These Are The 13 Best Places To Buy Dresses Online For Any Occasion

Buying Dresses online can be a nerve-wracking endeavor, especially when you're typically scrolling for a dress with a particular event in mind.

Luckily, it's never been easier to get lots of options to your door super quickly. InStyle spoke with New York City-based stylist Calvy Click, who has worked with dozens of celebs and brands, to find out what retailers she turns to when she has a last-minute event. The wide range of price points, designers, and sizes made Nordstrom the top choice for this year.

In addition to some larger online purveyors, Click rattled off some brands that will have you absolutely swooning at their options. Don't worry, we also got her tips for ordering the correct size, washing delicate pieces, and even a couple of tips for choosing styles.

Whether you're wanting to hop on a trend—like slip dresses or cottagecore—or are shopping for a specific event, these are the best places to buy dresses online.

At this point, Nordstrom is almost infamous for its relaxed return policy, which is great news for those of us that drag our feet when it comes to this chore. There's no time limit, however, if it's been a while they might choose to issue a refund in the form of a gift card. That said, in addition to mail-in and in-store returns, they now Offer curbside returns if you set them up in advance. As for shipping, Click loves Nordstrom because they offer rush options and even allow you to reserve things in-store the day of if there's a location close to you.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the selection. Nordstrom carries a huge range of brands online, including other well-known vendors like ASOS and Lulu's. Their price ranges set them apart from other high-end retailers, as they allow you to sort dresses into categories of $50 and under, all the way up to $7,000. They also offer a wide range of sizes and even maternity dresses. They offer on-site alterations and basic options (like hemming or strap adjustments) are even free for Nordy Club members.

Shipping Policy: Free USPS, rush availableReturn Policy: AnytimeSizes Offered: XXS-4X

Look, everyone knows that Amazon is pretty much the best when it comes to getting things fast and for a low price. One of our favorite aspects when it comes to dresses, in particular, is the fact that they offer great keyword searches, so it's easier to find exactly what you're looking for, such as prairie dresses. You can pile on as many keywords as you want and most likely you'll still get 100+ different options to choose from.

Then, there's the pricing. You can always search based on specific price ranges, but it's overall very easy to find an option under $50. It's worth mentioning that thanks to their Luxury Stores, you can also get high-end designers like Rodarte and Elie Saab, however, most of these are not available on Prime shipping. Amazon does seem to find the lowest prices available, though – even with luxury designers.

Shipping Policy: Free one- or two-day through Amazon PrimeReturn Policy: 30 days for a full refundSizes Offered: All of them (yes, all)

Revolve is one of those sites that you can seriously scroll for hours. They carry so many brands, many of which I've even discovered on the site (oh, hello, Faithfull the Brand, and Loveshack Fancy). The best part though, and the part that makes them a go-to for those on the hunt for the best night-out dress, is that they've broken down their dress selection into so many fun categories. From bohemian to embellished and sequined, they have it all. Looking for one-shoulder options? Check. Something super sexy, like a bustier? They've got an entire section.

Of course, you can also sort by price range, length, occasion and so much more. While they have lots of price ranges that you can select, the bulk of the dresses hovers between $150 and $500, which may be out of budget for many buyers. That said, they do offer lots of sales.

Shipping Policy: Free two-day shippingReturn Policy: 60 days for a full refund, 90 days for exchangesSizes Offered: XXS-XXL

The once-popular mall brand has come back into favor again: this time as a (surprisingly) inclusive spot for trendy items at a relatively affordable price. Abercrombie & Fitch creates some of our favorite items, including bodysuits, jeans, and leggings, but their dresses are an obvious need for every closet. Changing with the seasons, the brand has everything from lightweight summery pieces to more covered options for the winter. We love that they balance their styles with fun florals and simple solids, depending on the styles. They refresh their selection often, too, pulling in new styles every few weeks, so you're bound to always stumble upon something new and fresh.

Shipping Policy: Free over $99Return Policy: Free within 30 daysSizes Offered: XXS-3X

Known for its classic styles that you'll wear forever, seriously, J.Crew has all the essentials you could need from linen shirt dresses to slips to maxis in bold patterns. Most everything is offered in numerous sizes and colors, so you're sure to find your perfect match — and fit. Dresses often find their way into the sale section, too, so you can almost always snag a good deal, even on coveted styles. Just be aware, J.Crew does implement final sales rather often on their discounted styles. We recommend signing up for the brand's emails, too, to keep up to date on all new offers and deals.

