You guys, I couldn’t be more thrilled with all of the smocked dress options that are available right now. I adore smocked tops and dresses in general, but as a pregnant woman with an ever-changing body this style has been a damn godsend. The great thing about this style of dress in particular is that it will grow with you throughout pregnancy and after your baby arrives, but will also work for anyone who isn’t pregnant!
I especially love that most of these dress designs are flowy so they’ll be good to wear after having my summer baby while my body is returning to “normal”. Also, the smocked / shirred bodices (especially with tie shoulders!) will be super convenient for nursing. They’re pretty much the ideal maternity / new mom dress without being maternity specific (again: you do NOT need to be pregnant to rock these, it’s just a non-maternity style that transitions nicely into and beyond pregnancy). I have scoured the web for the best smocked dresses at every pricepoint and in all mini, midi and maxi styles!
I love the blush shade on this Amazon Lantern Sleeve Dress and that the sleeves sit romantically off the shoulder. This option comes in an additional three colorways and is so affordable!
This Target Ruffle Shoulder Dress has a more modest neckline and I love the keyhole tie in the back! So sweet to wear as the weather warms up. This mint green color is so light and fresh!
Surprisingly, I really love this Amazon Strapless Dress. The cut and this particular pattern are so pretty! If floral isn’t your thing, there are fifteen(!) other colorways to choose from. This dress is perfect for summer!
The floral print on this Old Navy Midi Dress is SO GOOD! Such a perfect summery dress. Thankfully, it comes in six colors (!!!) so you can get one for [almost] every day of the week!
If you’ve been here for a while you know my love for a little white dress runs deep, and this tiered ASOS dress is so fresh and lovely for the warmer summer months. White is so versatile and can be paired with any light outer layer (cardigan, denim jacket, etc.) and shoe style. It’s a must in any warm weather wardrobe, in my opinion.
This Old Navy Maxi Dress comes in a total of four colors / patterns so if you like the style, but the blue and white stripe look isn’t really your thing (or maybe you just want to mix up your wardrobe a bit), you’ve got some options.
This Natural Life dress is so breezy and beautiful! I love the ruffle details and the leg slits, plus it comes in two colors! I may need to add this to my closet too.
I SO wish that this Abercrombie & Fitch dress was knee length because (1) I’m 5’8″ so mini dresses become tunic tops on me, and (2) I’m too old to get away with wearing anything this short without looking ridiculous, but these dresses are super cute and I’d buy one in a heartbeat if I were a decade younger. The square neckline is one of my favorite cuts and this dress comes in five color ways!
This little white dress from Lulus is basically a home run for me (smocked bodice, tie shoulders, perfect length, not too dressy or too casual…). Basically, I’m obsessed with this dress and need an excuse to hit “Order”!
Is there anything that screams “summer” more than a blue and white stripe? It’s so quintessential for the season. Rosedress offers this tie shoulder, smocked bodice, tiered maxi dress and I can’t exactly figure out why I haven’t bought it yet… *adds to cart*!
Another classic blue and white striped maxi! I love this Tueray Show option because of the varying directions of the stripes to help break up the lines. It’s making me crave a trip to the Mediterranean!
It may be worth considering a subscription to Few Moda as they are currently carrying a lot of beautiful smocked dress options, including this dress by o.p.t (who uses the same manufacturer as Reformation at a fraction of the cost!). Also: hellooooo Daily Sleeper dupe!
This is another cute dress option by o.p.t. — adore this colorway and neckline! (This style looks like a LoveShackFancy dupe!)
I also had to share this dress by kourt! There are a lot more style options and colorways on the Few Moda website, but these last three were my favorites (this design is very reminiscent of the HillHouse Nap Dress at a much lower pricepoint!).
This romantic chiffon JessaKae Half-Sleeve Midi Dress comes in seven colorways and extended sizing (up to 3X!). I personally love the White Floral print (shown above), but it’s currently out of stock so share your email with the brand to get notified when it’s back!
This Sunday Forever dress looks loose, flowy and more in line with a nightgown / nap dress that can double as a daytime house dress that you could get away with bopping around town in. Basically, it’s a chic do-everything dress and I love it. The combo of tie shoulders and smocking is like my absolute dream (comfort? bows?! YES PLEASE). This material is different from anything else that I already own so I’m super intrigued by the slinkiness of it. Maybe I’ll grab one after Baby Girl arrives…
The cut of this WAYF Midi Dress is so forgiving and looks ultra comfortable. It reminds me a lot of my HillHouse Christina Nap dress (which is not an available style at the moment). Always love a ruffled neckline and slim spaghetti straps.
Continuing the blue-and-white stripe dress “collection”: I love the cerulean / turquoise shade of this AQUA Midi Dress. The smocked shoulder straps are probably super comfortable as they’re pretty forgiving even though they’re not technically an adjustable style.
Always here for a midi dress and this adorable cotton number from Mauby is so versatile. It can be worn casually with sneakers (as shown) or sandals, but could also be dressed up for a dressy casual look with cute heels for weekend brunch! This neckline is a bit higher so if modesty is your thing, this would be a great option.
This Altar’d State Maxi Dress has a great ditsy floral print and love the spaghetti strap tie shoulders!
