A cut out dress lives or dies on placement. Done well, the openings sit where the body actually curves, a waist seam, a lower back, a hip bone, so the eye reads shape rather than skin. Done badly, the cut outs feel arbitrary, a hole for the sake of a hole, and the dress ends up looking unfinished rather than considered. The good ones are engineered around the gap, with binding or a fold of fabric that keeps the edge from curling or gaping when you move, and a lining or structure elsewhere in the dress that stops the whole thing feeling flimsy. Jersey and crepe tend to behave best here, since they hold a clean edge without needing boning or heavy interfacing, though a stiffer cotton or satin can work if the panel around the cut out is stabilised properly.
Fit matters more than usual with this category, because there’s less fabric doing the work of disguising anything.
The waist opening should sit at the narrowest part of the torso, not somewhere that pulls when seated, and side cut outs need checking in a full range of movement, arms up, walking, sitting down, not just standing still in front of a mirror. Necklines and hemlines around the gap should lie flat against the skin rather than pucker, which is usually a good sign the pattern cutting was done with the opening in mind from the start rather than sliced into an existing shape.
Styling is straightforward if you resist overcomplicating it.
These dresses want minimal layering, since anything piled on top defeats the point of the openings, so a good coat left open rather than a cardigan buttoned over the top, and jewellery kept to one strong piece rather than several competing ones. Shoes can carry more personality than usual, a sharp heel or a boot, because the eye is already occupied elsewhere.
Occasion wise, this is evening wear rather than daytime, built for the kind of night where you’re not doing much sitting or where the room is warm enough that a coat comes off early. Dinners, parties, anything with music and standing around works better than anything requiring a desk or a car seat for long stretches, where a hem or a hip opening will start to feel like a design flaw rather than a feature.
Top Picks
RILEY’S PICK
EGO (US & CA)Bandeau Keyhole Cut Out Ring Trim Detail Maxi Dress In Multi Stripe, Women's Size US
$37.00 EGO (US & CA)
MADISON’S PICK
HARVEY NICHOLS USJoseph Hills Cut-out Crepe Midi Dress - Dark Pink - 38 (UK10 / S)
$701.97 HARVEY NICHOLS US
CLAIRE’S PICK
SELDOM SEEN STYLESArrietty Flower Draped Skirt SetWomen's Pink Cut Out Maxi Dress Flower Detail High Split Vacation Party Dress Set
$44.00 SELDOM SEEN STYLES
MORGAN’S PICK
EGO (US & CA)Bandeau Cut Out Ruched Gold Trim Mini Dress In Burgundy, Women's Size US
$41.00 EGO (US & CA)
CASEY’S PICK
BANANA REPUBLICLinen Halter Cut-Out Mini Dress $149.90
$44.97 BANANA REPUBLIC
DAILY SALE, INC.Women‘s Split Cut Out Midi Dress
$28.00 DAILY SALE, INC.
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDElegant Lace V-neck A Line Cut Out Tulle Prom Dress
$189.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
HARVEY NICHOLS USSimkhai Katharine Embellished Cut-out Mini Dress - Black
$837.21 HARVEY NICHOLS US
EGO (US & CA)High Neck One Shoulder Cut Out Front Mini Dress In Black, Women's Size US
$45.00 EGO (US & CA)
THE LUXURY CLOSETDavid Koma Neon Green Rib Knit Midi Cut-Out Midi Dress
$186.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
HARVEY NICHOLS USFrame Cut-out Ribbed-knit Midi Dress - Pink
$476.56 HARVEY NICHOLS US
EGO (US & CA)Bandeau Keyhole Cut Out Ring Trim Detail Maxi Dress In Multi Stripe, Women's Size US
$37.00 EGO (US & CA)
W CONCEPT (US)A3498 Cut Out dress
$133.00 W CONCEPT (US)
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDChicSew Sexy Cut Out Lace A-line Gown Corset Party Prom Dress
$179.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
EGO (US & CA)Bandeau Cut Out Ruched Gold Trim Mini Dress In Burgundy, Women's Size US
$41.00 EGO (US & CA)
ZEAGOOFlowy Cut Out Halter Neck Long Dress 3D Flower Chiffon Ruffle Frill Trim Puffy Swing Dress - Blue / L(8-10)
$45.99 ZEAGOO
FARMRIOWhite Malu Winter Cut-Out Long Sleeve Maxi Dress, MALU WINTER WHITE
$398.00 FARMRIO
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDClassy Sweetheart Cut Out Lace Prom Dress Sleeveless A-Line Tulle Formal Party Gown - dark-green
$199.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
THE LUXURY CLOSETAlemais Multicolour Lemonis Print Cut Out Mini Dress
$284.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
HARVEY NICHOLS USJoseph Hills Cut-out Crepe Midi Dress - Dark Pink - 38 (UK10 / S)
$701.97 HARVEY NICHOLS US
FARMRIOMulticolor Tropical Painting Cut-Out Buckles Maxi Dress, TROPICAL PAINTING MULTICOLOR
$298.00 FARMRIO
FARMRIOMulticolor Delicate Forest Cut-Out Maxi Dress, DELICATE FOREST MULTICOLOR
$360.00 FARMRIO
SELDOM SEEN STYLESWomen's Halter Bodycon Mini Dress Cut Out Backless Ruched Party Club Dress
$39.00 SELDOM SEEN STYLES
W CONCEPT (US)Double Neck Cut-Out Dress [Black]
$240.00 W CONCEPT (US)
SELDOM SEEN STYLESWomen's Color Block Mini Dress Backless Spaghetti Strap Cut Out Party Dress
$28.98 SELDOM SEEN STYLES
CERQULARLong Cut-Out Satin Dress | Taglia:
$290.00 CERQULAR
SELDOM SEEN STYLESArrietty Flower Draped Skirt SetWomen's Pink Cut Out Maxi Dress Flower Detail High Split Vacation Party Dress Set
$44.00 SELDOM SEEN STYLES
GODDIVACity Goddess Cut Out Ruched Bodycon Midi Dress
$28.00 GODDIVA
−70%
BANANA REPUBLICLinen Halter Cut-Out Mini Dress$149.90
$44.97 BANANA REPUBLIC
−30%
SUPERDRY (US)Superdry Women's Women's Cut Out Midi Dress Green / Tropical Green$99.94
$69.96 SUPERDRY (US)
![Double Neck Cut-Out Dress [Black]](https://images2.productserve.com/?w=200&h=200&bg=white&trim=5&t=letterbox&url=ssl%3Acdn.wconcept.com%2Fproducts%2F7205040%2F82%2F720504082_1.jpg&feedId=21675&k=72f854f1a933f455726182a779611d28b486b4db)
