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Last week I went out shopping for a denim dress. I thought it would be a simple task: look at a few and be done with it. That was the whole plan. Instead, I spent several days looking at denim dresses, because almost every store had more than one option. Anthropologie alone has over fifteen denim dress options!
By the third or fourth store, I stopped being surprised and started paying attention. Sleeveless, short sleeve, long sleeve, puffed sleeve. I was seeing denim show up on every silhouette a dress normally comes in. Most were mid to dark wash, which makes sense for fall. What I didn’t expect was how many were mini, going into a season when everything typically is getting longer.
Interestingly, no major fashion publications have called this a trend, at least not recently. But the store shelves are making the case for themselves. However, a trend showing up everywhere doesn’t mean every version of it is good.
What Separates a Good Denim Dress From a Bad One
Not every denim dress I looked at made the cut as one worth adding to your closet. Before adding to my own cart, I make sure to check a few things first.
Buttons are the first things I check on anything with a front placket. I look straight down the line for whether they’re actually aligned or if the spacing starts to drift. I give the buttons a light tug too. A dress with buttons that shift under a little pressure isn’t one I want to wear and adjust all day. A crooked placket or a loose button is usually a sign the rest of the construction didn’t get much attention either, so I treat it as an early warning.
Seams and hems get a check. I run my fingers along the edges looking for fraying or loose threads. If a dress is already coming apart a little on the rack, it’s only going to get worse after wearing and washing.
Fabric feel matters just as much. Denim should feel like denim, not something scratchy or uncomfortable to wear all day. I also pass on anything with lurex or shiny thread running through it, though that’s a personal preference. If you like a little shine, then go for it.
Last thing, and honestly one of the bigger things I care about: how do you wash it. Part of what makes a denim dress worth having is that it’s supposed to be easy. Basically jeans that you can throw on without thinking twice. If a dress needs special care or a trip to the dry cleaner, it’s working against the entire reason I wanted one in the first place. Something would have to be genuinely exceptional to get me to buy a dress I couldn’t just throw in the wash.
Denim Dresses $100 & Under
Denim Dresses Under $200
Denim Dresses Over $200
Final Thoughts
A well-made denim dress is worth having because of how much it can do. Wear it casual with sneakers and a ponytail, or dress it up with nice shoes and some jewelry. Throw a cardigan over it if it’s sleeveless or wear layers underneath when the weather gets colder. That kind of versatility is exactly why a denim dress belongs in your closet.
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