Looking stylish doesn’t have to be something you invest a lot of time or money in; and for that, all it takes is having the right clothing in your closet. Sometimes, with certain clothes, less truly is more – that is the case with dresses. In this text, we’re going to compare two popular choices: printed dresses and plain dresses.
Are Printed Dresses in Style?
They are, in fact they’ve never been out of style, and one reason they’re always trending is how easy they make it to look put-together. With the modern, busy lifestyles we lead, who has time to spend hours on coming up with a nice outfit? Being the whole outfit most of the time, not needing any extras, it’s no surprise they’re such a trend even in 2026.
With the versatile options available in the market nowadays, you’re spoiled for choice. From the different prints, like the chic floral, animal, stripes, polka dot, abstract, and nautical, to the different lengths, styles and cuts, short and long, midi, off-the-shoulder and one-shoulder, you’re sure to find your staple print dress you can wear time and time again. And, the beauty of this wardrobe essential lies in its versatility.
One dress is an investment that can take you from day to night, casual to dressy events with ease. Lightweight, breathable, compact, dresses with print are just as great for trips without taking up suitcase space. All this said, don’t be surprised when you find your go-to dress that all of a sudden you find yourself coming up with different outfit ideas with various accessories just so you can wear it more on a day-to-day basis.
Pair them with a plain blazer and a pair of shoes matching in colour for a subtle look for more elegance, or take things to the bolder and personalised side with colourful shoes, bags, and jewellery sets – the possibilities are endless.
How About Plain Dresses?
The reason plain dresses are immune to the changing trends is their simplicity. As they don’t come with any standout details, textures or patterns, you can make of them what you will – think of them as the tabula rasa when it comes to dresses. However, this doesn’t mean they lack versatility. Much like the print dress alternative, they can be versatile too, fit for a variety of occasions which also makes them a wardrobe staple.
It all comes down to the design, style and cut, as they too can be found in a variety of options, from mini to midi and maxi. In general, they tend to be considered more formal, fit for dressier events and the workplace, though it depends on the specific design and cut you choose.
Because of the lack of prints, a plain design can be easier to layer both with other clothes and accessories. In need of adding some more texture or colour to your outfit? Easy, you can do this with the right choice of blazer, cardigan, shirt, or jacket, plus necklaces, earrings, scarves or whatever you prefer to showcase more of your style.
Print Dresses or Plain Dresses?
There is no right or wrong choice, truth be told, and having a few designs of both in your wardrobe is a long-term investment in favour of fun and easy outfits that are also timeless.
As the detailed and intricate option, a print dress is a great choice if you need it to be the focal point of your look. It’s a safe bet if you want to get a more fashion-forward clothing item that adds a lot of interest to your looks.
The plain dress option is great for achieving a simpler aesthetic without much detail or interest to get a more classic look and flexibility with the additional clothes or accessories you want to pair it with.
How to Shop?
What’s important is to make sure you get the adequate size and fit for you to make the most of this purchase. When shopping online, you can easily check this not only by focusing on the size chart provided by the retailer or manufacturer, but also the type of fabric it’s made of.
If you’ve got curves, you can look for flattering cuts to showcase more of them and get the result that makes you happy. Slip dress, V-neck dresses, A-line dresses, fit-and-flare styles are some examples you can swear by. Now, in terms of prints, same as the fit there is some caution required.
Smaller and more delicate prints are perfect if you’re aiming for subtlety and sophistication, whereas bolder ones are ideal for the more casual occasions. As for suitability with body shapes, a petite figure looks better with smaller prints, while tall and large frames need larger prints. Small prints are also the solution for areas you want out of focus, as opposed to bold prints for areas you want to highlight.