Forget Trying Hard—This Dress Trend Is Every Stylish Woman's Secret to No-Effort Dressing

Getting dressed and putting together interesting outfits is one of my all-time-favorite activities. When I'm bored, I create Google Slides full of combinations using an archive of photos of practically every wardrobe item I own. It's weird, I know, but it's a simple pleasure I never get sick of. Even so, there are still days when I can't come up with an outfit to save my life. Nothing looks good or matches what I want in my head, which is when I have to pull my one foolproof dressing trick out from under my sleeve. It's never failed me—not once—and I don't see that changing anytime soon. That hack for no-effort styling? T-shirt dresses, the easy, timeless, and versatile dress trend that's guaranteed to just work, no ifs, ands, or buts about it.
The reason T-shirt dresses never fail is that they're a blank slate. You can wear them on your own with ballet flats or flat sandals for a quick trip to the grocery or to pick up a prescription, or you can dress them up, adding a long necklace, a scarf tied around your waist, or a unique belt. Heels or boots are always an option, but casual sneakers pair well with them, too. There's no wrong answer.


Naturally, I'm not the only fashion person who has caught on to the winning qualities of the T-shirt dress. Plenty of stylish people swear by them, so much so that more and more brands have added them to their collections, ranging from COS and Leset to The Row and Khaite. At the S/S 25 shows alone, they were on the runways at Ralph Lauren and Toteme. As a result, they've started appearing across social media platforms on creators such as Dawn Tan, Laura Reilly, Monikh Dale, and Annabel Rosendahl. Everyone styles them in their own unique way, meaning there's a vast array of inspiration to help kick off your own T-shirt dress journey in 2025.
Ahead of fall, see what the T-shirt dress trend has to offer. Keep scrolling to shop the best versions on the market right now.
What you'll need: White T-shirt dress + button-down shirt + flip-flops + suede bag
What you'll need: Mini T-shirt dress + sweater + long necklace + flat sandals
What you'll need: Fitted T-shirt dress + skinny belt + kitten-heel sandals
What you'll need: White T-shirt dress + strappy sandals
What you'll need: V-neck T-shirt dress + rope sandals + choker
What you'll need: Black T-shirt dress + white sweater + ballet flats
What you'll need: White T-shirt dress + kitten heels + clutch
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
-
From Engagement to Holiday Parties, My Closet Is in Need of Some Fancy Dresses—32 Chic Options I'm Eyeing
Here are the standouts.
-
10 Trends Set to Define Spring 2026 Fashion
Explore our deep dive into the top trends from the runways.
-
Parisian Style Is Fine, But in Madrid, Everyone Is Wearing These 6 Even Cooler Trends
Los amo.
-
I'm a Bridal Stylist—These Are the Best Fall Wedding Guest Dresses Under $500
The couple is sure to approve.
-
It's Boho Chic on a Budget—29 Gorgeous Free People Sale Finds I'm Absolutely Loving
Up to 70% off!
-
Better Than Skinny, Barrel, or Vintage Jeans: These 3 Denim Trends Are Guaranteed to Make Every Fall Outfit a 10/10
Yes and yes.
-
Black Leggings Are Fine, But It Girls Know These 6 Trendier Versions Feel So Now
They're so much cooler.
-
Fine, I Won’t Gatekeep—These 27 Abercrombie Finds Are Too Chic to Miss (and They're All On Sale)
I can't decide which fall pick is my favorite.