Wearing a dress is one of the most seamless ways to put an outfit together, no matter the season. You don’t need to think about much styling or layering—other than some great accessories—and they can make getting out the door in a flash for work, an event, or even packing for a vacation, all the easier. Having a few of these one-and-done dresses in your weekly rotation is the simplest way to guarantee style with ease. However, finding one that ticks the trifecta of boxes (your ideal silhouette, style, and budget) isn’t as straightforward.
The Best Affordable Dresses, According to Vogue
- The Reworked T-Shirt Dress: Herskind Zach T-shirt dress, $145
- The Laidback Denim: Favorite Daughter City denim shirtdress, $268
- The Essential Maxi: Éterne maxi dress, $265
- The Versatile Midi: The Garment Canada midi dress, $300
- The Minimalist Mini: Posse Emma mini shift dress, $220
- The Office-Ready V-Neck: ME+EM V-neck maxi dress, $195
Enter our edit of small, up-and-coming labels and affordable brands offering a stylish selection of affordable dresses under $300. You won’t find widely known, fast fashion shops on this list of affordable dress brands, either. Instead, we hope you’ll discover a handful of new labels to shop for every occasion for which you might need a dress—be it minimalist, knit styles from The Line by K for everyday luxury to festive, modern silhouettes from Significant Other or even beach-ready styles from D’Ascoli that will inspire you to book that getaway in no time flat.
Below, our shopping guide on where to buy the best affordable dresses online. They all hit the $100 to $300 sweet spot, and we’ll say it’s a really good place to start.
The Garment
Creative director Charlotte Eskildsen helms the Danish-based brand The Garment, focusing on clean tailoring and knitwear. The knitted maxi dresses are not to be missed—they’re as thoughtfully designed as they are made.
The Garment
Canada midi dress
The Garment
Como maxi dress
Remain Birger Christensen
Remain Birger Christensen has become one of those niche brands that make clothes you actually want to wear, without the hefty price tags. Nineties minimalism mixed with a pinch of modern draping results in cool slips and shift dresses that you can layer up with their assortment of tailoring, basics, and more.
Remain Birger Christensen
two color minidress
Remain Birger Christensen
A-shape minidress
Significant Other
Look to Australian label Significant Other’s elevated styles for upcoming getaways and other festivities. Their relaxed shapes, often with bodycon silhouettes and cutout detailing, are flattering to the form and downright cool.
Significant Other
Esme maxi dress
Significant Other
Holly cutout mini dress
Posse the Label
Sydney-based, slow fashion line Posse creates extremely desirable shapes with an elegant, modern feel. You’ll find everything from linen shift dresses to bodycon jerseys, all crafted with a “less is more” philosophy that highlights the female form.
Posse
Alice linen maxi dress
Posse
Emma mini shift dress
En Saison
For a touch of utilitarian chic you can wear all year round, think En Saison. The brand’s cotton sundresses are too good to pass up at the moment—like this belted shirtdress and adorable khaki mini. Most styles are under $200, so it’s worth a double look.
En Saison
Avery belted midi-dress
En Saison
Hardin mini shirtdress
Favorite Daughter
Favorite Daughter was founded by sisters Erin and Sara Foster, who dreamt of creating items they wished they had in their closets. The lineup of slinky slips, ribbed knit dresses, and even denim, are super wearable.
Favorite Daughter
City denim shirtdress
Favorite Daughter
Manifest dress
Third Form
Australian roots and a cult following have made Merryn Kelly’s label Third Form an up-and-coming success story. Marrying progressiveness and practicality within each and every design, the brand’s minimalist silk slips are customer favorites.
Third Form
Rolling Wave strapless mini dress
Third Form
Crush satin slip dress
Paloma Wool
Out of Barcelona, Paloma Wool offers a laid-back assortment of funky, knit pieces with Spanish influence and craftsmanship. Draped, bodycon silhouettes are their specialty, and this season’s moody masterpieces are nothing short of mesmerizing.
Paloma Wool
Mob midi dress
Paloma Wool
Moebius midi dress
Helsa
Model Elsa Hosk’s passion project, Helsa, is a contemporary line heavily influenced by her family and Scandinavian roots. Styles like fitted knit dresses and modern evening wear keep customers coming back for more, drop after drop.
Helsa
off shoulder mini dress
Hill House Home
By now, you have probably heard of the Nap dress—the smocked silhouette made famous by Hill House Home’s founder Nell Diamond—but the brand also offers a collection of dresses in various silhouettes, that will take you from brunch to a dinner party in no time flat.
