bodycon” — no one wants to work long hours in skintight clothing!
• pockets, which can be great (because, well, pockets!) but often add a lot of bulk and detract from the sleekness (I still almost always want pockets, but that’s me.)
• sleeves, which can also be a double-edged sword — sleeveless styles will inevitably layer better underneath cardigans and blazers. That said, sleeveless looks are not appropriate for every office — so know your office culture if you plan on wearing a sleeveless dress by itself.

Important Details About Work Dresses You Might Not Know

Finally, note that on some sheath dresses you may have to cut your vents for the skirt — if there’s a little X sewn into the bottom of the vent, that probably isn’t supposed to be there. If your office is extremely conservative, you may want to check out our guide to pantyhose — for the rest of you, if you're hunting for something comfortable to wear beneath your work dresses, readers love these comfortable “slip shorts” from Jockey; you can also look for a ton of shapewear.

(OK one more point:  If your dress is part of a suiting set, be sure to dryclean all your pieces together so they show the same wear and tear.)

{related: check out our Guide to Comfortable Heels!}

Where to Find Great Dresses for Work in 2024

Having looked around at a bunch of stores this morning… pickings are kind of slim if you don't want the “rufflepuff” look, as many commenters call it. There are a lot of tiered dresses, racerback dresses, floofy dresses, and so, so many mini (or maxi) dresses, neither of which are traditionally appropriate for work. (Know your office, but in our last discussion on skirt length most readers agreed that knee length or just above is the ideal length for work dresses.)

In general, broad strokes, if you're on the hunt for good dresses for work, I'd check some of these stores — also keep an eye on our page of best work dresses, which collects all the dresses Elizabeth has recommended for our morning workwear reports.

• MM.LaFleur
• J.Crew
• BOSS
• T. Tahari
• Lands' End
• Quince
• Amazon seller Miusol
• Amazon seller MUXXN
• Hobbs
• ASOS can be tricky to recommend any particular dress because inventory changes so frequently, but don't forget about their super affordable dresses for work…

If you're on the hunt for more conservative, traditional dresses for work, these are some of our long-standing favorite dresses…

Great Sheath Dresses for Work

Some of the best dresses for work as of 2024 include options from J.Crew, BOSS, T. Tahari, and Lands' End. For really affordable options, check out Quince and Amazon sellers Miusol or MUXXN. We've also rounded up the best plus-size dresses for work!

The Best Plus-Size Dresses for Work

As of 2024, some of our favorite plus-size dresses for work include options from Lands' End, Karen Kane, CeCe, Talbots, J.Crew, Universal Standard, and Eloquii – also check Karen Millen, Pari Passu, and Tanya Taylor for more unusual choices.

The Best Work Dresses with Pockets

As of 2024, some of the best work dresses with pockets include M.M.LaFleur, J.Crew, Lands' End, Elie Tahari, and Boden… Some of our latest favorites are below! If you're on a budget, Quince has a great basic, this business casual Amazon dress has pockets, and Amazon seller VFShow has a number of dresses with pockets! Both Amazon and Etsy make it pretty easy to find dresses with pockets, as well.

A Few Trendy Work Dresses I'm Liking Right Now…

A Classy But Affordable Work Dress: Quince

This short-sleeved dress from Quince looks like a great summer basic at a fantastic price. As Elizabeth noted, “I know cap sleeves aren’t for everyone, but I find them to be one of the better options for wearing under a jacket or sweater.”

In addition to beige, the dress also comes in your classic black, charcoal, and navy if you’re looking for something a little more traditional. 

The dress is $49.90 at Quince. It comes in sizes XS–XL.

The Best Work Dress That Comes in a Zillion Colors: Amazon Seller MUXXN

There used to be a Facebook group for lawyer moms (it's currently archived, alas), but a lottttt of women were singing the praises of this dress from MUXXN for work, and on Amazon it has 13,500 great reviews. For my $.02, I'd recommend sizing up — but I love that it comes in a zillion colors, is only $30, and comes in sizes S–3X.

(It's important to note that the fabric is a bit more like a polyester T-shirt than a thick ponte — but I love looking at all the real women sharing pictures of themselves in the dress.)

If you're hunting for other colorful sheath dresses for work, some other great options right now include Donna Morgan, Calvin Klein, MMLF, and Boden. Another great Amazon option: Miusol and the other dresses we mentioned in our roundup of what to buy at Amazon for work outfits (based on reader favorites).

A Feminine but Sedate Work Dress: J.Crew Factory

If you're hunting for an affordable dress, this J.Crew Factory one is a pretty good option — it's $69 today, comes in 2 colors, sizes 0-18.

Another really affordable option is this modal surplice dress from Lands' End; some colors are as low as $23 today. It's available in regular, petite, and plus sizes with a ton of different color options. Another great affordable option: this bright Eloquii dress that we've featured before, down to $39 today and available in 5 colors, sizes 14-28.

A Great Fit & Flare Work Dress with Pockets: Elie Tahari

A great fit and flare work dress can be hard to find, even more so if you want pockets — that's why I love this classic option from Elie Tahari! The dress is based off the neckline from their best-selling Judith blouses.

It's available in sizes 0-16 for $448.

(Another fit and flare work dress with pockets: this plus-size bestseller from City Chic.)

The Best Washable Wool Work Dress: Lands' End

In addition to the modal surplice dress mentioned above, Lands' End is a great spot for washable wool dresses like the one above (it comes in regular and plus sizes); they also have a few colors of a boring but solid ponte dress in regular, petite, and plus sizes.

The Best Desk to Dinner Dress: M.M.LaFleur

This dress may be my favorite one in the bunch, and it makes a great day to night dress — I love the wide boatneck, the drapey sleeves, the side ruching — it's classic but fun as well. As I mentioned above, MM.LaFleur has a TON of great dresses for work.

This one comes in many colors, sizes 0P-18, for $345. (And it's machine washable and made with recycled polyester.)

Other brands with lots of machine washable work dresses include British brands Hobbs (sizes 0-14) and Boden.

The Work Dress You'll Have Forever: St. John

If you're looking for a timeless sheath dress that's a bit of a splurge, this St. John dress has been around for a zillion years in their classic Milano knit, described as a “dense, wool-blend” (50% viscose, “dry clean”) that “maintains its shape and offers near-seasonless wearability.” Nice! At $795, it's one of the pricier options — reviewers note that it runs large, and as many readers have noted, you can often find great deals on St. John at resale sites and during big Nordstrom sales.

Other great options for a splurge include Theory, Hugo Boss, and Black Halo (their Jackie dress is still going strong after 10+ years, and I swear Nordstrom just brought it back to their product catalog.)

Readers, what dresses for work are you liking these days?

Like this feature? Check out other recent installments!

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