Let’s get one thing clear: A girl’s best friend isn’t diamonds; it’s a dress with pockets. We’re often deprived of pockets (like, we don’t want pocketless jeans, okay?), so finding a dress with some extra storage is one of life’s simple pleasures. And since they can still be hard to come by, we did some internet sleuthing so you don’t have to. From casual dresses with pockets to ones appropriate for the office and others you can add to your wedding guest dress line-up, we’ve rounded up our favorites.
Scroll on to find a mix of casual mini and trendy midi dresses as well as formal maxi and glamorous gowns that got the pocket treatment. Cart them up ASAP to build your fall dress wardrobe and enjoy the privilege of storing your lip balm and phone somewhere other than your handbag.
Casual Dresses with Pockets
What do we mean by a casual dress, exactly? Well, anything you’d want to wear on the day-to-day to lounge around in, run errands in, or take hot girl walks in. We’ve found a range of sweater dresses and denim dresses with decorative pocket details, lightweight mini and midi dresses with pockets, and workout dresses with hidden pockets on the undershorts. So whether you’re looking for large-and-in-charge pockets or ones that are delightfully hidden, we’ve got you covered.
Dresses With Pockets For Work
Fall puts us in the back-to-school or back-to-work mood, so it’s time to get well-dressed for the office again. Dresses with pockets are ideal because you’re not typically walking around the office with your work bag in hand, so keeping your mini essentials on hand (aka in pocket) is super-helpful. Find a mix of business-casual styles and more formal, fashionable ones to upgrade your wardrobe.
Formal Dresses With Pockets
There’s very little that’s more exciting than finding a formal dress with pockets in it. It’s a fun little surprise that never fails to get compliments. Whether it’s a mini party dress or a gala-ready gown, pockets are especially a godsend when you don’t want to carry a large purse (or just don’t know what to do with your hands at social gatherings).
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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Every milestone is worth celebrating, no matter how big or small. That’s why we partnered with Shane Co., purveyors of timeless fine jewelry, to highlight the unique stories of those celebrating special life moments. Whether they found success in following their passions or are embarking on the next chapter of their journey, we’ll learn how these individuals are commemorating each milestone — and the role their jewelry can play in marking these significant events. Ahead, a former marketing consultant shares her journey of returning to her roots and finally pursuing her creative dreams at age 30.
When Jess Tran, a multi-hyphenate creative from Sydney, Australia, decided to move across the globe to New York City a decade ago, it was on a whim. “I followed a boy I met at a music festival at age 20,” she says. “I thought, You know what, I want to move to New York. I love this guy. What’s the worst that could happen?”
However impulsive a decision it may have been, she had a very specific plan for her future in mind: She would pursue a career in marketing and climb the ranks of corporate America — something that, as a child of immigrant refugee parents from Vietnam (and as such, was raised with a scarcity mindset), felt like the “safe” route she needed to take in order to be financially stable. And then, once she turned 30, she and her partner would wrap up their life in America and return to Australia, where she’d move on to the next chapter of her life: motherhood. She had it all figured out…or so she thought.
All went according to plan for the first seven years or so, until a series of events catalyzed a complete and total life shift. First, the pandemic left her jobless and unceremoniously cast out of the corporate world. So, she pivoted into opening her own marketing agency to take a more entrepreneurial approach to her work — “a natural next step,” she says. Then, her relationship of eight years ended.
Through the inner work and therapy she leaned on to help navigate her breakup, it suddenly hit her that she had veered off her true path years ago, and with 30 quickly approaching, she needed to course-correct. “It was a very symbolic moment for me,” she says. “The dissolution of this relationship, combined with choosing a ‘stable’ career over one I was passionate about, helped me see that I was never on the path I wanted to be on all along.”
Rather than leaving America as part of a couple, she turned 30 in New York alone and closed her business to answer a different calling, one she can trace back to age 13: writing and photography. After coming across old teenage journals proclaiming her creative passions, she realized that she had always been this person, “but I had been suppressing it my entire life because I didn’t have the confidence or the language to identify myself as such,” she says. “I didn’t understand that Asian, immigrant-born people could pursue these paths. Today’s TikTok generation has access to people all over the world, but I didn’t have Asian role models or references growing up.”
All that’s to say, this new chapter of her life is not so much a pivot as it is a return to her roots — and in more ways than one.
