The e-commerce fashion industry is looking at a brighter future as statistics, trends, and strategies shaping the industry in 2018 and beyond paint a bright portrait worldwide. According to The Fashion and Apparel Industry Report, the industry is expected to earn from $481.2 billion in 2018 to $712.9 billion by 2022.
The driving forces behind this positive forecast include digital innovation, rising globalization, and shifts in consumer spending behavior. In a nutshell more and more people are buying apparel onlne.
Some of the leading online dress stores that have strengthened the fashion industry are found below.
List of Online Dress Stores – Where to Buy Dresses Online
Below is a list of our favorite options for where you can buy dresses online.
1. Anthropologie
If you like cutting-edge and carefully curated designs, Anthropologie is the THE PLACE to go for dresses.
Not only will you love the designs but they sell a dress for every occasion and style. I’m talking Lounge, casual, floral, black tie, cocktail, iconic little black dresses and little white dresses, formal, plus sizes and more.
It’s no surprise Anthropologie is one of the hottest apparel and accessory stores for women these days. Just visit the website and you’ll see what I mean. Because it’s so great and cutting edge, this store makes online dress shopping a joy.
2. Revolve
Revolve online retailer is HOT HOT HOT.
If you are more into designer name styles, then Revolve is the online shop for you. The store was started in 2003 by two like-minded friends who wanted a way to narrow down shopping for high quality, designer fashion. Revolve carries only the highest in name and quality with more than 700 brands under their online umbrella.
While Revolve covers both men and women’s designer clothing, their dress shop is definitely one to check out. Designer names for women’s fashion include Alexis, For Love & Lemons, Free People, FRLFRND, L’Acadamie, LEVI’S, Mara Hoffman, Nike, Rag & Bone, Tularosa, and Zimmermann, among many others.
3. Zappos
Zappos is the Amazon of clothing.
Makes sense given Amazon owns Zappos.
Zappos is well known as a shoe site but it’s rockin’ the apparel department as well. Given its reach, the top brands are scrambling to get their wares listed on Zappos.
Consider these notable women’s fashion brands – Free People, Michael Kors, AG Adriano, Lauren by Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and so many more.
How many dresses on Zappos? When we put this list of the best dress stores online, there were 2,225 dresses for sale on Zappos. Shop your heart out. With so many dresses to choose from, Zappos makes online dress shopping easy.
4. LOFT
LOFT dresses scream casual but stylish.
They’re cool, whimsical and stylish. I like them a lot and I can see why LOFT is one of the more popular women’s fashion and apparel stores online.
The selection is broad including everyday dresses, styles for work, party dresses, little black dresses and more.
Is it expensive? Nope. Expect to pay $100 to $200 per dress but c’mon, for these styles and quality, that’s a good deal.
5. Reformation
You can feel good buying at Reformation (Ref for short).
Reformation is a SERIOUS name for any store, but when it comes to dresses, Reformation is as serious as its name sounds.
But their serious nature isn’t bad, it’s actually good… very good.
It started as a vintage shop in LA California then expanded into creating its own stuff focusing on sustainability.
They didn’t stop at environmental considerations. The garment industry is pretty bad relying on sweatshops and horrible labor practices. The Reformation wanted to avoid creating even more misery and so they set up their factory in Los Angeles offering a fair and safe working environment.
Sometimes you gotta support the good folks and Ref is definitely one of them. Plus you get fabbo dresses to boot.
6. Free People
Free People just might be the coolest fashioin store for women these days if you like the Boho chic style (and many do).
But you’re gonna pay to don FP’s designs. It’s not Prada expensive, but it’s costly and because Free People is the go-to store and website these days, they get away with charging a bit more than the others.
Free People is very discerning in the clothing they sell. They work with designers and carefully curate each collection for every season. For example, when we published this list, FP only had 371 dresses for sale. That’s a lot fewer than other online stores.
You probably know that Free People is owned by Urban Outfitters.
What you might not know is that Urban Outfitters started out as Free People in the 1970s.
7. Amazon
Yeah yeah yeah we all know Amazon sells everything including dresses.
Honestly, I’m finding that Amazon is not the best place for clothing. There’s too much and not enough decent filters to find what I want.
I know most of what I’m looking for is there but it’s a matter of finding it. I think Zappos is way better for your online everything clothing but when it comes to getting exactly what I want, I go straight to the horse’s mouth which are the boutique brands and sites listed above and below.
8. MANGO
MANGO’s niche in the fashion world is “Mediterranean style and culture”.
It’s a combination of timeless fashion with contemporary style.
MANGO designs are sold in brick and mortar stores worldwide as well as online.
It’s definitely a unique style and look.
9. Hugo Boss
Let’s jump to something a little more on the luxury side of apparel to Hugo Boss. Yes, they sell women’s clothing and plenty of it.
When you want the power dress for the boardroom, Hugo delivers.
But beware, the selection isn’t huge. With 37 dresses, it’s a very focused, but cutting edge line of dresses.
How much? Again, not Prada prices but more than other stores featured. We’re talking $300 to $1,000.
Interestingly, the dresses at Hugo Boss fall into two lines. One line is Hugo. Can you guess the second line? If you thought to yourself “Boss”, you’re right.
10. Zulily
Time to dive down to affordable which is what Zulily offers. I’m talking $30 for stylish dresses. Heck, that’s 1/10 of what you’ll pay at Hugo Boss.
Okay, Zuilily caters to a different crowd but that doesn’t mean you’ll compromise on style.
