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04 Sep

7 Best Sustainable Party Dresses

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The days of buying a $10 dress just to go clubbing are over. We’ve rounded up 7 more sustainable party dresses so you can dance the night away in ethical style.

We’ve all been there before: you’ve been invited to a cocktail party, a night out clubbing, a dinner party, a beach party, an after-party, an office party… in short, a party. So you stand in front of your wardrobe for an hour, trying to figure out what to wear. You ask around, you ask your friends, you look for a dress code, you try to get a feel for the vibe at the venue. You want to look good and feel good but most importantly, you want to do good. The days of buying a $10 fast fashion dress just to go clubbing are over and you’ve decided to step up your game. Why not rock up in one of these sustainable party dresses, turning heads and starting conversations all at the same time?

We’ve rounded up 7 beautiful and more sustainable party dresses so you can dance the night away in ethical style. These brands have all been rated “Good” or “Great” by our amazing ratings team. So, keep reading to discover our selection of ethical party dresses: short sleeves, long sleeves, ruffled, slip, short, long, black, colourful, fun, formal, sexy, classy, beachy, or cool—whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got you covered.

Mara Hoffman

Rated: Good

Namari dress – Ships internationally from the US

This simple puff sleeve dress, and is made from linen and organic cotton in the USA. Mara Hoffman focuses on mindful and conscious practices and also has a gorgeous extended sizes collection, so you can be sure to find a new wardrobe addition no matter the bod you rock! This sustainable slip dress can be dressed up or down, making it perfect for any kind of party.

See the rating.

Shop Mara Hoffman @ Farfetch.

Shop Mara Hoffman @ Reve en Vert.

Shop Mara Hoffman Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Mara Hoffman.

Whimsy + Row

Rated: Good

Autumn Dress – Ships internationally from the US

Whimsy + Row is an eco-conscious lifestyle brand born out of a love for quality goods and sustainable practices. Since 2014, its mission has been to provide ease and elegance for the modern, sustainable woman. By limiting each garment to short runs, Whimsy + Row utilises deadstock fabric, reduces packaging waste, and takes care of precious water resources. This sustainable puff-sleeved dress is great for this time of year, when seasons are changing and the weather is a bit uncertain but you still want to party. Find most products in XS-XL.

See the rating.

Shop Whimsy + Row.

Shop Whimsy + Row @ Earthkind.

Stella McCartney

Rated: Good
black ethical party dress with gold accent by Stella McCartney via FarFetch

Diana One-Shoulder Cocktail Dress – Ships internationally from the UK

Stand out from the party crowds with this one-shoulder dress, made in Italy. A member of the Ethical Trading Initiative and Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Stella McCartney has set some excellent environmental standards across the luxury fashion industry. Stella uses some eco-friendly materials, including recycled polyester and organic cotton, and has a strategy in place to reduce waste across its entire supply chain. It has also adopted the ETI Code of Conduct that includes a living wage definition!

See the rating.

Shop Stella McCartney @ LVR Sustainable.

Shop Stella McCartney @ Labell-D.

Shop Stella McCartney Kids Pre-Owned @ Retykle.

Shop Stella McCartney Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Stella McCartney.

TAMGA Designs

Rated: Good

Jasper Mini Dress – Ships internationally from Canada

TAMGA Designs is out to prove how colourful and exciting sustainable fashion can be, serving up gorgeous, flowy designs that will glide you into warmer weather with poise and grace. TAMGA offers a range of tops, skirts, dresses, and accessories made from 100% Micro TENCEL®. This gorgeous mini dress comes in three colourways, you can’t go wrong! You can find the full range in sizes XS-2XL.

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Shop TAMGA Designs.

BASTET NOIR

Rated: Good
woman wearing black shiny short dress by bastet noir

Awinita Dress – Ships internationally

BASTET NOIR offers custom-made clothing manufactured by women in Macedonia, ensuring that every purchase contributes to the welfare and education of these women and their children.

Find most items in sizes 36-42, or in custom sizing.

See the rating.

Shop BASTET NOIR.

Reformation

Rated: Good

Pre-Owned Party Dresses by Reformation – Ships internationally

LA-based Reformation creates killer clothes that don’t kill the environment. The brand ensures that a proportion of its suppliers pay a living wage, and provides training to its suppliers to improve working conditions for workers in its supply chain.

Its range is available in sizes XS-3XL.

See the rating.

Shop Reformation @ LVRSustainable.

Shop Reformation Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Shop Reformation @ Farfetch.

Shop Reformation.

Faithfull the Brand (Pre-Owned)

Rated: It's A Start

Faithfull the Brand is an Indonesia-based collection of effortless pieces designed to be versatile and easy, made with the modern traveller in mind. The brand rates 'Good' on the labour and animal welfare fronts, but still needs to use better materials and reduce textile waste. By buying Faithfull the Brand second hand you're helping keep clothes out of landfills.

See the rating.

Shop Faithfull the Brand Pre-Owned @ Vestiaire Collective.

Check out our other sustainable night out outfit inspos.

Another great sustainable option for event outfits like party dresses is to rent your outfit for the night! If you’re in Australia, GlamCorner is our go-to rental site with tons of gorgeous dresses to dance the night away in. For an international option, check out Rent The Runway

Editor's note

Feature image via Mara Hoffman, all other images via brands mentioned. Good On You publishes the world's most comprehensive ratings of fashion brands’ impact on people, the planet and animals. Use our directory to search thousands of rated brands.

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