Best denim dresses: 12 cool styles to add to your wardrobe

It’s hard to resist the appeal of a good denim dress. They’re easy to wear and add instant style points to any outfit.

While back in the 70s denim dresses were all about the classic blue denim and popper through styles, there’s now a huge range of different designs to go for. If you’re a fan of simple, Scandi style then opt for one of the pared back, sleek denim dresses on offer. Or, if you prefer a more boho look, you can find gorgeous denim dresses with lots of ruffle or frill detailing.

There’s always the iconic denim pinafore dress too. Modern takes mean you can find one in a darker denim wash, adding a bit of sophistication to this timeless piece.

There are so many denim dresses out there it can be overwhelming trying to find the perfect one to fit you and your budget. So we’ve done the hard work for you and compiled this edit of the top dresses to shop now. Whether you’re after a classic pinafore style to boost your weekend wardrobe, or you fancy something a bit different with some on-trend detailing, here are the best denim dresses to buy this year.

1. Best overall denim dress: Sosander Indigo Popper Front 3/4 Sleeve Stretch Denim Dress

Price: £75 | Buy now from Sosander

“I lived in [a Sosander denim dress] all summer - super comfy and flattering, a little bit of stretch but didn't get out of shape. Really lovely quality.” (Brand recommended by Mumsnet user HesMyLobster)

This denim dress by Sosander is a firm fashion favourite. Reviews praise the wearability of the dress, its high quality and its flattering fit.

This classic denim dress has three-quarter length sleeves, a popper front, collar and four pockets. We love the timeless blue hue of the denim and the vintage appeal of its classic styling.

With a gorgeous collar detail this dress would be easy to layer, with a top underneath or a chunky knit over the top, making it a great choice for wearing all year round.

Pros

• Classic design

• Quality construction

• Easy to layer

Cons

• Figure-hugging design isn’t everyone’s style

2. Best budget denim dress: Noisy May Denim Dress

Price: From £25.60 | Buy now from Amazon

This dress from Noisy May is a fun, denim take on a smock dress. We love how easy to wear this throw-on style is.

The tiered design features three-quarter length sleeves and a fastenting at the back. The oversized, A-line shape would look great worn with trainers or sandals.

The affordable price tag means you can add this denim dress to your wardrobe without too much pressure. Some reviewers did find it a bit too roomy, so you may want to size down, but this is the style of the dress.

Pros

• Easy to wear

• Dark denim finish

• Good value

Cons

• Could be less versatile than a classic style

3. Best button down denim dress: Levi’s Selma Dress

Price: From £53.42 | Buy now from Amazon

When it comes to denim dresses you’re in safe hands with Levi’s. This shirt style denim dress by the iconic brand is an instant staple thanks to its versatile design.

With a button front and loose fit, this denim dress can be worn as is, but we think it would also look great layered with knitwear and tights in the winter, or worn open as an overshirt.

Levi’s is known for its high quality and with the timeless appeal of this dress, you’ll be wearing it for years to come.

Pros

• Timeless design

• Versatile design

Cons

• Only available in one blue

4. Best A-line denim dress: Bimba Blue Denim Shirt Dress

Price: From £31.99 | Buy now from Amazon

If you’re after an A-line shape denim dress then this style from Bimba is the one. With a classic fit, this A-line design hugs your waist before flaring out into a skirt. A wait tie detail makes it easy to cinch this dress in as much, or as little, as you like.

This style would be easy to smarten up with heels and jewellery for an evening, or to dress down with boots for a weekend outing. What's more, it has pockets - a feature sadly lacking in many dress styles for women.

As with all denim, you do need to take care when washing it and stick to a low temperature, but if you follow the care instructions you should get some decent mileage out of this dress.

Pros

• A-line shape

• Versatile design

Cons

• Only available in one blue

5. Best investment denim dress: Toast Organic Denim Pinafore Dress

Price: £135 | Buy now from Toast

“I have one from Toast. It's lovely and worth the money IMO.” (Brand recommended by Mumsnet user Snapandcrackle)

The Mumsnet community is filled with praise for Toast’s dresses. Granted they are an investment, but when so many Mumsnet users love them they’ve got to be onto a good thing.

Toast is known for its high quality so if you invest in their gorgeous denim pinafore, you’re getting a dress for life, or at least for a very long time. This dress is also made with organic cotton so a brilliant buy for the environmentally conscious out there.

We love the simple shape of this pinafore dress. It would be easy to layer to wear throughout the year and equally easy to smarten up for date night.

Pros

• High-quality construction

• Organic cotton

• Easy-to-wear design

Cons

• Investment price tag

6. Best sleeveless denim dress: Boden Sleeveless Belted Midi Dress

Price: £68.60 | Buy now from Boden

“There's a couple on Boden - I have their chino tunic dress in denim and wear it loads as a sundress as well as a pinafore.” (Brand tried and tested by Mumsnet user Mamia15)

Boden is one of the Mumsnet community’s go-tos for denim dresses and this sleeveless midi style shows why.

This effortlessly chic dress is the perfect midi length and is finished with an oversized bow at the waist. We love its elegant summer style and how flattering the cut is.

We’d wear this with chunky sandals the next time the sun shines. It would be easy to warm up with a cardigan, tights and boots for chillier days too.

Pros

• Elegant style

• High-quality construction

Cons

• Sleeveless so would need a layer in winter

7. Best printed denim dress: Roman Originals Women’s Denim Dress

Price: £30 | Buy now from Amazon

If you’re after something a little different then this Roman Originals denim dress features a stylish print to add some fun to your daytime wardrobe.

Shift dresses are an easy style to throw on and, while this design sticks to classic blue and white hues, it’s simple to style with the rest of your wardrobe. It'd look particularly cool with white trainers for a casual summer look.

