Wrap Dress: Shop by Style, Detail & Fit

The wrap dress — Diane von Furstenberg's 1974 gift to womankind — may be the most universally flattering dress ever designed. It wraps across the body, ties at the waist, and creates a V-neckline and defined waist on literally every figure. It is the rare garment that fashion editors, working women and style novices all agree on.

The genius is adjustable fit: the wrap accommodates bust, waist and hip variations that fixed dresses cannot, and the tie lets you control the waist definition. The V-neck elongates the neck and flatters the bust; the skirt skims without clinging. Jersey wraps are the classic — travel-proof, wrinkle-resistant, endlessly wearable — while silk and crepe versions dress it up. True wraps tie; faux wraps are sewn (easier, less adjustable).

One Dress, Endless Wears

The wrap dress does office (with a blazer), dinner (alone with heels), travel (packs to nothing), and weekends (with flats). Keep one in a solid dark neutral and one in a print you love. It is also famously nursing-friendly and bump-friendly — a rare dress that works through life changes.

Fit Notes

The wrap should close without gaping — a hidden snap or fashion tape solves most issues. Tie snugly at the natural waist (not the hips). If between sizes in a true wrap, the smaller usually works thanks to adjustability. Shop wrap dresses on eBay and Amazon above.