The 21 Comfiest, Coziest Sweater Dresses to Live In This Fall

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The best sweater dresses for fall turn comfy, cozy, seasonal outfits into power dressing moments. When I shop for sweater dresses, a warm knit is just the start of what I’m seeking out. My favorites also have an adjustable neckline, or a mood-boosting palette, or some combination of the two. The same goes for celebrities from Ashley Graham to Selena Gomez to Elsa Hosk, who have all chosen knitted sweater dresses for recent Fashion Month appearances.

Fall is Hosk’s favorite shopping season in part because of the abundance of knitwear. (Her best fall coats are the other half of the equation.) “I love styling and layering different materials in general, and fall gives you more opportunity to get creative with what you have,” she told Bazaar. I can see her point play out in the best sweater dresses arriving for 2023: The fluffy texture of alpaca-blend dresses beautifully contrasts the toughened-up vibe of a leather aviator jacket. Simpler merino wool knits can be the basis for a faux fur or shearling jacket to pop. Dresses in bright stripes and chevron prints are best emphasized with a neutral wool coat—though I’d consider wearing them all on their own while it’s warm enough. (Some dresses look so good, it’s hard to cover them up.)

Whether a cashmere turtleneck maxi or an off-the-shoulder mini speaks to you more, the best sweater dresses are true centerpieces of polished fall outfits. Shop the 21 best of the season ahead, each chosen based on style, fit, materials, user reviews, and my own extensive testing.

Belted Cashmere Sweater Dress

Ralph Lauren’s sweater dress has the classic fall shade and sumptuous cashmere knit that define the best of the category. But the standout feature is the convertible neckline, which can be worn off both shoulders, asymmetrically pulled to one side, or pulled up closer to the neck. More ways to play with the dress’s styling beget more places to wear it this fall.

Sizes: XXS–XXL

Colors: Garnet red

Cable-Knit Dress

A cream cable-knit sweater is fall’s calling card, regardless of any microtrends happening in knitwear. This Coach mini is the textbook definition of the best dress version, from the hem made for spotlighting an over-the-knee boot to the opulently soft cable knit.

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Cream

Knitted Midi Dress

I love the ombré-effect knit and fluted skirt on this Proenza Schouler White Label sweater dress. It’s the extra-long sleeves that fully convinced me to share it here. Their shape matches the hem of the skirt (or is it the other way around?), and they’re long enough to brush over your knuckles for a nonchalantly cozy effect.

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Camel

Crystal Turtleneck Midi Dress

Imagine your softest, cuddliest turtleneck sweater. Now, imagine it with the hemline extended into a full skirt. That’s exactly what NakedCashmere’s dress promises: the fit of a beloved fall top with the added polish of a sweater dress silhouette.

Sizes: XS–L

Colors: Brown, black

Harper Dress

Choose your own adventure with Sézane’s soft mockneck dress. The crocheted buttons along the skirt aren’t just for decoration; they can be done up or unbuttoned to show off a tall pair of boots.

Sizes: XS–XXL

Colors: Ecru, black, light camel

Piper Dress

Ribbed, mid-weight knit? Inclusive sizing? Mood-boosting chevron stripes? Check, check, and check. This Rixo sweater dress’s bright pattern will bring some much-needed energy to every fall wardrobe it’s part of.

Sizes: XXS–5XL

Colors: Red/cream

Estella Dress

A list of the best fall dresses wasn’t complete without Dôen, and neither is a guide to sweater dresses. Dôen excels at pieces that feel like they’re from another time but work in the now. The Estella’s ruffled sleeves and pointelle knit have a ’70s sensibility, but it looks modern with a tough leather boot or a satin ballet flat. (Personally, I plan to wear it with both.)

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Brown, ivory

Matilda Maxi Dress

Zankov’s knitwear is a wearable promise to stay colorful as the days get darker and colder. This dress’s exuberant mix of bubblegum pink, tangerine orange, and classic neutrals will deliver an instant mood boost whenever you pull it on—preferably with equally colorful footwear and a big, hot coat.

Sizes: XS–L

Colors: Multi-stripe

Relaxed Polo Shirt Mini Dress

A great shade of slate blue, a fluffy knit, and a preppy polo collar constitute the trifecta of top shop-worthy qualities in this & Other Stories dress. Its simple design opens it up to so many styling possibilities, from all-out prep with loafers and socks or a sportier moment with fall sneakers.

Sizes: XS–L

Colors: Blue

Aldrin Dress

I first saw this Staud sweater dress on the rack at a market appointment months ago and have thought about it regularly since. It got stuck in my head through its pre-styling of a cotton poplin collar and shirt hem over an extra-large cable-knit sweater. Wearing it gives the appearance of having stumbled upon a genius bit of layering—without doing any of the work.

