The Knitted Dresses To Invest In Now – And How To Style Them
A knitted dress is the ultimate cold-weather outfit. Discover our roundup of this season’s styles, plus how to wear them
It’s easy to fall in love with the knitted dress. Soft, cozy and comfortable, they have become the linchpin of effortlessly chic fall wardrobes and require little in the way of styling to leave you feeling put together. Plus, thanks to their day-to-night versatility and the fact they don’t easily wrinkle, knitted dresses deserve a spot on every packing list for stylish city breaks.
It’s no wonder brands and designers revisit these styles season after season – it’s an easy, street-style-approved fall-outfit formula, after all. You just need to find the perfect dress to match your personal style – and our edit has plenty of shapes and shades that are worthy of your attention.
One of the first things to consider is the fabric. To nail the brief of something snuggly, natural fibers deserve to be a top priority. Using nothing but cashmere to create well-considered collections of wardrobe essentials, Lisa Yang is a knitwear name to know. Designed in Sweden, the ribbed ‘Nette’ dress is a 12-gauge piece, which means the thickness of it works trans-seasonally. Store it folded to avoid stretching out the shoulders with a hanger and, when it comes to styling, follow Belen Hostalet’s lead, who wore something similar for Paris Fashion Week with a gold necklace and ballet flats. Elsewhere, another neutral to note is Isabel Marant’s beige mini dress, which was first out on the fall ’23 runway with a tonal trench and Marant’s covetable snake-print boots. Bonus: the glossy snaps will match one of this season’s trending silver bags.
If you’re in the market for a knitted dress that’s a little more evening-ready, Jacquemus should be your first port of call. From the Le Chouchou collection, which showgoers watched from little white row boats in the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, the ‘Dao’ dress has a glamorously high thigh-grazing slit and is so finely knitted that it sensually hugs every curve. Meanwhile, Ganni’s metallic-flecked midi, which is consciously made using 66% recycled fibers, positively shimmered at the brand’s Butterflies! show in Copenhagen, where it was paired with buckled pumps. Exclusively available at NET-A-PORTER, Missoni’s fitted dress is the one for fancier events, and its signature glistening chevron will look just as mesmerizing in photographs as it does in person. Complement the high neck with a chunky chain necklace or draw the eye down to it with sculptural earrings.
If a dose of color is what’s missing from your fall wardrobe, turn to the man who works magic with a bold, painterly palette: Christopher John Rogers. Striped with pops of red, mint and sky-blue, which have the same impact as one of Piet Mondrian’s graphic artworks, the designer’s dress might be knitted, but it falls and moves just as beautifully as silk. Team it with platform pumps and an oversized blazer to complement the polo collar. Alternatively, stick to one shade with Proenza Schouler’s rich saffron style, which is fluted at the cuffs to match the hem. It will look beautiful with glossy knee-high boots, or you could add a pair of androgynous loafers to create a cool contrast.
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