Have you found yourself in a jumper-jeans-boots repeat outfit rut? Same. We might have passed the winter solstice but there are still plenty more chilly days ahead.

I challenge you to put down the denim and remind yourself how fancy it feels to wear a winter dress. The one-and-done appeal actually makes your morning routine easier. And if you’re worried about warmth, this is a safe space to talk about strategically layering Uniqlo Heattech or your favoured thermals.

Day
Knit dresses are a no-brainer. Steele’s Janine dress crocheted in colour will rescue you from any winter wardrobe blues. This juniper green hue from Oroton also brings an ounce of dopamine. And Aere’s accordion pleated style comes in bright blue, as well as two neutral options. Melbourne brand Elka Collective uses a wool blend to keep its Oslo dress as cosy as it looks.

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Jillian Boustred offers up three great long-sleeve ribbed styles: Isla, a wrap silhouette, Joni, featuring a keyhole detail and the classic high-neck Spencer. Friends With Frank and Anna Quan are two more local favourites that deliver knit designs.

Kowtow’s Lee shirt dress reminds us that spring will eventually arrive with its striking botanist print. And Handsom’s classic pinafore comes in brown corduroy and raw denim this season – simply layer a fine knit and fleece-lined stockings beneath its short silhouette. Make the most of your knee-high boots with more mini hemlines from Sir, Elka Collective and Dominique Healey.

Night
The events don’t stop just because it's cold and dark outside, so let the long black dress reign this winter. Sir continues to lead the trend for considered cut-outs with this bead-adorned design and the asymmetric Manifesto midi (which also comes in a winter off-white). Both Harris Tapper and Arnsdorf deliver classic silhouettes that draw attention to the decolletage. And Camilla and Marc makes a case for winterising the naked dress with its Nolana design. Marle’s Riley dress arrives in classic black but is also offered in a clover green colour that has become signature to the New Zealand brand’s collections.

Blanca proves black isn’t always the answer with its Pallas dress in butter yellow, complete with a fringed skirt. And Aere and Alemais beg you to make room for colourful prints even in the cold. The later also offers a more subdued floral design with sleeves.

Somewhere in-between
You know those styles that can go either way – wear them with sneakers or flat boots to the office and add a kitten heel to take them to cocktail hour. Viktoria & Woods kicks things off with its Eventide dress, a flattering ruched style. The subtle shimmer in the Thelma knit maxi from Elka Collective opens up your styling options. And this mesh-panelled midi from Sir might seem like it's made to be worn over swimwear somewhere sunny, but the stretch jersey works just as well with warmer layers beneath.

Camilla and Marc add two more cut-out styles to this list: the Haywood and Nemesia. There’s a simplicity to these pieces that make them perfect for more casual affairs, but with the right jewellery and a killer pair of heels, they wouldn’t be amiss at a winter wedding. Esse Studios’ silk wrap dress is another option that can pull double duty at any time of year.

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