Shipping Policy: Free for insidersReturn Policy: Within 30 days, $7.50 via mail or free in storeSizes Offered: XXS-3X

For sustainably made, actually cute designs that will last for years to come, try out Reformation. The brand offers excellent wedding guest dress choices — think options you'll want to wear over and over again, too — and simple but stylish designs that will flatter nearly every figure. By using delicate patterns, like ditsy florals and small plaids, and lightweight fabrics (we're talking linen, cotton, and silk blends) on trendy designs, Reformation has a distinctive style — in a good way. Everyone will probably know where you got your dress from, but they'll respect your choice for sure, given the positive reputation the brand has.

Shipping Policy: FreeReturn Policy: Free within 30 daysSizes Offered: XS-3X

Bloomingdale's has a massive selection of cocktail dresses – we're talking 14 pages of looks. You can choose from styles, lengths, colors, and sizes. The best part is that they have options to accommodate lots of different formal or informal cocktail-clad events. For summer, the styles offer up more sleeveless and cut-out options, while the winter dresses consist of thicker fabrics with embellishments. Make sure you sign up as a loyalist online so that you get free shipping no matter what.

Finally, Bloomingdales carries a huge range of brands. Trendy, timeless pieces from brands like Milly, to more whimsical flowing looks from BA&SH, there are lots of design esthetics to choose from.

Shipping Policy: Free for purchases $150 and up, and for site loyalistsReturn Policy: 90 days for a full refundSizes Offered: XXS-XXL

Eloquii really specializes in plus-size clothes that fit super well. The fabrics are thick and high-quality and they offer a range of styles and lengths. The best part is that they really do make trendy options in larger sizes, and they take things like adjustable straps and waists into consideration.

While they have a lot of neutral options for dresses, they also offer tons of bold patterns and colors. Finally, they sell accessories, like necklaces and bangles, in sizes that are accommodating and styles that are absolutely perfect.

Shipping Policy: Free for purchases $125 and upReturn Policy: 30 days for a full refund, minus a non-refundable $5 chargeSizes Offered: 14-28

Known for their well-made staples, M.M.LaFleur is a great option for those in search of office dresses that can be dressed way up or way down. In addition to looking completely timeless, many of the items list the body types that work best in certain dresses. These options range from "tall-friendly," to "bust-friendly."

Many of these silhouettes are flattering for lots of body types, and prioritize A-line cuts that are fitted but not revealing. Since these are office-forward, it's worth mentioning that the dresses come in lots of neutral and dark hues that will look just as great at after work drinks.

Shipping Policy: Free standard shipping, rush shipping availableReturn Policy: 21 days for a full refundSizes Offered: 0-18

Finding great maternity dresses can be a chore, especially when you don't want to pay designer prices. ASOS maternity offers a huge range of dresses – from cozy t-shirt options to gala-ready gowns. They also have a good selection of office-ready maternity dresses.

The prices rarely go above $170, and things tend to go on sale quickly. Since there's such a huge range, you'll definitely want to tailor your search based on the occasion, but it's also a fun site to peruse.

Shipping Policy: Free for purchases $50 and up; rush options availableReturn Policy: 28 days for a full refundSizes Offered: 0-16

Matches carries more than 650 designers, and you can buy all of them online. In addition to super-luxe brands like Gucci and Prada, they carry smaller designers whose items might be new to you.

The site also breaks down their offerings into lots of categories so that it's easy to shop within your price range, style and brand preferences. In addition to browsing by sizes ranging from XXS-4XL, there are fun categories like embellished, sun, and off-the-shoulder options to choose from.

Shipping Policy: UPS, rush availableReturn Policy: 28 days within purchaseSizes Offered: XXS-4XL

A quick scroll of Shopbop's "Beach Ready" section (which is 12 100-product pages, by the way), will have you ready for sand between your toes. The selection is absolutely huge and some brands go up to a 3XL.

The best part about beach-ready dresses is that they come in such stunning, light-hued fabrics. From lightweight linens to embellished crochet, there's something for every vacation style.

Shipping Policy: Free with rush options availableReturn Policy: 30 days within purchase; 15 days for free shippingSizes Offered: XXS-3XL

TheRealReal is a vintage lover's dream come true, and to be honest, it's great if you're looking for designer finds from more recent releases as well. While they have a website, the app is more user-friendly, and it allows you to search for dress options based on designers, prices, colors and patterns, and conditions.

There's also an editor's picks section that makes it much easier to find the more coveted brands and unique pieces that are at the top of everyone's lists. You can sort by size, occasion, and price – and while the prices are still high by most standards, they are a fraction of the original price tags.

