The sun is shining, the weather is slowly warming up, and the flowers are beginning to bloom… which can only mean one thing: brunch season is back! A slow weekend brunch is one of my favorite activities—good food, good friends, and good fits! Just like I love dressing up for spring weddings and graduations, I look forward to wearing my favorite brunch dresses all week long. I’m guessing that comes as no surprise!
For all my fellow brunch lovers, I’ve done some digging and put together a curated list of my current favorite weekend styles. Whether you’re in the mood to dress up or keep it casual, there’s a little something for everyone. I’ll also share a few tips on how to style these brunch dresses. So grab a mimosa, and let’s chat!
Brunch Dress 101: Things to Consider
Okay, so you’ve got a Saturday morning reservation at your favorite neighborhood spot, and now it’s time to figure out what to wear. Let’s go over a few things to keep in mind when planning the perfect look!
Indoor or Outdoor?
In an ideal world, you’d know ahead of time whether you’ll be dining indoors or outside. But that’s not always the case – especially in a big city like NYC. Sometimes you can note a preference when booking, but when your time slot arrives, you get what you get. That’s why I always like to be prepared for either option. This means bringing an extra layer, throwing on a pair of sunglasses, and never skipping SPF – just in case you end up basking in the sunshine.
Casual or Fancy?
Personally, I’m more of a casual brunch gal – but that doesn’t mean I’m showing up in sweats. I still love wearing cute brunch dresses and fun sandals! I’m just usually not dining somewhere with a strict, formal dress code. For this reason, today I’ll mainly be focusing on casual brunch dressing. But don’t worry – I’ll still share a handful of fancier picks for those of you who are getting gussied up!
What’s on Your Agenda?
Weekends can be non-stop. Some days start with early morning errands before brunch, followed by a hair appointment – or maybe your kid’s soccer game. When I was living full-time in NYC, I always had to think about what else was on my agenda for the day before getting dressed.
This was especially important when it came to choosing the right shoes. Would I be brunching in Soho and walking to the West Village afterward? In that case, comfy sandals or sneakers paired with a great sundress were the only options for me. But if you’re heading home for a relaxing afternoon post-brunch, you can definitely get away with a cute pair of heels—if your heart desires!
The Best Brunch Dresses
Okay now onto the fun part – my top picks for brunch dresses in 2025! While I do love a great matching set, a sweet denim look, or a chic button-down on the weekends, today I’m going to focus on dresses.
A Great Smocked Dress
When it comes to dressing for brunch, I want to feel put together, but I don’t want anything overly fussy. I avoid styles that are too short, too tight, or wrinkle too easily. Enter the Cosima smocked midi dress. The stretchy top is super flattering and works well for a range of bust sizes, and the length is perfect for pairing with flat sandals.
While this style comes in over 10 adorable prints and patterns, I’m currently loving the apple green stripe! I’d pair it with these under-$75 sandals and this eyelet tie-front top, worn open.
A Long-Sleeve Option
Since we’re in a transitional season (and let’s be honest, A/C is always freezing!), I wanted to share a weather-appropriate long-sleeve option to love: a black-and-white tunic dress! This piece is gorgeous and currently on sale. There are endless ways to style it, but I’m envisioning it with these $25 sandals I just bought and love, plus these floral earrings. And if I really had my way, I’d also pair it with this bag I’ve been eyeing from TheRealReal!
Dressy Meets Casual
Okay, okay, I know I talk way too much about this dress, but the Chloe dress is literal perfection. I actually designed this style in collaboration with Tuckernuck in 2023, and it’s been at the top of my brunch dresses list ever since! This style has now returned in countless colors, prints, and patterns. And I’m excited to share that it now also comes in a mini version if you’re not a midi girl!
This belted dress is truly one of the most versatile pieces in my closet. While the cut and fabrication make it slightly more dressy, it can easily be paired with more casual accessories for an ‘on-the-go’ style. Honestly, I’d style it for brunch today exactly the way I styled it in 2023, which you can see here!
The Denim Trend
We are deep in a denim moment right now, and I’ve been spotting denim dresses everywhere. I’ve had my eye on this minimal-yet-interesting style from one of my favorite brands. And now that I’m looking over this list of brunch dresses, I just realized they all happen to be from my most-shopped retailers!
One of the best things about denim dresses is that they feel like a blank canvas – you can style them in a hundred different ways. Brown is also having a moment, and I think this mini would look amazing paired with brown accents. You could wear it with these sleek flats and this raffia bag for a beautiful brunch look. For even more ideas, check out these brown accessories I rounded up for the season!
An Under-$50 Option
I’ve been getting lots of requests for pieces under $50 and $100 this season. I recently put together an under-$100 edit, and I’m committed to sprinkling more affordable finds into each post. A few under $50 brunch dresses I’m currently loving include this smocked dress (especially in the red print), this embroidered mini, and this strappy shift that comes in a stunning blue and white pattern.
The Colorful One
It wouldn’t be a round-up on Atlantic-Pacific without at least one ultra-colorful option. So let me present a very fun rainbow dress that definitely deserves a spot at the brunch table! This stunner would look amazing with these orange shoes that have been sitting in my cart all week. And if you’re keen on this dress, don’t miss the skirt version – it’s just as fabulous!
Brunch Dresses Made for Weekends
If you’re anything like me, the return of brunch season brings pure joy – and I hope these outfit ideas make you even more excited to get dressed for your upcoming weekend plans! As an added bonus, many of these brunch dresses can easily be styled with dressier shoes and accessories for graduation ceremonies or other spring events. For even more styling inspiration, check out my posts on how to wear a button-down, spring dresses under $200, Dorsey jewelry I own and love, and sneakers to wear with dresses.