Zulily is a unique shopping experience in that the online store offers daily sales on items across the retail board, including dresses. This includes a number of big-name brands often at prices that seem too good to be true.
Zulily is a great place to find that unique (and extremely affordable) number you want, but it is not the best place to go if you need your dress sooner rather than later as their shipping times are longer on average than other online stores. However, if you have the time and want to save some money, definitely check out their shop which is also available as an app on your smartphone.
11. The Red Dress Boutique
The Red Dress Boutique has its headquarters in Athens, Georgia, and offers a wide variety of trendy and affordable dresses. Their website separates their dress category into every type of dress that you could think of, from that little black number to work dresses. If you need help trying to figure out what you are looking for, or with just style tips in general, check out The Red Dress Boutique’s blog which is full of such advice. Some consider this online dress store as one of the best online boutiques for dresses.
12. Maurices
Maurices‘ dress shop is a great place to start when you are looking for a dress that runs along a more casual, but still very trendy, style. While it is one of the better online dress shops, this chain also has more than 900 locations across the United States (and even a few in Canada) and it has always been a business that keeps up with what is trending in terms of fashion. Plus, they offer their styles in sizes that range from 1 to 24 allowing women of all size and shape to shop and enjoy their selection.
13. Saved by the Dress
Saved by the Dress started out as an online fashion boutique that claims to offer its customers three important values: fashion, affordability, and fast shipping. Ever since the company launched from Miami Beach in 2013, it has rocketed onto the online shopping scene and continues to provide excellent quality merchandise. Since Saved by the Dress is also exclusively an online store, you can expect speedy and efficient customer service on their online platforms as it is their sole focus.
14. Charlotte Russe
Charlotte Russe is one of those fashion businesses with a name that spans the decades. The company began in 1975 and continues to soldier on. This means that not only are you receiving quality dresses and service, but you can rest assured that the company knows how to keep up with modern fashion and style. Plus, with the new addition of Peek Kids to their fashion collection, you can easily find the perfect dress for your daughter (or niece, or whoever you might need one for) while looking for your own outfit.
15. Lulus
Lulus is a bit more on the pricier side of dress shopping, but not without reason. The store offers a number of high-quality fashion pieces with an emphasis on the strength on finishing of each dress to ensure that your purchase will last for years to come.
Lulus’ site separates dress types into the different categories you might expect (such as a wedding, casual, business, and so on). However, they also offer the option of shopping by color or trend which can be exceptionally helpful when you are searching for a more unique fashion item.
16. Fashion Nova
While Fashion Nova is a more wide-ranged clothing and accessory online shop (providing styles for both men and women), their dress shop is full of interesting and high quality finds. Fashion Nova’s mission statement is centered on the customer experience and ensuring that each individual who purchases one of their fashion items is not only satisfied but (as they put it) “the best-dressed girl in the room.” This kind of confidence is key when it comes to searching for your next perfect dress, be it for work or an evening out.
17. ModCloth
ModCloth is unique in that it primarily specializes in vintage styles that hold a flavor of modern fashion. So while this is not your typical dress shop, the chances of finding something truly unique are much higher than with other online or retail stores.
ModCloth is exclusively a women’s fashion store which means that you are working with a team focused entirely on creating the next biggest and best women’s fashion items. The shop was started in 2002 and has since boomed into a thriving business serving the nation’s women.
18. Misguided US
Misguided is a global fashion brand with the overarching goal of empowering women everywhere through their unique styles. Misguided fashion is bold and unapologetic; it is focused on every day and how each and every woman can tackle the ordinary in less than ordinary ways via their style.
This particular online shop is more geared toward the “Millenial” crowd and may not suit everyone’s tastes, but it is still a shop worth checking out if you are in the market for something more unique. Misguided was started in 1009 by Nitin Passi who started with next to nothing in New York and has since become a global superstar.
19. Lane Bryant
Lane Bryant is another one of those names that have been in the dress and overall fashion industry for a number of years. This is exclusively a plus size online (and retail) shop that caters to the curvier women of the world and provides them with styles that are both flattering and affordable. In other words, Lane Bryant is a leader in plus size fashion because they focus on creating trendy styles for larger women, thus equalizing the playing field of fashion.
20. Simply Dresses
True to its name, Simply Dresses is an online fashion boutique that offers a variety of dress styles and options to fit nearly any occasion. The company has been in operation since 1998 and is a part of the larger Occasion Brands, LLC.
Simply Dresses is also so sure of its low prices for high-quality dresses that it offers to beat any other online retailer’s price by 2%. Therefore, if you were to find a dress on their site that you love but it is cheaper elsewhere, simply call into their customer service and save even more money on your purchase.
21. Pretty Little Thing US
Pretty Little Thing offers a number of different styles of clothing and accessories and their dress shop is no exception. The site offers more than twenty different categories of dress to help you narrow down your search with plenty of competitive pricing and sale deals to help you find what you need.
Pretty Little Thing also offers a specialized blog with plenty of fashion advice and news from around the world to keep you up to date on recent trends.
22. Tobi
This international online women’s fashion shop is stocked full of dress options to fit nearly any occasion. And with free shipping on orders more than $50 as well as free returns within 10 days of receiving your items, you can feel free to shop without worry. Tobi is based out of Los Angeles, California, and prides itself on providing some of the best styles and prices from the United States West Coast.
23. ASOS
ASOS is an online shop that provides its customers with a broad selection of fashion pieces and accessories in more than 30 sizes, which of course includes their dress selection. This store is geared more toward the younger generational crowd, but there is a little something for everyone hidden inside.