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Navy

Turtleneck Basque-Waist Maxi Dress

I spent all summer in a white maxi skirt and an array of black T-shirts and ruffled tops. (So did much of international street style.) This clever sweater dress will let me bring my favorite minimalist color combination into fall, with a knit turtleneck bodice and a flowing white skirt.

Sizes: 2–8

Colors: Black/white

Adi Alpaca-Blend Sweater Dress

Maybe your anticipation for fall and winter is outpacing the forecast. If fall is still 65 degrees and sunny where you’re reading, opt for a short-sleeved, short-hemline sweater dress that has all the cozy feels without any of the excess insulation. A pair of fleece-lined tights and a longline coat are all you’ll need with it when the season really kicks into gear.

Sizes: XXS–XXL

Colors: Dried berry, sequoia brown, camel

Matte Jersey Off-Shoulder Mini Dress

In honor of fashion’s renewed obsession with the little black dress, I found one that seems tailor-made for fall parties. There are a lot of opportunities to have fun accessorizing here, be it with a diamond choker necklace to accentuate the off-the-shoulder neckline, or a cropped faux shearling coat to play up the mini length. Note the thumb loops at the end of the sleeves to keep chilly hands warm.

Sizes: XXS–XL

Colors: Black, ivory

Ambrosia Midi Dress

I may have had this Ulla Johnson dress pinned to my mental fall mood board from the moment it arrived on the fall 2023 runway. The off-the-shoulder cut and ruffled skirt feel so romantic—and the deep purple-burgundy hue is a welcome twist on the usual autumn palette.

Sizes: XS–XL

Colors: Burgundy

Kerolyn Knit & Silk-Satin Dress

Most sweater dresses conjure up outfit ideas involving heavy-duty boots and thick coats. This one beckons me to get out a pair of saucy heels and a smart little coat. The mix of the knitted, drop-waist top and the silk-satin skirt is just what I didn’t know I needed for upcoming after-work dinners and, eventually, holiday parties.

Sizes: XS–M

Colors: Funghi

Asymmetric Button-Embellished Knitted Dress

Lauren Manoogian landed on the 2022 Bazaar 100 with its can’t-believe-it’s-not-a-cloud knit sweaters. This year, it’s the label’s new sweater dresses that have our editors’ attention. With dropped shoulders and a mélange-effect alpaca-wool blend, this little black sweater dress is already an essential. The addition of an asymmetric hemline and buttons to play with make it even more interesting (and worth cuddling up in).

Sizes: 1–3 (XS–L equivalent)

Colors: Black

Hooded Knitted Cashmere Maxi Dress

Picture this: a roaring fire, steaming mugs of your favorite fall beverage, and this hooded cashmere dress. Cozying up for fall can’t get any better than this floor-length cashmere modeled off a beloved sweatshirt. Since it’s a Raey creation, however, the shade of the dress and conservative cut can also go to work (or out with friends) with a sharp-toed boot and your best fall coat.

Sizes: XXS–L

Colors: Khaki, black

Verbier Knitted Slip Dress

A slipdress? In an alpaca-wool blend? This is the sort of groundbreaking sweater dress moment my closet desperately needed. Cozy fabric takes on a new life when it’s cut in a sexier silhouette—and this one has the extra romantic touch of 2023’s rosette trend embellished on the strap.

Sizes: S–L

Colors: Gray

The Mariana Dress

A few choice details make this swingy Hill House Home sweater dress a fall must-have. First, there’s the soft viscose ribbed knit with a little stretch. Second, there’s the mockneck cut and blouson sleeves that give it a polished look. And third, there's the shorter length, made for accentuating a fun knee-high boot or a sparkly pair of Manolo heels.

Sizes: XXS–XXL

Colors: Blue, green

Rosalina Sweater Dress

Sensual isn’t usually the word I’d use to describe a sweater dress, but it’s exactly what comes to mind for this cool Cult Gaia dress. It’s still covered-up and warm with a pair of tights, but it has clever flashes of skin along the puzzle-esque buttoned cutout bodice and sleeves.

Sizes: S–L

Colors: Canyon tan

Cashmere Blend Maxi Dress

The most indulgent way to wear a sweater dress this fall is to simply invest in one of Loro Piana’s. While the label’s Succession baseball caps and sneakers get all the quiet luxury press, it’s pieces like this cashmere maxi with ruching along the waist that deserve the attention. This dress specifically belongs in your fall work lineup with some stacks of silver jewelry (maybe an Agmes cuff?) and a tall snakeskin boot.

Sizes: 0–16

Colors: Black

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