Shipping Policy: Free standard shipping with express shipping availableReturn Policy: Must be requested within 14 days of purchaseSizes Offered: Dependent

What to Keep in Mind Shipping Policy

This is an especially important aspect to consider if you're working under a strict deadline. Most places offer rush or express options if you're willing to pay the price, however if you have a few days, many of the above options offer free standard shipping with the guarantee of a 5-day arrival time.

Return Policy

It was shocking how much this varied for different stores. I found that the larger stores are much more likely to take returns or offer up store credit if you miss the return deadline. Smaller brands were more likely to charge for the return label itself. Of course, if you're in a pinch, this may not even be a huge consideration.

Your Questions, Answered How can you find the right size dress online?

You know the phrase "measure twice, cut once"? That certainly applies here. Click recommends that people keep a measuring tape close by. More importantly she advises people to "be wary of standardized sizing charts that span a lot of brands." If you're shopping at a retailer that carries lots of different brands, Click says it's best to head over to the actual designer's site to make sure the measurements are exact. Finally, make sure you're reading the reviews to see if the item runs true-to-size.

Which fabrics are easiest to machine wash?

While Click admits to hand-washing everything thanks to her NYC washing machine, which she says "likes to devour anything less precious than a beach towel," there are some fabrics to look out for if you want something washing machine-friendly. Namely, cotton and polyester blends, but if you want the items to maintain their shape, make sure you're skipping the dryer. If you have something linen, it's probably best to hand wash and dry, or opt for spot-cleaning when possible. For silks – dry clean, baby!

Why Shop With Us

Brittany Loggins is a freelance writer with work in InStyle, Byrdie, WWD, Elle, Allure, Women's Health, Real Simple, Business Insider, and more. She specializes in beauty and fashion. For this piece, she researched the most popular places to buy dresses, including options with the best size ranges and styles. She also asked stylist Calvy Click and InStyle editors where they shop for dresses.

The First HalfPrice Store In The Baltics And Other Stores Open In AKROPOLE Alfa

Expanding the range of the shopping and entertainment centre AKROPOLE Alfa, several new stores have opened, offering visitors more fashion, accessories, and gastronomic discoveries. One of the biggest new tenants is the first HalfPrice store in the Baltics, which offers customers well-known fashion brands at a reduced price, saving up to 80% off the recommended retail price. The store offers a wide range of clothing, footwear, accessories, and home goods from more than 3000 worldwide known brands.

The shopping centre's range of shops soon will be accompanied by the Turkish sweet shop Pankera, which will delight visitors with authentic Turkish delicacies for your festive table and gifts. Similarly in the near future, visitors will be able to buy Latvian-made scented and design candles from the family-owned company Sensua, dine at the authentic Chinese restaurant 9 DRAKONI as well as, expanding the range of footwear and accessories shops, the first online shop's E-apavi.Lv offline store in Latvia will open its doors. 

"When expanding AKROPOLE Alfa's offers, we always think about current retail trends and the needs of our visitors. Every day we notice that it is the variety of products that can attract a wider audience, so every new store opening is a celebration for us, for the store owners and for our visitors, whose daily shopping experience is refreshed and enriched. The range of new stores is sure to suit all budgets, tastes, and preferences!" says the Manager of AKROPOLE Alfa, Zane Kaktiņa.

In addition to the new openings, few existing stores have changed their location in the mall with a renewed visual concept, such as IQOS, travel and everyday bag store Jaguar, as well as footwear and accessories stores CCC, Chester and Eiropas apavi.

About AKROPOLE Alfa:

From 10 March 2022, Alfa becomes AKROPOLE Alfa. AKROPOLE Alfa is the largest shopping centre in Latvia, offering a wide and varied range of fashion and services, among which are H&M, Lindex, ZARA, Reserved, Sportland, NS King, Salamander, and others, including the only Zara Home store in Latvia. The 3rd floor of the shopping centre hosts a versatile catering area with restaurants and cafés such as Lido, GanBei and Čili Pizza, while the 1st floor also offers fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, KFC and Hesburger. AKROPOLE Alfa is home to the modern and spacious MyFitness sports club and the indoor children's playground Adventures' Zone. Cinema lovers have access to eight Cinamon cinema halls. Parking spaces for up to 1750 cars are available for AKROPOLE Alfa visitors.

