Winter Dresses: How to Wear a Dress When It Is Cold, and 8 to Buy

A winter dress is a dress built for cold weather: long sleeves, a midi to ankle length, and a fabric with weight, such as jersey, wool knit, velvet and jacquard, so it can be worn with boots, tights and a coat. Shop the full designer dresses edit, the maxi dresses and the new Johanna Ortiz Fall Winter 2026 collection.

Most dresses fail in winter for one of three reasons: the fabric is too thin, the sleeve is too short, and the hem stops where the cold starts. Fix those three and a dress is warmer than most trousers, because it lets you add a boot, a tight and a long coat without any of them fighting each other. Below is what to look for, then eight dresses that pass the test.

What makes a dress work in winter

How to layer a winter dress

Start with the boot

The boot sets the length. A midi dress wants a knee boot whose shaft disappears under the hem, so no skin shows when you walk. A pull-on leather boot on a low wood heel, such as the Johanna Ortiz Tropical Vibration Boot in Chocolate, works with almost every dress below. Our knee high boots guide covers the rest.

Add a thin layer, not a thick one

A fine knit under a slip dress, a sheer tight, a silk camisole. Thin layers trap more heat than one bulky one, and they keep the line of the dress.

Finish with a long coat

The coat should be at least as long as the dress, so the hem never flaps out from underneath. A shearling, a cape, a wool wrap all work; see Penny Lane coats and capes for women.

8 winter dresses to shop

1. Johanna Ortiz Bloom Secret Dress

Ankle length stretch jersey with long sleeves and gathering at the waist. The draped neckline falls at the back. The house styles it with leather boots and textured outerwear by day: it is the best everyday winter dress on this list.

2. Johanna Ortiz Reinvention Oasis Dress

Shiny viscose jersey, 4% elastane, printed with a tonal botanical motif. Long sleeves, a deep neckline and ankle length. Made for evening.

3. Johanna Ortiz Rain Secret Dress

Palm jacquard in 100% viscose, with cascading ruffles down the front, long sleeves and a high neck. The wrap is adjustable, so it fits through a season of layers.

4. Johanna Ortiz In The Woods Dress

Printed jacquard in wine tones, a high neck and a front cutout. The house styles it with boots, which is exactly right.

5. ME+EM Knit Maxi Dress + Snood in Rich Olive Green

A knitted maxi that comes with its own snood: the most literal answer to a cold neck we have found.

6. Toteme Knit Shirtdress in Black / White

A knitted shirt dress with a collar and buttons. Wear it with flat boots and a long coat for the office.

7. Alexander Wang Pointelle Knit Mini Dress with Front Zip in Black

The short option. A pointelle knit with a front zip; wear it with opaque tights and a knee boot.

8. LaPointe Stretch Velvet Long Sleeve Ruched Gown in Mulberry

Stretch velvet, long sleeves, floor length. For winter parties, see our velvet dresses guide.

Winter dresses by occasion

• Office. A knit shirt dress, flat knee boots, a long wool coat.
• Weekend. A jersey maxi with a low heeled boot and a shearling vest. Our long sleeve maxi dresses guide has more.
• Winter wedding. A long sleeved jacquard dress with a cape. See winter wedding guest dresses.
• Holiday party. Velvet, lurex, sequins. See what lurex is.

Winter dresses around the world

United States and Canada. Central heating indoors means the dress itself can be light, as long as the coat is serious; jersey wins. United Kingdom. Damp cold calls for wool knit and a weatherproof boot. Northern Europe. Layer a fine merino under jersey and add a shearling. The Gulf. Winter evenings in Dubai and Riyadh are mild, so a long sleeved silk crepe de chine dress with a light cape is enough, and the full coverage suits most dress codes.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of dress is best for winter?

A long sleeved midi to ankle length dress in a fabric with weight, such as jersey, wool knit, velvet and jacquard, worn with knee boots and a long coat.

How do you wear a maxi dress in winter?

Choose long sleeves and a heavier fabric, add a fine knit underneath, wear a boot under the hem, and finish with a coat at least as long as the dress.

Can you wear a silk dress in winter?

Yes, if you layer it. A silk crepe de chine dress works under a shearling jacket and over a thin knit, with knee boots.

What shoes go with winter dresses?

Knee boots are the easiest, because the shaft meets the hem. Pull-on leather boots on a low heel work for day; a taller heel works for evening.