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If you’re looking for brands like For Love & Lemons, start with Selkie, Mirror Palais and LoveShackFancy for different takes on romance. For brands like Sabo, browse Cleobella and Princess Polly for dresses and separates with a more relaxed mood.
01 / THE FEMININE EDIT
For Love & Lemons
Romantic with an edge
The lace, pretty necklines and unexpected cutouts are very much my kind of feminine. There are plenty of sweet details, but the shorter hems and sheer fabrics keep things from feeling too precious. I also love the idea of one of the intricate tops with jeans when a full romantic dress feels like a bigger commitment than the evening requires.
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Reformation
The dresses are the draw
I love finding the same prints in different lengths, from mini to midi to maxi, so I can mix it up. The simple slip shapes, fitted bodices and pretty necklines don't need much help becoming an outfit. Add a strappy heel for dinner or a wedding, or flats and a loose cardigan for something more relaxed.
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Nana Jacqueline
Polished and unapologetically dressed up
Fun fact: my Nana's name was Jacqueline, so I always think of her when I see this brand's store in West Hollywood. The clothes are a lovely excuse to get dressed up, with fitted jackets, little skirts and sculpted dresses that feel polished and a little theatrical. If you love a coordinated outfit, start here. The softer colors and pretty trims are appealing, but the tailoring gives them some structure.
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Hill House Home
Pretty dresses that aren't waiting for an invitation
The Nap Dress shapes, gathered skirts and printed fabrics have that romantic appeal without requiring an elaborate outfit around them. A floral print feels very different from tartan or a dark solid, so there's room to play. Add flats and a cardigan for daytime, or choose a dressier fabric when you have actual plans.
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Hemant & Nandita
Prints that do the outfit planning for you
Hemant & Nandita is for the days when a quiet little dress isn't quite what you have in mind. The prints, flowing sleeves and ruffled shapes make the clothes feel expressive, especially in the longer dresses and coordinated separates. This is a lovely direction for a trip or an event where you want something memorable. I'd let the print lead and pull one color from it for the shoes or bag, rather than adding another competing statement.
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Agua Bendita
A vacation mood beyond swimwear
Agua Bendita is worth looking at for the clothes you wear before and after the beach, too. The dresses, printed sets and textured separates bring the same colorful, playful feeling as the swimwear. A little crochet or an oversized floral can make a simple shape feel much more interesting. I'd browse here for a sunny trip, then think about which pieces would also work with the sandals and denim already in your closet.
07 / THE FEMININE EDIT
Zimmermann
The dress you build the plans around
Zimmermann is firmly in splurge territory, but the dresses make a convincing case for lingering. The appeal is in the details: an unusual sleeve, intricate trim, a beautiful print or a shape that moves well. Some pieces are very romantic; others are much more streamlined. I would start with the dresses rather than assume every collection is all florals and frills. This is a good one to bookmark when you're looking for something that feels special.
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Selkie
For when subtle isn't the assignment
Selkie makes the dresses I'd wear if I were a fairy princess. Full skirts, puffed sleeves, corsetry and dreamy fabrics make the clothes feel deliberately dramatic, which is exactly the appeal. If you're looking for a fairy-tale dress, this is a very good place to start. There are separates as well, so you can bring a little of that fantasy into an otherwise simpler outfit if you're not quite ready for the full princess moment.
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Princess Polly
A more playful take on everyday outfits
Princess Polly is useful when you want a feminine outfit without going straight to designer prices. Alongside the trendier pieces, there are lace-trimmed dresses, little tops, matching sets and knits that work with clothes you already own. I'd start with one piece you can picture wearing several ways, like a pretty top with jeans or a simple skirt with boots. There's a lot to browse, so having a particular outfit in mind helps.
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Hello Molly
A dress for the plans in your calendar
Hello Molly is a good place to look when the invitation is sorted and the outfit absolutely is not. The selection leans toward dresses for going out, celebrations and trips, with plenty of florals, satin and more fitted shapes. It also gives you a more accessible option among the splurgier brands in this list. I'd browse by the kind of event first, then narrow it down to the colors and silhouettes you actually feel like wearing.
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Rat & Boa
A little less sweet and a little more after dark
The fluid shapes, bold prints and revealing details have more of a late-dinner-on-vacation feeling than a garden-party one. This is where I'd look for a dress that makes an impression without a huge skirt. A slinky shape or an unexpected print can carry the outfit, leaving you with very little accessory planning to do.
