This is the real clothing group, the dresses that wash, pack and hold their shape. The Fear of God Essentials Rib Knit Dress is the most straightforwardly useful piece in the edit, and Favorite Daughter's ribbed polo sweater dress is just as plain and repeatable.

 

Norma Kamali's Sleeveless Cowl Neck Side Shirred Dress is the jersey pick, and that jersey is the reason this group works. Citizens of Humanity's Kira Sculptural Dress is the most structured piece here, LPA's Leisl Gown is the only full-length option, Sablyn's Monique Slouchy Mock Neck is the softest, and Helsa's Ophelia is the most tailored. Norma Kamali's long sleeve ruffle mini is the one I would wear with tights and boots.

 

The sweater dresses fill out this first group. The Zimmermann Mouline rib polo midi and GANNI's ribbed merino zip dress are the two I would wear most, Reformation's Marceline in chianti is the short one for tights, and Le Kasha's Godda in cashmere is the softest thing in the edit. If a knit dress clings at the hip, go up a size, because a knit that pulls loses its line by lunch.

Retrofete's Runa Knit Dress opens this group and is the warmest thing in the edit, the one that needs no layer. Coperni's Lace Slip is the one for under a long coat at night, Staud's Alesa and Ronny Kobo's houndstooth Brette are the two short ones, and Simkhai's Sadia comes with a cape built in.

 

AKNVAS's Zoe is a blazer you can wear as a dress, and the Lioness J'Adore adds the same double-breasted structure in a mini. Aya Muse's Luma is the soft one, LoveShackFancy's Vesna brings a merlot tiered shape, and Baobab's Donatella and Lola maxis lean on brown tones that suit boots. Rebecca Vallance's Mariya, a corset midi with floral embroidery, closes the group.

These are the dresses I would add for the colder half of the season. AEXAE's wool turtleneck mini and Staud's Willow sweater dress do the knit job on their own, Toteme's merino tee dress is the plainest and most repeatable one in the edit, and Eterne's butter rib midi sits between them. Self-Portrait's burgundy textured knit mini and Ramy Brook's striped Hope Dress are the two to reach for when you want a little more color.

 

Guest In Residence's plaid polo dress is the one I would wear with loafers, Simkhai's Ferrera adds long sleeves and a midi length, and Comme Si's silk bias slip is for under a long coat at night. Anna Sui's devoré velvet maxi and Hunter Bell's paisley Tenley are the prints, for when you want one dress that is not about texture, and Lioness's Manhattan maxi is the black column that sits under any coat.

 

Velvet is the other fall fabric here. The Self-Portrait bow maxi, Sea's Leda with puff sleeves and Ulla Johnson's Astra in jade are the three I would wear to a dinner, and Lauren Manoogian's cape-effect wool maxi does the job of a coat and a dress at once.

Fall dresses are one of the few categories where the plain piece beats the fancy one, because the point is something you wear again under a coat. Norma Kamali's jersey will get more wear than anything dressier here, and it will still look right after a year.

 

Simkhai's Sadia Cape Dress is the smartest single piece since it removes the need for a jacket, and Lauren Manoogian's cape-effect wool maxi is the one I would keep longest. Start with the knit dress, then add the formal one when the wardrobe calls for it.