Dresses I’m Loving for Work Right Now…

The Rebecca Ponte Dress ($140) is great for larger busts!

No matter what the season, dresses are always perfect for work! But I know it can be a challenge to find the right fit…especially with brands where you have to order from them online. I’m here to share a whole bunch of my favorite recent dresses that are work-appropriate and that I’ve either tried on or purchased.

The Rebecca Ponte Dress ($140) above for instance, is a curve-flattering ponte with confusingly mixed reviews online. After trying it on for myself I can tell you that this dress runs large in the chest, making it better for bustier for ladies, and is best for hourglass or pear shapes. If you have either of those shapes you should stick to your true size, as I discovered after ordering the dress one size up the first time and having it nearly fall off me!

Inside, work dresses to flatter everyone and anyone…

The Agafia Entangled Enchantment Jacquard Dress ($465) is a gorgeous dress
that has many colors in its pattern to pull out for matching cardigans, blazers, sweaters and shoes.

Work demands fun dressing. Here are some of my current favorite frocks:
1 | The Agafia Entangled Enchantment Jacquard Dress ($465) is on the dressier side to be sure, but lights up winter and will keep you shining through spring. Ted Baker runs on Euro 1-4 sizing; I found a 3 was my best fit. This dress has a very fitted waist so straighter shapes may need to size up. I’m wearing mine with a navy or dusty pink cardigan for work. Also in a flat-patterned sheath shape (size up if curvy!!)
2 | On the more conservative side, J.Crew has a bunch of great options. One of my favorites is the Résumé Dress ($188) which I size up in for my hips. It’s ultra-flattering on and comes in a range of classic colors!
3 | Another J.Crew favorite of mine is the Cap-Sleeve V-Neck Dress in Italian Stretch Wool ($188) which has more modern color options and is pretty much universally flattering, in the perfect length too. I take my true size in this one.
4 | I purchased and adore the Gridway Crepe Shirtdress ($138)! I agree with the reviewer that this is cut for tall and thin — I took a 10, two sizes up for me. It was worth it though for the way this dress moves and delights me all day in the office. I wish Anthropologie would stock more shirt dresses like it used to!
5 | I have an OOTD upcoming with the Martha Dress ($150), an all-time Boden favorite of mine. If you are an hourglass or a pear this dress is spectacular! The waist is very, very fitted which necessitates sizing up; I personally go 2 sizes up from normal to accommodate my hips. The result however is a beautiful, flattering day look.
6 | Another work winner from Boden is the Nadia Dress ($170), which is flattering on pretty much any shape. I love the navy wisteria pattern with the yellow waistband! The fabric is very structured which lends itself to covering lumps and bumps. If you are straight figured, you will want to stick to your true size or even size down if you have small hips or a small tush. For us hourglasses, sizing up is the way to go! Apples you’ll get a great fit by going up two sizes.
7 | On the softer side, the knit Lottie Ruched Jersey Dress ($150) is a pleasant knit that accomplishes a lot of the same feats as the Nadia above. On a curvy girl, this dress hugs all the curves while the ruching conceals any perceived imperfections you think you have, while on a straighter girl the ruching works beautifully to appear curvier to the eye. I went with my true size in this one, and that seems to be the consensus among my many-shaped friends.
8 | Looking for a dress that packs a color punch? The new Pop-Stripe Dress ($158) has a bold, friendly pattern and can easily be worn as a skirt by pairing the dress with a solid cardigan, sweater or blazer. I found this lovely dress to run true to size.
9 | Petite? The Geo Eyelet Shirtdress ($148) will be perfect for you! This cute laser-cut shirt dress runs a little short on my 5’8″ frame but should be ideal on anyone 5’5″ or shorter. It skims the body pleasantly and is lined. It runs true to size too. To make it work on me, I’m wearing it with black tights underneath — works for winter, but probably will have to be packed away due to shortness during the non-tights months.
10 | Work in a more casual environment? I bought the Hannah Striped Midi Dress ($172) after seeing it on a coworker; we’re now sometimes outfit twins! It’s a pleasant modal that’s very long — though my 5’3″ coworker makes it work by bunching the extra fabric below a thick belt at her waist. I wear mine with a denim jacket over it and casual white or black sneakers; she belts hers and wears it with heels and a long cardigan.
11 | Although it’s a halter dress, the Golden Dots Halter Dress ($168) is one cardigan away from being the ideal work dress! Great length, light look and feel and perfect for nearly any office environment. I sized up to an L for more room in the chest.
12 | Two florals with different scales are also work hits for me. First up is the Lace Inset Floral Dress ($128) which actually fits beautifully, unlike many BR dresses these days! It does hit slightly above my knee but the conservative neckline balances that out nicely. I sized up to a 10 in this one.
13 | The second floral dress is the youthful Floral Pleat-Trim Fit-and-Flare Dress ($128), which fits true to size and is universally flattering! I’d pop a cardigan over this one for work.
14 | One more amazing Banana Republic winner, this one a solid, is the Bi-Stretch Angled Seam Dress ($128). It’s professional and very flattering thanks to a healthy amount of stretch in it. It runs true to size.
15 | Another very professional dress is the Katiey Spring Meadows Midi Dress ($295), which has a work-friendly v-neck and a very flattering pattern placement. This body-skimming dress runs narrow through the hips which will be great for straighter figures, but sent me up to a size 4 to make it work.
16 | On the more modern, hip work front, I absolutely love the COLETIE Scallop Edged Knitted Tunic Dress ($279). The navy color is playfully countered by small cutouts and scallop detailing. This dress I found to be comfortably large — I stuck with my true size, but less curvy figures can easily size down.
17 | Want to dress to impress at work? Look no further than the Ballet Back Ruched Dress ($110), a total stunner that will keep all eyes on you. I went up one size for the perfect balance of body skim and release on my curves. Less curvy? You probably won’t need to do that. Look for an OOTD of this one in a couple of weeks.
18 | It’s not technically a dress, but pairing the Scalloped Crop Top in Eyelet ($88) and Tiered Scalloped Skirt in Eyelet ($110) will get you the same effect, and a cute look to boot! I found both of these items to run slightly small and sized up in both to try them on.
19 | One final work dress I love right now is the Gingham Bistretch Sheath Dress ($128), which is actually more of a windowpane pattern. I recommend sizing up in this one if you are curvy like me.

What work dresses are you loving right now?

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