Our Ranking Of The Top 20 Best-dressed Celebs At Star Awards 2023

It's been nearly a week since the Star Awards 2023, but we've still found ourselves thinking of our favourite looks celebs flaunted at the glitzy ceremony. Shirtless looks, crazy cutouts, dangerously high slits, plunging necklines and backs made this year's awards ceremony one of the sexiest we've ever seen, and boy did everyone look so darn good. Here's 8days.Sg's ranking of the Top 20 best-dressed stars.

#20 Bryan Wong

No time to work on those shoulders? No problem. If women can wear padded bras, then men can very well have their shoulder-padded suits to add some bulk to their frame, although in Bryan's case, he probably just wanted to look all avant-garde and cool, which he certainly achieved in this Dolce & Gabbana creation.

At the same time, he also somehow gives us supervillain vibes, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, many bad guys have been known to have the best style.

#19 Ya Hui

On paper, Ya Hui's cross-halter dress by Norma Kamali sounds pretty simple, but actually seeing it on her, paired with elegant pearl jewellery from Tiffany & Co. And her sleek ash-brown bob, she looked like a million bucks. Oh, and that shiny Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes trophy helps too, of course.

Definitely a great way to make an impression before she leaves Mediacorp.

#18 Tyler Ten

The constant absence of inner shirts meant that Tyler wasn't the only dude who displayed some serious he-vage at the ceremony, but if there was a competition for Best Chest, then he'd be a shoo-in for first place. Then again, would anyone be surprised?

Even fellow Star Search alumnus Zhang Zetong couldn't help but quip, "I'm not sure where to look now" in Tyler's Instagram post spotlighting his magnificent Hublot timepiece. Can't say we blame him — let's just say that Tyler's bod and the watch are both very nicely sculpted.

#17 Edwin Goh

Edwin wore his crocheting hobby on his sleeve — or rather, his torso — by making his very own shirt for the ceremony. And since it's a formal event after all, he added some bling in the form of little red crystals, which created a water droplet-like effect. Or was it to represent the figurative blood, sweat, and tears he shed crafting that outfit?

Either way, his hard work paid off and Edwin proudly declared that donning his own creation, which he told 8days.Sg took just a week to finish, "the highlight of [his] night". And yes, it has his girlfriend Rachel Wan's stamp of approval too.

#16 Xu Bin

Edwin wasn't the only guy in a crocheted top at the ceremony, except Xu Bin got his ivory inner shirt from Etro, which he wore with a long collared jacket and some very comfortable-looking pants, giving off very relaxed island beach vibes.

All the easier to breeze on stage to collect his Top 10 gong.

#15 Tasha Low

Ooh-la-la, how low can Miss Low go? The first-time Top 10 winner gave us some Morticia Addams fierceness in a figure-hugging Pinko gown with a deeeeep V-neck — can't lose to the guys! — and thigh-high slit, which was perfect for flaunting those gladiator boots.

We know that's no longer her job, but girl could sell a lot of kimchi looking like that, just sayin'.

#14 Ben Yeo

Ben may not have won any awards that night, but we think he's still a winner for bucking the trend by opting for a deliciously textured Thom Browne tweed jacket and leather tie, fabrics that were generally outliers on the red carpet. Love the dotted detailing on his shoes as well.

We know the "Daddy Chef" is capable of whipping up scrumptious dishes, but this proves that he's a pro at putting together a great outfit too.

#13 Felicia Chin

After showing up in a wedding dress-like dream at the 2022 show, the newly crowned All-Time Favourite Artiste opted for comfort and practicality this year by having both of her Ralph Lauren outfits feature pants.

While the first ensemble — the one with a big bow and train trailing behind her all-black jumpsuit — was pretty, it was the second fit, which she changed into before going on stage, that stood out to us. Preppiness is not something that's commonly seen on the ladies at the Star Awards, so that red plaid jacket and bowtie was like a breath of fresh air.

#12 Desmond Tan

Those who follow Desmond on Instagram would know that he's been quite the jet-setter over the past few months, and he told us that his frequent travels did inspire him when he was picking outfits for the Star Awards.

We see it in his blindingly white Alexander McQueen suit, which has a classic silhouette with "surprising details" on the jacket in the form of hand-embellished crystal nettles. The actor explained that it's like the glitz and glamour of Milan Fashion Week balanced out by more "ulu" places in Malaysia and Thailand — poetic, but in short, all we gotta say is that he looks damn good.

#11 Elvin Ng

Now that he's been compared to various sweet beverages (yes, we all haven't forgotten all the bandung jokes), Elvin decided to go back to black with a "sexier and more mysterious" look, as he described to us backstage before the show. He even got a tan.