12 / THE FEMININE EDIT
Mirror Palais
Romance with a vintage-film feeling
Mirror Palais has a very particular kind of romance: delicate shapes, body-skimming dresses and details that feel borrowed from another era. The collection can be sensual without looking like standard going-out clothing. I'd browse the dresses for a special occasion, or start with one of the tops if you want to bring that mood into a more familiar outfit. The styling is part of the appeal, but the individual pieces are worth looking at on their own.
13 / THE FEMININE EDIT
Orseund Iris
The interesting top your jeans have been waiting for
I love my Orseund Iris top. It makes me feel so feminine even when I'm wearing just jeans, which is a pretty good argument for an interesting top. The sculpted shapes, draped necklines and distinctive shirting make an outfit feel considered without needing a busy print. A strong neckline or an exaggerated cuff does a lot of the work, and you can keep the rest of the outfit quite simple.
14 / THE FEMININE EDIT
Are You Am I
Delicate shapes with an edge
Are You Am I takes the smaller, more pared-back side of feminine dressing. Think little dresses, fine straps, open backs and tops that leave plenty of room for your own styling. The effect is less ornate than some of the brands here, but still very intentional. I'd pair one of the delicate pieces with something a little heavier, like boots or an oversized jacket, if you want the outfit to feel less sweet.
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Sabo
Soft colors and an easy holiday feeling
Sabo has a relaxed, feminine look that makes you start mentally packing a suitcase. The dresses and matching sets often have an interesting texture, a soft color or a detail that keeps a simple shape from feeling plain. It's a good place to browse for a warm-weather outfit that doesn't need much styling. I'd also look at the separates, especially if you want the same feeling with a little more flexibility than a dress.
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Cleobella
Romantic prints you can wear beyond one occasion
Cleobella has a softer, more relaxed take on feminine dressing. Printed dresses, blouses and matching separates make up a lovely starting point, especially if you like some volume in a sleeve or skirt. The clothes lend themselves to boots and a knit just as easily as sandals, depending on the style. I'd look at the blouses when you want a pretty everyday piece, then browse the dresses when you want the outfit mostly taken care of.
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Réalisation Par
Simple silk shapes and memorable prints
Réalisation Par is one to browse if you love a printed dress but prefer a relatively simple shape. The signature appeal is the combination of silk, a distinctive pattern and a silhouette that lets those two things do the work. The slips and little tops are particularly good inspiration for an outfit that feels feminine without being overly styled. I'd add a cardigan or a leather jacket when you want to give the softer pieces a different mood.
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DÔEN
A softer kind of everyday romance
DÔEN is a good place to browse when you want romantic clothing that feels a little less occasion-bound. The dresses and blouses often have a vintage influence, with gentle prints, gathers and interesting trims. There are dressier pieces too, so it's worth looking beyond the first floral dress you see. I'd start with something you can imagine wearing with flats and a favorite cardigan, then let the details make the familiar outfit feel prettier.
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LoveShackFancy
For the unapologetic romantic
The florals, ruffles and bows lean all the way into that romantic feeling, which is precisely why I love this direction. If the full look feels like a lot, a pretty blouse or knit with simple denim is an easier starting point. If the full look is exactly what you came for, you will have plenty to browse.
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Christy Dawn
Vintage-inspired dresses with a relaxed mood
Christy Dawn is a lovely direction if your idea of feminine is a printed dress and a pair of boots rather than a tiny evening top. The flowing shapes and vintage-inspired details feel relaxed, with plenty of room for a knit or jacket when the weather changes. I'd browse here for a dress you can wear in a fairly simple way. The print and shape bring enough interest without needing an elaborate styling plan.
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Clio Peppiatt
Dresses worth making plans for
Clio Peppiatt is where the dress becomes the whole event. The hand-embellished minis and gowns are filled with intricate beading, sparkling details and little motifs that reward a closer look. This is the splurge end of the list, especially if you’re looking for an afterparty dress with a little fantasy to it. I’d keep the accessories simple and let all that detail have its moment.
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MESHKI
Sleek dresses with a softer side
MESHKI is a good place to browse when you want the feminine feeling without quite so many ruffles. Think draped necklines, ruched dresses, soft knits and coordinated sets, with plenty of occasionwear alongside simpler separates. The pale pinks and creams are especially tempting. A slinky maxi can do the work for a wedding or dinner, while a fitted top and jeans bring the same mood to a much less elaborate plan.
Which tab are you opening first
For me, the fun is in finding a piece that feels like my style without looking exactly like everything else I've been seeing. That might be an intricate top from For Love & Lemons, a simple printed dress from Réalisation Par or something completely dramatic from Selkie. You don't have to commit to one version of feminine dressing. Start with the brand that makes you want to put an outfit together, and go from there.