Now balancing commercial photography with freelance brand consulting, Tran has the time to focus on a new body of work that’s deeply personal: a portrait series and a book, both of which explore immigration — specifically, the relationship between children of immigrants and their parents, and the behavioral patterns that can stem from their upbringing. “We tend to not have a sense or understanding of where we come from due to a communication gap with our parents; there’s this cultural divide,” she explains.
Undoubtedly, there’s a sense of fear in giving up the stability of your “money” job for your creative dreams — there’s less structure, there’s no formulaic plan to follow. But if there’s one thing Tran has learned through this process, it’s that money isn’t everything, and it’s never too late to pursue the things that mean the most.
“I think many people in their 30s have this anxiety of being ‘too old’ to find success or feeling in competition with younger people — especially thanks to social media and these arbitrary ‘30 under 30’ lists,” she says. “These very binary perspectives of what success looks like exclude 90% of people’s actual life paths. We should celebrate using wisdom, time, and age to understand that we can change directions and do what we actually want. As long as we’re doing something that matters to us and feels like we’re tapping into whatever unique skill we’ve been put on earth for, then age doesn’t matter at all.”
For this reason, Tran’s 30th birthday was especially symbolic — a marker of this major life shift and the knowledge and wisdom that came with it. And to commemorate it, she knew she wanted to gift herself something special. “When you buy some sort of object to celebrate yourself, you’re imbuing it with a specific meaning, and that symbolism has always been important to me in marking moments of my life,” she says.
For her, that was a pair of Shane Co. threader earrings featuring pear-drop amethysts — a stone that symbolizes clarity, decision-making, and inspiration, which not only represents the journey that got her to where she is today, but all she hopes to bring into her artistic practice over the next decade.
“For the first time in my life, I believe in myself in a way that I feel deep, deep down in my core, and I don’t think any of the women in my family have ever been able to reach this state,” she says. “I’m now acting from this feeling of self-belief that took my entire life thus far to reach. Life is so long — you’re allowed to make mistakes, and you’re allowed to rebrand yourself — and I’m just so excited by all the possibilities.”
Somehow, we looked up from our phones and realized that suddenly, it was fall. And if you’re in need of some seasonal fashion inspo while you retire your tiniest tank tops in favor of the cozy szn sweaters stuffed in the back of your closet, we’ve got you covered. R29’s squad of savvy shopping editors recently combed reader-favorite destination Free People for the fall pieces on our wishlists (yes, this is our job — and yes, we have fun with it!), and are sharing them below for your shopping delight.
This fall, Free People has delivered everything from statement-making denim silhouettes to prep-school-meets-downtown separates, oversized sweaters, and much more. (But don’t worry: Signature FP motifs like flowy dresses and lace detailing haven’t gone anywhere.) Whether you’re in search of some new denim, a fleece jacket for transitional weather, or a fall-ready dress, we’ve got it all (and more) below. Keep scrolling to peruse 14 seasonally-appropriate outfit-makers we plan on wearing nonstop as the leaves turn color and we listen to Taylor Swift’s “cardigan” on repeat.
“I own far too many light-wash jeans, and while I love them, they don’t feel suitable for the fall or winter, when want to wear darker colors. So I’m in the market for a pair of dark-wash jeans, and I’m loving these We The Free ones, especially in the Dark Romance option, as a style I’ll be able to wear nonstop. I also solely wear high-waisted jeans, so these are really the perfect pair for me.” — Victoria Montalti, Associate Affiliate Writer
“I actually was influenced to get this dress from an editor friend of mine who has it in blush pink — hi, Bianca! — and was immediately smitten. It’s romantic and feminine, but not super girly-girl. This dress has so many delicate features I adore: The button-front keyhole neckline, the fluttery cap sleeves, and the asymmetrical high-low midi length. It all works. I’m planning on wearing her to a rehearsal dinner for an upcoming fall wedding, and cannot wait to pair it with a leather jacket for a touch of edge.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
“I love the way the model styled this slouchy pullover on-site — aka you may see me popping a cropped button-up beneath the cozy knit and rocking a denim skirt. It reminds me of my early-2010s academia days, which I’d love to dive back into. I’ll be wearing it to my most Christian Girl Fall activities: apple picking, long walks, and cafes.” — Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Affiliate Writer