His Zegna ensemble certainly ticks all the right "sexy and mysterious" boxes, and despite its monotone palette, avoids being too one-dimensional thanks to the sheeny texture on the jacket, Tiffany & Co. Brooch (which has a massive rock dangling from it), and scarf.

#10 Paige Chua

After boldly sporting an ultra-low neckline last year, Paige admitted that she wasn't sure if she'd dare to take the plunge again, but it looks like she did manage to find the courage.

Though the neckline on her hot pink Alice and Olivia frock isn't as deep, it's still super sexy while also retaining a feminine, demure vibe thanks to the intricate floral appliqué. Come to think of it, doesn't Paige look like she could be a Disney Princess?

#9 Ayden Sng

While most of the men opted for black or white or both, Ayden stayed true to his fashionista self and showed up rocking a sequinned nude Valentino tux — sans shirt, of course, to show off his pecs and that exquisite (lucky) Bulgari Serpenti necklace.

To our surprise, Ayden told us that the sparkly suit was actually a "back-up option" that — thankfully — happened to grab his attention in the changing room. Well, we're glad it caught his eye.

#8 Chantalle Ng

We didn't know sexy chain mail was a thing until Chantalle sashayed onto the red carpet in all her silvery, slashed-hem glory.

And speaking of Disney Princesses, the Denise Chong Adornments dress reminds us of the scene where Cinderella's step-sisters rip her gown to pieces out of jealousy, but instead of running to the garden to cry, she decides to own the impromptu alteration and completely tear it up (pun intended) at the ball.

#7 Zoe Tay

We're sure we're not the only ones who look forward to seeing what sartorial slayage Ah Jie is going to bless our eyes with at every Star Awards iteration. This year, she really dialled up the wow factor in a vintage Oscar de la Renta concoction with enough fabric to roll out a separate red carpet and some serious flower power on the bodice.

As if we couldn't love this look more, Zoe also tagged Vestiaire Collective in her Instagram post, suggesting that she had gotten the dress from the pre-loved fashion stop. We stan a sustainable queen.

#6 Denise Camillia Tan

With her sizzling scarlet number by Turkish designer Tarik Ediz, the first-time Star Awards recipient looked like a real-life Jessica Rabbit, complete with the seductive sweetheart bustier and Veronica Lake-esque waves.

Sure, she looked genuinely shocked when her name was called during the Top 10 reveal, but we can't help but think that somehow, deep down, she knew to dress for the occasion.

#5 Fann Wong

It's a pity that Fann didn't walk the red carpet because she looked absolutely fann-tastic when she went up on stage to accept Best Programme Host on behalf of hubby Christopher Lee.

Everything from the sexy Valentino number that completely exposed her sleek back and sides to her blinding Tiffany & Co. Jewellery to her makeup was perfection.

#4 Ann Kok

We guess Ann's fishnet-wearing days are far behind her. The actress, who is finally 'graduating' after securing her tenth and final Top 10 trophy, looked thoroughly resplendent in a lamé emerald gown by Tarik Ediz.

She continued the serpentine theme with that famous Bulgari Viper necklace and completed the ensemble with party-ready gold platforms as well as one of the most popular hairstyles of the night, the bob.

#3 Rebecca Lim

While we admit we found the backless black number Becks wore on the red carpet to be a little underwhelming, she more than made up for it when she changed into this glittering Alexander McQueen beauty with a sparkling embroidered harness to accept her All-Time Favourite Artiste trophy.

As a winner, she should be shining as brightly as those chunky gems, which go nicely with her post-wedding glow and of course, that vintage Longines watch that was specially flown in from the brand's museum in Switzerland.

Photo: Alexander McQueen

#2 Xiang Yun

The Best Supporting Actress and Evergreen Artiste Award winner was literally the highlight(er) of the red carpet thanks to her neon dress, which had long fluttery pleated sleeves to add oomph and drama. Who said only young'uns can pull off such a striking hue?

They probably helped keep her warm in the air-conditioned hall too, so bonus points for stylish practicality.

#1 Jesseca Liu

Divine, dramatic, and one of the best uses of illusion mesh we've seen (we thought she was just wearing the most powerful fashion tape in the world), Jess' Isabel Sanchis stunner may be rather uncharacteristically revealing for the actress — she did mention she wanted to try something new — but it works and serves as a classic example of someone wearing the dress instead of the dress wearing her.

Also, we can't stop staring at that massive bustle, which looks like a waterfall of liquid metal trailing behind her. Simply magical.

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