From Engagement to Holiday Parties, My Closet Is in Need of Some Fancy Dresses—33 Chic Options I'm Eyeing

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Camille Charriere taking a mirror selfie.
(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

I'm going to an engagement party with the dress code "fancy" next month, and it occurred to me that I’m not entirely sure what I want to wear yet.

I’ve known for a while that my closet is a bit lacking in one key category: fancy dresses. Ironically, the majority of my closet is dresses and skirts, but when it comes to fancier ones, I usually rely on renting through the app Pickle. It’s been perfect so far, but with an early November celebration and holiday gatherings coming up, I'd like to have a wider collection of my own.

If you’re in a similar position, my advice is to look at brands like Paloma Wool, Réalisation, Reformation, Rixo, and St. Agni as a starting point, plus the edits at Nordstrom (the Space section specifically), Net-a-Porter, Revolve, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Ssense. And if all else fails? A black silk dress is always reliable.

As I’ve been bookmarking every option that’s caught my eye while researching, here are the standouts.

Audry Hiaoui
Associate Shopping Editor

Audry Hiaoui is a writer based in New York. For Who What Wear, she specializes in emerging designers, independent labels, and brand discovery, as well as interviews both on and off camera. Her writing has appeared in AnOther, Wonderland, office, Interview, LOVE, and i-D, among others, with multiple cover stories and features in print, and she has worked as an editorial producer for Vogue during fashion months. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and documentary filmmaking from City, University of London, and has an extensive background in film, having worked for Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, and VICE U.K. as well as on various projects including documentaries and music videos, and most recently as a writer’s assistant on an upcoming HBO/A24 series.