“I LOVE baggy denim, especially during transitional fall weather when you can dress them with tiny tanks and tees during warmer days, then chunky knits and ankle boots as it gets chillier. We all know that the ‘barrel’ silhouette has been everywhere this season, and this pair from We The Free seems like the perfect way to try out the trend without breaking the bank — they’re under $100!” — Kate Spencer, Sr. Affiliate Partnerships Manager
“I’ve very recently started incorporating mini skirts and skorts into my wardrobe, so I’m really intrigued by this mini skirt set. The two-in-one set is versatile in that I can wear the pieces together or separately for tons of different looks. I can see myself layering it with long coats, with or without tights, and with sneakers or knee-high boots for a totally ‘it-girl’ look.” — Victoria Montalti, Associate Affiliate Writer
“As a perpetual winter of our discontent kind of gal, I’ve never once been sad about summer ending, and instead I am celebrating the onset of fall and the return of any and all opportunities to wear the warmest, coziest clothing possible. Enter: this Free People faux fur jacket, which gives Kate Hudson in Almost Famous vibes and feels as easy to wear with a pair of leggings and some boots as a slip dress and some polished flats.” — Sarah Crow, Affiliate Director
“My Ziggy Denim Overalls is my favorite piece from Free People, and it’s no shocker to FP fans, as the style has 4.6 stars with nearly 600 reviews. As someone who is 5’5” with a long torso, I’ve always had difficulty finding overalls that didn’t give me a wedgie. However, these overalls changed the game. They’re comfy, don’t bunch up awkwardly, and are easy to throw on top of a tank, T-shirt, or long sleeve when you don’t want to shimmy into some tight jeans. Although the site states that it’s rigid denim, I found the overalls to be soft with a perfect relaxed-fit slouch, which I loved.” – Vivien Lee, Affiliate Fashion Writer
“I love wearing flares because of the slight sass it gives with each step. I’m too shy to attempt a full-on-blown flare, but a tiny one like these Free People jeans is manageable. Also, I love wearing heeled booties for that powerful click-clack during the fall, and this cropped style will allow me to effortlessly show off my new pair. Interestingly, there aren’t any buttons or zippers on these jeans, but one thing for sure is that the pull-on fit will be super convenient for those days when I’m running late.” – Vivien Lee, Affiliate Fashion Writer
“I’m still committed to wearing some of my favorite slip dresses and going out tops well into the fall, and this layering piece will be my secret weapon to make these outfits more appropriate for colder temperatures. The lace fabric has such a delicate and elegant feel to it, and I love that it comes in a huge array of colors. I’m partial to the dusky gray Black Sand colorway – it would look so chic layered underneath a black satin blazer (with a lace bra peeking through), or a festive velvet dress.” — Venus Wong, Senior Travel Writer
“As a petite gal, I’ve found flares pretty intimidating — but trust me, there’s nothing a good tailor can’t fix. This fall, I can’t wait to rock these bell bottoms from We The Free. The front-leg seam and button fly are giving rocker-chic, and I’m especially into this washed black colorway. It’ll look so cool with everything from a basic white tee to a dressier top.” — Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
“This fleece always gets heavy rotation in my wardrobe every fall and well into winter. It’s kind of a jacket-fleece combo that reads more like cool, boxy outerwear. I pair it with denim and a funky shoe just as much as I wear it to and from a workout class.” — Kate Spencer, Sr. Affiliate Partnerships Manager
“I ordered this oversized cardigan since it gave off really irresistible coastal grandma vibes. Every person who has bought it looks so good in it, based on all the try-on photos I spotted in the reviews. Many shoppers have sung praises about the snuggly knit fabrication and the slouchy fit that looks effortless without overwhelming the body. I got the almond color, which feels so autumnal, and I can’t wait to swaddle myself in this with a book and a cup of cinnamon chai latte.” — Venus Wong, Senior Travel Writer
“I’m in need of a good jean overhaul— every pair in my drawer is ill-fitting, too high, and not wide enough. These Major Leagues jeans in Envy wash give utility pants vibes without looking too hardcore. I’m also somehow channeling all-american bitch energy à la Miss Olivia Rodrigo when wearing these. If you’re a cute 5’6 like me, they fit almost perfectly rolled down and paired with this season’s hottest shoe… the ballet flat. Now, someone please take me out to a nice but reasonably priced dinner!” — Clare Palo, Senior Strategist, Audience Development
“As someone who breaks my ankles with shocking regularity, I’m loving the return of low-to-the-ground shoes like ballet flats. This sparkly gold pair is the perfect addition to an otherwise basic outfit, giving just the right amount of polish to jeans and a sweater without forcing me to do anything annoying, like actually trying to look nice.” — Sarah Crow, Affiliate Director
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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