I already have a dress super similar to this J.Crew style and I always find myself reaching for it in the summertime. So breezy and lightweight (plus, tie shoulders for nursing mamas!).
My rediscovered love for smocked dresses originates with my obsession with the HillHouse Ellie Nap Dress. I bought the Christina style last year and loved it so much that when this Garden Trellis print became available in the Ellie style I knew I had to snag it (I literally set a calendar appointment and alarm so that I could secure my size!). It’s a crisp cotton so it’s not like soft jersey material, but I still find it to be so comfortable. I personally think it’s the perfect fabric for wearing both to bed and out of the house. Two thumbs up from me!
I’m not sure if this style is technically considered #grandmillennial, #cottagecore, or just romantic, but if you haven’t discovered the beautiful and sustainable fashion startup DynastyGeorge yet, where have you been?! I just ordered the above dress from her kickstarter campaign and I can’t wait for it to arrive!
This Reformation dress is the IDEAL “mini” dress for me. Knee-length is absolutely perfect (anything higher and I just feel like I’m trying to look like I’m 20, and I’m about a decade too old for that). I absolutely adore this floral print, the ruffle detail on the smocked bodice and the adjustable shoulder straps that tie in the back.
I’m a Lilly Girl through and through… it must be my inner Florida girl. 😉 I can’t get enough of this Lilly Pulitzer Midi Dress… the print is just right, love the tie shoulders, smocked bodice with ruffle detail paired with the cut and flounce hem. I just added it to my cart because I think it’s a necessary post-pregnancy purchase for summer.
The cute puffy sleeves and flounce skirt on this Christy Dawn dress are giving me major #cottagecore vibes (especially given the styling) and I’m not mad at it. If you prefer a v-neckline instead of square, this one’s for you!
This beautiful Daily Sleeper dress is certainly an investment, but I can’t get over the print, these sleeves and the neckline (also, love those bow-covered oxford style shoes! I may need to hunt those down next…).
LOVING the floral print and peplum tiers on this Revolve Maxi Dress. Plus, it has the exaggerated tie shoulders and smocked bodice — completely obsessed.
It’s rare for me to find Tory Burch clothing that suits my style (love her designs, they just don’t always align with my personal aesthetic), but every now and again the TB design team totally nails it and I have a hard time keeping my wallet closed. Of course, I love the tie shoulders, the smocked bodice, and the tiered design of this dress, but I actually really love this colorway / print which is a departure from my usual style (I’m not typically a fan of purple in my wardrobe). I mean, it comes with POCKETS!! I don’t know if it gets more perfect than this! haha
What’s more summery than anything from the whimsical boho brand LoveShackFancy? Their new Masie midi dress is so cute and comes in five color ways!
This Cynthia Rowley Maxi Dress is decidedly more formal in its design and material. I bet the silk is so beautiful in person and it would make such a stunning date night or event dress!
All of the previous dresses could be used during pregnancy (you may need to size up in a few styles as they could run small), but these next few options were made specifically with maternity in mind:
This HATCH Midi Dress is from a previous season, but able to be rented from Rent the Runway! It’s so cute and I love the contrast stitching and shoulder ties (Top Tip: you may also be able to find it for sale on Poshmark!).
Love the flounce skirt and the eyelet material on this sweet little PinkBlush Midi Dress. It would be great for a summer baby shower!
This breezy floral maxi dress was too cute not to include. I absolutely adore the colors in this print, the stretchy shoulder straps and slits in the skirt.
In love with the soft pink hue of this smocked top maxi dress from Legoe Heritage.
I mean, how dreamy is this NothingFitsBut dress? It looks like a much more affordable version of that Daily Sleeper dress option!
The smocked top, clip dot fabric, the mini ruffle where the bodice joins the skirt and the mega tie bow shoulders made me swoon! And you know how I feel about white everything. Frances Hart NYC hit it out of the park with this one. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
Okay, so these items aren’t dresses, but I had to include them in this smocked clothing roundup because they’re just too damn cute not to!
This Old Navy Feminine Ruffled Smocked Top would be so forgiving on my postpartum bod on the days when I don’t feel like wearing a dress. I personally love this sweet floral pattern, but this top comes in four colors / patterns!
I have been ON THE HUNT for a cute breezy skirt that has an easy smocked waist and I think this Aerie Skirt is exactly the answer! Not too short and easy to pull on over a swimsuit (hey, dreaming of vacation here!) — I love that this style is reminiscent of the classic LoveShackFancy mini skirt without the price point (plus, a few more inches of fabric length! 😬).
Lulus Smocked Tank Top This one is a bit too cropped for my current belly situation 😅 but I may need to scoop it up for post-pregnancy life. So cute and summery! I love the print, the peplum hem and, of course, the tie shoulders!
Speaking of being forgiving to my postpartum body, these Vineyard Vines Shorts with a smocked waistband look so freaking breezy and comfortable (and would likely be ideal for anyone who had a cesarean, given how high the waistband sits!). They’d be so cute with a t-shirt (like the model is wearing), but you could also add a cute little cami top too! Love this print and style!
I hope you stay breezy and comfortable now that warmer weather is starting to arrive!
Happy shopping, friends!
xx, Natalie
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