We also think the combination of this dress’s tunic shape and print detail make it the perfect denim dress for taking on holiday.

Pros

• Printed

• Easy to wear shape

• Affordable price tag

• Has pockets

Cons

• Sleeveless so needs layering in winter

8. Best denim midi dress: Monsoon Tiered Denim Midi Dress

Price: £70 | Buy now from John Lewis & Partners

This Monsoon tiered dress is perfect for those of you going for a boho look. Its generous, tiered skirt creates a lovely shape and some subtle frill detailing adds a gorgeous finishing touch.

We love the flattering shape, with an adjustable waist and three-quarter sleeves. Its midi length is easy to wear, working well with sandals in summer and over boots come winter.

Reviewers also praise how comfortable this dress is to wear thanks to its oversized fit and quality denim.

Pros

• Easy shape to wear

• Boho style

Cons

• Sleeves a bit long for hot summer days

9. Best denim pinafore dress: White Stuff Willow Denim Midi Dress

Price: £59 | Buy now from John Lewis & Partners

Denim pinafore dresses have a timeless appeal and we love this version from White Stuff.

This classic design is easy to style for your casual, off-duty looks. Layer it over a jumper in winter and wear it over a shirt in summer. We also love the classic pinafore fastening on the shoulders and will be wearing ours with chunky sandals all summer long.

Reviews describe this dress as being an oversized, roomy fit, making it perfect for staying comfortable.

Pros

• Classic design

• Easy to style

Cons

• Loose fit isn’t everyone’s style

10. Best denim maternity dress: Seraphine Denim Pinafore Maternity to Nursing Dress

Price: £59 | Buy now from Seraphine

Seraphine is a go-to brand for stylish maternity wear and their denim dress is another winning design.

We love how easily this dress can take you from maternity through to breastfeeding. It would look great worn oversized well into your little one’s toddler years too.

The knee-length dress has adjustable shoulder straps, pockets and is made from super soft lyocell, so you can buy with confidence knowing you'll be getting comfort as well as style clout.

Pros

• Versatile maternity to nursing design

• Soft lyocell fabric

• Easy to style

Cons

• Needs layering in winter

• More expensive than some competitors

11. Best lightweight denim dress: Joe Browns Short Sleeve Denim Dress

Price: From £25 | Buy now from Amazon

Joe Browns are known from their quirky, casual style and they’ve brought their signature charm to this short sleeve denim dress.

Its shirred waist and frill hem add a distinct boho flair while its all over floral print is a gorgeous finishing touch. We love its casual look which is easy to style with sandals or trainers.

This denim dress is perfect for spring and summer, but you may find it a little too lightweight for winter.

Pros

• Easy to wear

• Print design

• Good value

Cons

• Best for summer months

12. Best high street denim dress: Joules Addison Pintuck Chambray Dress

Price: £69.95 | Buy now from Joules

Joules has created a gorgeous take on the classic denim dress with their Addison Pintuck Chambray Dress.

The darker denim and pintuck detail means this style can be dressed up or down. We also love the easy-to-wear shape and its button-through design.

This dress can easily be layered to keep you warm in winter, or worn as it is on your summer holidays.

Pros

• Versatile design

• Easy-to-wear shape

Cons

• Short sleeves need layering in winter

Are denim dresses in style this year?

Denim dresses are a fashion staple. Their timeless design means they never go out of style making them a worthwhile investment. Decade after decade they are reinvented, there’s always a new take on this iconic piece.

This year the midi dress is the go-to for denim dresses. The easy-to-wear length is loved for how versatile it is and how simple it is to style. A denim midi dress looks just as good with trainers or boots as it does with sandals.

The other style to look out for is the classic denim button through dress. These have been around since the 70s and their vintage appeal looks effortlessly chic today.

What to look for in a denim dress

• Fit: Do you prefer an oversized fit? Or, would you like something that highlights your waist? There’s a huge range of denim dress shapes to choose from. Think about the dresses you love the most in your wardrobe and notice whether you tend to gravitate towards a certain fit.

• Colour: Think denim dress and think classic blue denim. But there are denim dresses in our edit that have a fun, floral print or are washed in a deep indigo dye. Which colour would work best with the rest of your wardrobe?

• Layering: If you’re investing in a new dress it’s worth thinking about whether you could layer it to wear it through the year. Dresses that allow for jumpers to be added or a shirt can be more versatile and allow you to get more wear out of them.

How to style a denim dress

The brilliant thing about denim dresses is that they are so easy to style, it’s hard to go wrong! A failsafe outfit would be to pair your denim dress with classic white trainers. Or, in summer, a pair of chunky sandals. You can always add tights and a chunky knit in winter.

Are denim dresses comfortable?

This depends on the denim in question and how the dress is made. If you’re looking for a really comfortable denim dress then choose an oversized fit without poppers or pockets and opt for a lightweight fabric like chambray, a denim with lots of stretch or a soft fabric like lyocell.

How we chose our recommendations

We’ve left no stone unturned in the hunt for the perfect denim dress to buy in 2022. Our go-to source is hundreds of honest reviews, from a range of reliable, honest users found on Mumsnet and beyond. Here’s how we carefully selected our picks.

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users

Our Mumsnet community is filled with honest reviews of denim dresses across the high street. We weighed up these tried and tested products to evaluate the best brands and styles to look out for.

Expert opinions

We’ve combined our writer, Roanna Day’s, fashion editor experience along with insights from bestseller lists and style websites and magazines to ensure each recommendation is a good one.

Authentic customer reviews

We’ve read hundreds of authentic customer reviews from our Mumsnet community and online retailer sites. We also evaluated factors such as price tag and availability, along with honest critique from customers, to decide on the 12 best denim dresses.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.