Pack These Dresses, Leave the Steamer at Home, and Thank Me Later
I'm not sure that anyone actually likes packing, including me. (But if you do, please tell me your secrets.) I dread each moment of the process, from making a packing list to the last-minute scramble and everything in between. Due to the resulting stress that packing causes me, I'm constantly bookmarking tricks in my brain that will hopefully make my next packing extravaganza a little less painful.
One of my go-to tricks when packing involves dresses, and it's one that I find especially handy when traveling to a wedding or for another special occasion that requires a dress: Opt for lace dresses. There are tons of options on the market, from casual to very fancy, and because of the lace overlay, they don't show wrinkles like, say, a silk or poplin dress does, which means you can pack an extra pair of shoes instead of a steamer. Just be sure to choose a dress that's all lace, as opposed to just having lace trim or lace panels. And keep in mind that eyelet is not lace and will definitely turn into a wrinkled mess in your suitcase.
Shop my favorite lace dresses to pack below.
A universally flattering dress in a universally flattering color.Available in sizes 00 to 16.
Pair this minidress with black ballet flats.Available in sizes UK 4 to 14.
I just can't get enough of this color right now.Available in sizes 0 to 12.
Zara took an already pretty lace dress and made it even prettier.Available in sizes XS to XXL.
Fancy pilgrim vibes.Available in sizes IT 36 to 44.
Patiently waiting for an occasion to wear this dress.Available in sizes IT 40 to 46.
Name a summer vacation this dress wouldn't be perfect for. Available in sizes 14W to 24W.
You could get away with wearing this dress every season of the year. Available in sizes UK 6 to 16.
Pair this cool blue number with silver accessories. Available in sizes UK 6 to 14.
Here's what to wear to those fancy brunches and garden parties. Available in sizes 14W to 24W.
So many Alice McCall dresses fit the bill, but this one is particularly dreamy.Available in sizes UK 6 to 14.
This would actually look good with sneakers or stilettos.Available in sizes XS to XL.
I love an easy little red dress (especially when it's under $100).Available in sizes 0 to 14.
Jacquard is a lace-adjacent fabric that's also very suitcase-friendly.Available in sizes M to XXL.
This is a great option for brides-to-be to have on hand for various wedding-related events to come.Available in sizes XS to L.
This shimmery option reaches its full potential after dark.Available in sizes 0 to 6.
Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.
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