Fashion blogs to glossies have been hailing the return of the dress: the little black dress, the sweater dress, the mini dress, the maxi dress.

I’ve always favored cocktail dresses and flapper frocks: slip one on, and there’s no staring at your closet, wondering which shoes go with which blouse with what skirt. It’s tres efficient, and you can easily rock a dress from power lunches to peach martinis. 

Case in point? Check this golden sweater M+S pleated dress. Catwalk Queen says the dress “would add curves and shape to a boyish, straight-up-and-down figure and is a subtle way to add metallics to your wardrobe.” 

Here’s a real wardrobe staple: a simple classic sleeveless dress by Norma Kamali for Spiegel. Notes Dio Verton,  “Every woman should own a little black dress.” 

Want something more now? Sure, this Rachel Pally Banded Bubble Dress is soon to be five-minutes-ago, but WNH is right: it’s “perfect for any coast, great over pants or tights, or worn with bare legs.”

You can’t rock wrong in a Diane von Furstenberg dress.  Says our own Alyson, DvF is “wearable, timeless, easy… for night/travel/work. Her strong patterns look fresh season after season…”  And Princess picks this Diane von Furstenberg knit houndstooth dress - with its “boat neck with cap sleeves - over the typical DvF wrap dress.

Check this chiffon “First Date” dress by Prospect 44, with its easy, breezy kimono cut made fresh in fuschia. My BFF Marlene Salcido is a little partial since she made the dress, but I agree - “This dress can take you to day (worn with jeans) to evening (paired with your highest stiletto)!”

This Bebe poppy-print kimono dress is more obviously east greets west - notes Princess, “The sleeveless kimono dress gets an update with a chic poppy print.”

Rachel Pally also makes a maxi kimono caftan dress. Says swimwear designer Stephanie Hoos, “Her fabrics are so soft and easy. My favorite is this kimono dress which can be dressed up or worn casual.” 

Karl Lagerfield’s designing for the house that created the LBD, so his wool button sleeve dress carries some authority - for Princess that this LBD is “From Karl’s RTW collection” is reason enough to rock it.

Prefer little white dresses to little black ones? Check this La Garçonne full gathered dress. Says WNH, “Get it now, wear it through the end of the summer, then stick a sage-colored long-sleeved tee underneath it for fall.”

La garconne… or le secretary sexy?  Cheap and chic, dig this ruched blue turtleneck dress  by Forever 21 . Says Sclementinet, “This is the perfect blend of sophisticated and cute. The turtleneck MAY look schoolmaster-y in this picture, but in real life, it is the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen.”

Super chic, but click for Jenny Packham London sequined leopard dress and breath an “Ooh la love” with me. Billion Dollar Babes co-founder Shelli Anne Couch digs these party frocks “for a bit of evening bling.”

Remember when Juicy Couture made tracksuits? Now they’ve Juicy scoop neck dresses. “Simple but elegant!” says Princess.