Dresses with grown-up hemlines, fall edition

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We’re starting out here with this lovely dress from Sezane, a brand that—as some of you have pointed out—doesn’t seem particularly concerned with showing us what the clothes really look like on. Still, I’m crazy for the color combination of this plaid.

A V-neck wool jumper that I’d layer over a turtleneck or long-sleeved tee.

This trapeze dress is a good idea for days when you just want to be comfortable, and it comes in a really pretty wine hue too.

A sophisticated and flattering satin twist dress for dressing way up or down.

A ribbed sweaterdress that just looks so cozy and comfy.

I like the button detail on the shoulder of this column dress, and of course I really dig the mustard yellow too.

A corduroy shirt dress in an elegant deep green.

I’ve got my eye on this recycled cashmere number—it’s polished-looking and at the same time quite lounge-y.

I would never wear this asymmetrical silk dress with loafers and socks as styled here, but I would wear the hell out of it with a pair of tall black boots.

A pretty pink specimen that’s a bit more ladylike than I usually go but that I very much like nonetheless.

This is slightly spring-y in feel, but with a cardigan, tights, and booties, it’d be great for right now.

A bandana-print shirtwaist dress that couldn’t be a whole lot cuter.

The organza panel at the hem here is such a lovely, sophisticated touch.

And finally: I usually detest a tea-length dress, which I believe is what you’d call this, but I think this polka dot option is kind of slinky and fun.

 

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14 Thoughts on Dresses with grown-up hemlines, fall edition
    Elisabeth
    18 Oct 2022
    11:32am

    Ooh, I love both Theory dresses! I wonder how badly the satin twist front one would wrinkle? Always the problem with satin, imo. Re the socks and loafers…I would do it, lol. Or maybe just the loafers?? I love dressing a piece down, the legacy of my obsession with Jenna Lyons back in the day. The Sézane is so appealing but I fear I wouldn’t know how to style it properly and would end up looking like a lumberjack.

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    tamara
    18 Oct 2022
    9:31am

    Going to Tokyo the first week of November and that Cos jumper/dress is coming with me….i’m also wondering how it might look belted with a leather obi belt hmmmmm…

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    Melissa
    17 Oct 2022
    11:56am

    Once again, Kim, you just get me. As for that asymmetrical silk dress styled with the socks and loafers . . . just oof. What is with this current trend toward everything being made to look as hideous as possible? When will this nightmare of a fashion moment end, I ask you?

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    Maryse
    17 Oct 2022
    12:07pm

    I have a 15 and 20 something year old nieces and they think I’m a lot cooler than their mother and their other aunts so that’s all I really care about. Ha!
    On another note, love those sweater dresses. Especially the more casual one. And thank you Madewell for including my size.

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    Viajera
    17 Oct 2022
    12:13pm

    Interesting – I would call that a full-length dress. I’m gonna go goggle up this tea length business, I always kind of wondered what that was.

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      M
      17 Oct 2022
      12:25pm

      That’s the length of dress worn to tea dances back in the day, just above ankle length. As tea dances were afternoon events, the dresses were not full-length. If you were attending a formal evening event, a tea-length dress was not allowed. Trust me on that.

      Of course the term “maxi” covers a lot of different lengths now.

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        Viajera
        17 Oct 2022
        3:21pm

        Ah, so is it tea length because it doesn’t cover the shoes?? I goggled but the google didn’t seem too clear on it either. The first result said that tea length is the same as formal. A tea dance. Interesting. I’ll go google that too!

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    Liz
    17 Oct 2022
    6:01pm

    So many of these are great, but the photo of that mustard yellow dress (which Sezane calls olive green? Huh, not seeing that at all) is my idea fall look. I love the styling so much.

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    tamara
    21 Oct 2022
    7:42am

    A follow-up note on the cos jumper: sensational BUT. The taper is fantastic for me as i am fairly straight through the middle and slim-hipped in build. It comes in a lot. if you’ve got wider hips or a gym-enhanced bootie, you might want to size up. That being said…it definitely makes my carry-on cut 😉

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    Melita
    21 Oct 2022
    7:40pm

    I got the Nordstrom trapeze dress. A couple of notes. I thought the material would be light, but it’s actually quite densely woven. Good for winter! The color is great–deep and rich. All in all perfect for winter. The caveat: the dress runs very large. I am normally a medium, but ordered a small based on reviews on the Nordstrom site. I think an XS would have worked for me and I am 5’6” 150 lbs with a smallish frame. I will keep the dress, because it’s good quality, but might have it tailored to look less like a tent 🙂

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    Melita
    21 Oct 2022
    7:51pm

    I got the Nordstrom trapeze dress. A couple of notes. I thought the material would be light, but it’s actually quite densely woven. Really good for winter! The wine color is great–deep and rich. All in all perfect for winter. The caveat: the dress runs very large. I am normally a medium, but ordered a small based on reviews on the Nordstrom site. I think an XS would have worked for me and I am 5’6” 150 lbs with a smallish frame. I will keep the dress, because it’s good quality, but might have it tailored to look less like a tent 🙂
    PS- I tried on the COS corduroy, I was in Europe, so not sure which US size I tried. Be warned that it too is very boxy and might devour you whole. But the color is gorgeous.

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    peabee
    23 Oct 2022
    10:35am

    loafers with dresses, socks with loafers, socks with sandals, clogs and socks with dresses….. it’s all good and fun and playful and interesting!

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    y.k.
    17 Oct 2022
    7:20am

    i snort -laughed – loudly! – @ :
    -Jen’s comment- how Hilary would be president had things worked out a little differently w/ you & AW! the crazy thing is i think it’s a totally plausible butterfly effect !
    – your use of “drippy” in a sentence
    – and casket emoji !!
    haven’t even gotten to the guest yet…

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      Kim France
      17 Oct 2022
      10:07am

      Thanks, YK. I almost did a spit take when Jenn said that.

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Kim France

I was born in Houston, Texas in 1964 and have lived in New York City since 1988. I had a long career in magazines, working at Sassy, Elle, New York, and Spin, and in 2000, I founded Lucky magazine, which I edited for ten years.

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