A dress is the quickest way to get dressed, and the best ones need nothing added. This edit is all dresses for women who want to get dressed in one move, from a broderie cotton midi that feels like a holiday to satin maxis that carry a whole evening on their own.

 

Start with the daytime group. Matteau's broderie cotton midi, Sea's embroidered maxi, Cara Cara's cherry linen mini and Rosie Assoulin's sleeveless midi are all light, easy and made for a flat sandal. White and ivory dominate because they wear the way they photograph, soft and a little crumpled. La Ligne's short sleeve knitted dress, Reformation's Marlette, the tiered Leanne from RAILS and Hill House Home's striped Mira add knit, print and shirt-dress versions of the same easy idea. Check the lining before you commit, since cotton voile and eyelet can run sheer in daylight, and keep the rest of the outfit quiet.

After six, I want one strong idea per dress. All Three's red gauze maxi, STAUD's pink silk maxi and Significant Other's strapless orange crepe maxi all work because the color does the talking, so the shoe and bag can stay simple.

 

The shorter group runs the other way. De La Vali's red draped jersey mini and Bernadette's bow-detailed mini are the ones I would wear to a dinner that turns into a party. Satin and crepe show every seam, so try them sitting down as well as standing before you decide.

 

For something softer, RAILS's Solene Satin Dress, Reformation's Ericka Silk Dress and Tibi's Slip Cami Dress are the slip-cut midis, and AMUR's Zina Ruched Mini is the one for a night that starts late.

What decides it is shoulder fit, length and how the fabric moves. A hem can be taken up and a waist can be adjusted, but a shoulder seam that sits wrong stays wrong.

 

Fabric tells you the rest. Georgia Hardinge's linear satin maxi and Toteme's soft gathered dress move when you walk, while the denim pieces from DL1961 and Dala hold their shape and do not need much help. Lela Rose's polka dot turtleneck is the one I would reach for as the weather cools, and SIMKHAI's pleated bustier gown is the one to save for a real occasion.

 

What I would skip is anything you cannot sit down in. Tight satin that looks good on a hanger is rarely the dress you keep wearing.

I would start with one dress for the day and one for the evening, then see which one you reach for first. Matteau's broderie cotton midi is the daytime pick, because it works with a sandal in summer and a boot with a jacket in the cooler months.

 

For the evening, Significant Other's strapless orange maxi is the easiest to wear, and Toteme's gathered dress sits somewhere in between. A good dress should work in more than one setting without being restyled, so buy the one you can picture in three places this month.