Last spring, while figuring out what to wear for my birthday, I bought a Victoria’s Secret maxi dress on Depop for $25. I wore it not only to celebrate my Aries self, but also to hike during my trip to Aspen, Colorado. Elegance.
Was it the most reasonable and practical choice? Not at all, but I definitely livened up the trails, which were lined with lululemon athleisure. A little chest sweating may have been involved, but isn’t that hot? As the OB instructor from my last training class said, “I’d rather have beads of sweat blind my eyes than be cold.” Talk to me again in December.
Now that we’ve officially reached the point in summer when it’s too hot to wear anything, my collection of slip dresses has multiplied and my friends and peers agree that it’s the only socially acceptable item of clothing to wear , while trying to avoid (mostly) sweating, going to a beach wedding, or just biking around town.
“I love a maxi length style because they can easily be dressed up and down,” fashion editor Eliza Huber, a slipwear enthusiast, shared via email. Huber wears it layered with a t-shirt or knit underneath, or a corset on top. She can also add a beaded belt or a cardigan around the waist and always pairs it with strappy sandals or sneakers. “There really is no limit.”
However, there is an unspoken rule when it comes to shopping for the perfect dress: some of our favorites are second-hand or vintage. We’ve recommended a few that you can buy at your local grocery store, your favorite Depop retailer, or where I find a lot of mine: Etsy and Ebay.
If the dress doesn’t look like grandma’s “fancy pajamas,” Farrah Fawcett’s look does Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story, or something you might spot on a ’90s supermodel, we don’t want it. So if you too want to join the bandwagon and live in a slip dress this summer, I’ve found some options that tick all the boxes.
Check out the creases and score this slip dress before I do, honestly. It’s quite similar to the one I found on Depop, which started this obsession. It has a front slit that would rival even the best-selling Reformation dress.
Save a few bucks by looking for vintage La Perla slides instead of her current options.
Fashion news writer Danya Issawi dreams of owning a slip dress from Eveliina’s vintage shop. “They are so beautiful and ethereal, but so expensive.”
Reformation has a dress like this, but at triple the price (we’ve included it below), and this number is more unique than the viral A&F TikTok dress. Do with that information what you will.
If you’ve resisted buying anything TikTok FYP has shown you, you might want to reconsider this slip dress. One user has bought it in every color and swears by it.
Say hello to one of the fashion items that Cut readers bought the most on Prime Day.
Okay, technically this isn’t a silk or satin slip dress, but it’s still a slip dress. One that our beauty writer Asia Milia Ware swears by.
Everlane’s summer sale may be over, but you can count on the brand to have great options, like this slip dress for under $100.
Don’t lie to yourself. We’ve all been coveting this dress ever since Batman the actress was seen wearing it while laughing alongside Channing Tatum. (What could have been that funny?)
Eliza Huber said this is one of her favorite slip dresses.
Nothing says 90s like a slip dress, you can layer perfectly over your white tees and graphic tees.
We recently tried on Reformation’s Provence dress and found it to be really flattering. But note that the main seams of the garment are poorly constructed considering the $278 price tag.
The description of this dress says it’s inspired by 90s supermodel style. And while the price is pretty steep, first-time Frame customers can use the code THECUT20 to get 20 percent off until August 29. The downside of this discount is that it does not apply to collaborations, including FRAME x Ilona Hamer and FRAME x Ritz Paris.
When I asked the team for their favorite slip dresses, our deputy style editor, Joanna Nikas, was quick to recommend these from Nili Lotan.
Photo: /
There’s something about this dress that invites you to wear it with Dr. Martens.
I wear this dress as I write. It’s hand-dyed and sewn in Austin, so considering it’s priced similarly to Silk Laundry and Reformation, I’d say it’s more than reasonable. Plus: You’ll be supporting a freelance designer.
