You can take sweater weather to new heights with a sweater dress. Essentially, a sweater dress is a long version of a knitted sweater. Its hemline extends anywhere from midthigh down to the ankle.
The sweater dress is the perfect low-maintenance outfit that’s a full look in itself. And you can keep it fresh by simply swapping out your footwear, belts or outerwear.
While this cozy-chic style never goes out of fashion, this buying guide covers the current trends and styling tips.
What are the styles of sweater dresses?
While your basic sweater dress looks a lot like an oversized sweater, there’s diversity within the sweater dress family. Here are the top styles:
Material and knit
Inexpensive sweater dresses are made from acrylic, which can mimic the knit of wool, or blends of polyester, rayon or cotton. Woolen dresses are the warmest, though the priciest. You can find blends of wool for a lower price. Cashmere sweater dresses are the most expensive of woolen materials. You can find sweater dresses in a range of knits from thinner ribbed knits to chunky cable knits. Flat knits are also widely available.
Neckline and sleeves
When picking a sweater dress style, you’ll be confronted with a choice of necklines: V-neck, cowl neck, crew neck, turtleneck, mock neck, scoop neck and square neck. High necks are popular and keep you warm but aren’t ideal if you’re someone who runs hot. Most sweater dresses feature long sleeves. A trendy style is puff-sleeves, such as lantern and balloon sleeves. Less common are sleeveless and short-sleeve sweater dresses.
How do I style a sweater dress?
For many wearers, cinching the waist of a sweater dress with a belt is key, not to mention fashionable. Sweater dresses can be worn with or without tights underneath, and leggings are also a stylish choice. Depending on the length of your dress, tall or ankle boots are on point for fall. You can also wear heels to dial up your knits or dress down with sneakers. Sweater dresses look cute with short jackets, such as moto styles. If you want to rock a long coat, be sure the hemline covers the length of your dress.
Best cashmere sweater dresses
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This versatile cashmere dress can be worn anywhere this fall season. The longline silhouette is sophisticated, and we love the look in black. The turtleneck and short slit are nice touches.
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The Johnny collar gives this cashmere dress a unique look while still retaining a timeless quality. The ultrasoft cashmere comes in classic black or an eye-popping pink.
Best turtleneck sweater dresses
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This short, turtleneck sweater dress is perfect for a chilly fall date night. You can also dress it up for holiday parties. We love that it’s machine-washable.
[ Pink Queen Women’s Loose Turtleneck Oversize Long Pullover Sweater Dress ]
For an affordable turtleneck style, this highly rated sweater dress on Amazon tops the list. The shape is loose and comfortable but still flattering, and it has pockets.
Best cutout sweater dresses
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For an edgier style, this ribbed-knit dress features a cutout at the shoulder uniquely paired with a turtleneck. The style is short while still keeping you warm with long sleeves and a high neck.
[ Glamaker Women’s Long Sleeve Ribbed Bodycon Midi Sweater Dress ]
For a cutout dress under $50, this form-fitting style accentuates your curves tastefully. The stretch fabric gives it added comfort and enough give to accommodate a baby bump.
Best inexpensive sweater dresses
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The classic silhouette of this midi sweater dress is the perfect addition to any capsule wardrobe. The comfy, stretch fabric will have you reaching for this staple time and time again.
[ Grace Karin Women’s Wrap V-neck Sweater Dress ]
This wrap-style dress is short and sweet. It’s a cute dress for fall, especially the burnt orange color. The material contains viscose, which is soft, and overall fits like a glove.
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Ana Sanchez writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
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