Hill House Home
Ophelia dress
Hill House Home
Matilda dress
Éterne
Extensive market research and trial and error led stylist Chloé Bartoli to produce Éterne, a seasonless line of highly-crafted essentials. The buttery soft, tube dresses are a mainstay for the brand, coming in a variety of necklines, hem lengths, and neutral colorways.
Herskind
Mother daughter duo Birgitte and Andrea Herskind focus on timeless silhouettes with the classic, Danish design touch and ecocentric sensibilities. You’ll find everything from organic cotton, T-shirt dresses to viscose maxis you’ll want to wear on the regular.
Herskind
Zach T-shirt dress
Baum Und Pferdgarten
Fashion is all about playful contrasts, for Copenhagen-based creative directors, Rikke Baumgarten and Helle Hestehave. Their line of covetable dresses and ready-to-wear essentials hark on texture, print, and bold color.
Baum Und Pferdgarten
Jua maxi dress
Baum Und Pferdgarten
Anwita colorblock dress
The Line By K
Karla Deras’s line of minimalist-centric designs offers sleek yet comfortable styles that accentuate the body. Ethically made in LA, The Line by K is best known for stretch cotton and modal dresses, which take luxe basics to another level.
The Line By K
Candela dress
The Line By K
Elisa slip maxi dress
ME+EM
British label ME+EM was created by Clare Hornby, in order to redefine modern luxury for busy women. There is a simplicity and versatility to every garment, allowing all of these dresses to go from day to night, with a simple change of accessories.
Amy Lynn
Designed by a sister duo straight out of London, Amy Lynn’s vibrant, party-ready shapes make the brand a must-try. Everything is produced in a family-owned factory in the UK, ensuring an ethical production process, and with most styles averaging around $200, you may just end up snagging a few.
Amy Lynn
Audrey off-the-shoulder midi dress
Amy Lynn
puffball midi dress
Soeur
French for sister, Soeur was created by Domitille and Angélique Brion with the hopes of bringing timeless yet relevant wardrobe pieces to women of all generations. Travel-inspired and artisanal details can be seen through their uncomplicated shirt dress silhouettes and satin slips.
Venroy
Purposeful design and responsible production are at the forefront of Sean Venturi’s vision for Venroy, whose offerings often use eco-friendly fibers and biodegradable elements. Whether a ruffled, party-ready mini or a classic polo style, these dresses are lasting wardrobe staples.
Venroy
sheer ruffle mini dress
Venroy
slinky knitted polo dress
Silk Laundry
Creative director Katie Kolodinski has been perfecting the art of the ’90s slip dress since establishing Silk Laundry in 2015. The brand’s effortless dresses (made primarily from, you guessed it… silk) were designed to be worn on rotation weekly. Fun fact: Sienna Miller is a noted fan.
Silk Laundry
90s slip dress
Silk Laundry
crochet scoop neck dress
Massimo Dutti
Quiet luxury is the essence of the Massimo Dutti brand and has been since its origins in 1985. High-quality fabrics in straightforward shapes make for dresses that you’ll turn to often and will remain in your closet for years to come.
Massimo Dutti
box pleated shirt dress
Massimo Dutti
midi dress with gathered detail
Emily Levine
Based in Milan, Emily Levine focuses on timeless silhouettes through a slow fashion process, celebrating artisanal production processes. The results are effortless, airy dresses you will want to wear on every holiday adventure.
Emily Levine
spaghetti dress
Emily Levine
Ila blouse dress
Deiji Studios
Another Aussie brand, Deiji Studios (meaning “daisy” in Japanese), has quickly risen to fame thanks to comfortable, linen and cotton fabrications that blur the lines between loungewear and ready-to-wear. Hypoallergenic, breathable, and biodegradable—what is not to love?
Deiji Studios
Arc tie-detailed mini dress
Deiji Studios
tie-detailed midi dress
Flore Flore
Clean and classic, organic cotton basics are the foundations of Amsterdam-based brand, Flore Flore. Founded by Flòrian van Zuilen, find flattering tank cuts and comfortable shapes that are made to be worn over and over.
Flore Flore
Joline midi dress
Flore Flore
Esme sleeveless mini dress
D’Ascoli
D’Ascoli blends both ancient and modern techniques when creating each dress in their design studio in India. Bohemian-inspired silhouettes are made using everything from digital print processes to hand-embroidery, resulting in truly distinct, one-of-a-kind garments.
D’Ascoli
Sahas floral-print midi kaftan
Essentiel Antwerp
Dashing hues and vibrant patterns are what make Essentiel Antwerp so unique. Look to the brand for whimsical dresses, inspired by founders Esfan Eghtessadi and Inge Onsea’s love for color and curiosity.
Essentiel Antwerp
Eclectica printed midi dress
Essentiel Antwerp
all-over leopard-print shirt dress