There’s a moment every autumn when even the most optimistic among us have to admit defeat: bare arms can be no more.
The light linen optimism of August gives way to a craving for structure, substance – and sleeves. Preferably long ones. The kind that swish just so as you hail a cab in drizzle, that poke through your favourite oversized blazer sleeves with an ease that Carrie Bradshaw would envy.
This season, designers seem to have fallen hard for the idea of elegant armour. At Chloé, sleeves graze the knuckles with monastic precision, while at Róhe and Toteme, sculptural shapes turn simplicity into a statement. Even high street stalwarts are playing along: think knitted dresses with architectural waistlines, or a silky midis with boat necklines that somehow looks far more expensive than your heating bill.
It’s the ease that seals it. The long-sleeve dress requires no negotiation: it’s a complete thought, a quiet luxury for those of us who can’t be bothered to overthink an outfit before the first morning coffee. Belt it, layer it, or let it do the talking solo. It holds its own whether you’re in trainers, boots or strutting around rain-soaked streets in kitten heels.
Beyond the aesthetics, there’s comfort in its duality – cocooning but composed, soft but decisive. The long-sleeve dress is a seasonal stalwart that belongs in every sartorial enthusiast’s wardrobe.
Here’s my edit of the ones worth investing in now – the ribbed knits, the velvet maxis, the silk midis that make getting dressed on a grey morning feel almost (almost) glamorous.
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ME+EM Zip Front Midi Dress Midweight Denim
Utility dressing, upgraded. This zip-front denim number walks the line between retro and razor-sharp. Add boots, an oversized tote and layer with a turtleneck as pictured when the temperatures drop below zero.
Buy now £250.00, ME+EM
Kitri Keira Black Polka Dot Satin Dress
Equal parts ingénue and after-hours muse, this satin spot dress is made for candlelit dinners and swishing down escalators like it’s a catwalk. Add a belt for some cinching and don’t forget the red lip.
Buy now £185.00, Kitri
Nobody’s Child Black Tie Waist Blazer Mini Dress
Part tailored, part temptress – this blazer dress means business. Pair with sheer tights and kitten heels for maximum boardroom-to-bar efficiency.
Buy now £139.00, Nobody’s Child
Omnes Saint Dress in Blue Stripe
Crisp, affordable, and far chicer than it has any right to be at under £50, this striped number from Omnes is set to be your go-to piece for elevating the everyday while staying protected against the elements during the height of winter.
Buy now £48.00, Omnes
Reformation Torin Dress
Reformation’s Torin Dress is the ultimate winter-ready mini. With its mock neck, bell sleeves, and a relaxed fit - it offers a poised, effortless, and entirely self-assured silhouette. Just add a slick bun and statement tights.
Buy now £278.00, Reformation
Free People Isla Midi Dress
If Daisy Jones moved to Dalston, she’d be wearing this. Wear over slouchy denim jeans for a noughties-inspired look and add subtle Western detailing in the form of cowboy boots and a bolo tie for a très Cali ensemble.
Buy now £158.00, Free People
Mango Floral Jacquard Dress With Bell Sleeves
Slightly witchy, supremely wearable. This jacquard number brings a hint of Stevie Nicks to your weekday wardrobe. The bell sleeves are made for gesturing dramatically in meetings.
Buy now £89.99, Mango
Rixo Adalind Chiffon Dress
A dress with main character energy. The kind you’ll wear to winter weddings, gallery openings, or when you need a mood lift. The glorious burgundy butterfly pattern is set to light up your darkest winter mornings.
Buy now £385.00, Rixo
Ghospell Noor Ruched Mini Dress
Cocktail hour, covered. All drama, no fuss. The ruching flatters, the high neck intrigues, and the puff sleeves add just enough theatre. Pair with tights and a pair of textured knee-high boots.
Buy now £49.00, Sister Jane
DÔEN Madelaine Checked Organic Cotton-Voile Midi Dress
For countryside weekends or pretending you’re in a Nancy Meyers film, this Dôen dress is all soft checks and prairie-daydream charm – just pop on an oversized knit and a Jane Birkin-esque basket bag.
Buy now £400.00, Net-A-Porter
Hush Tilly Tie Waist Merino Wool Midi Dress
The closest thing to wearing a hug. Merino warmth, a waist-cinching tie, and a length that works just as well on the school run as it does at a Soho House brunch. Don’t mind if we do.
Buy now £140.00, Hush
Mint Velvet Grey Cardigan Layered Midi Dress
Sleek, sculptural, and impossible to ignore, layering has never been so easy with this dress from Mint Velvet. The pleated skirt brings subtly dramatic texture, while the built-in cardigan removes one less styling decision from your already hectic morning.
Buy now £160.00, Mint Velvet
