This Late-1800s Fashion Trend Is Coming Back With a Vengeance
Over the summer and early fall, runway models and street style stars slipped into frocks that looked like they belonged on the midwestern frontier circa the late 1800s. The trend became known as the prairie dress, because they would go hand in hand with the fashions in a Laura Ingalls Wilder novel.
I love prairie dresses and would like to officially make them a trend for winter too, as the extra coverage on the necks, sleeves, and skirt lengths make them ideal for colder temps, wind, and snow.
Elaborate: What does a prairie dress look like?
Glad you asked. There are a variety of forms the style takes on. It can come in any fabric, from sheer mesh to slinky silk and heavy denim. Many prairie styles feature high, mock necks, but some necklines are crew-cut or deeper “V” shapes. You’ll typically find them in floral styles—a nod to some things you’d find in a prairie, obvs—but they also come in paisleys, solids, and more modern, geometric patterns. The fit is normally on the looser side, and the sleeves are generally puffy, balloon-shaped, or fluttery. It’s not uncommon for these midi- or maxi-length styles to have ruffles, or tiered skirts. The more romantic, the better.
You may be thinking, Okay, but do I really want to look like a Little House on the Prairie character?
The answer is yes. These dresses usually look fancier than they actually are, are super comfortable for all-day wear, and are a way to get complimented almost constantly. Who doesn’t want any of those things on the daily?
In case you’re on the fence, here's some cute outfit inspo for you, courtesy of our friends, the street-style stars:
Alright, but I’m not gonna sew my own dress like they did back then.
Of course you aren’t! And you don’t have to, mostly because they’re all over the racks at your favorite stores both IRL and online. Shop some of my fave prairie dresses with me below!
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