I Already Found My Valentine's Day Dress, but These 8 Were Strong Contenders

Valentine’s Day is my favorite holiday of the year, and though it’s only one day, I use the whole month of February to spread love and appreciation to those around me. I host an annual Galentine’s Day brunch to bring all my friends together to let them know how much they’re loved. I also go out to dinner with my boyfriend to celebrate the love and growth in our relationship, and then another dinner with my mom and sisters to express our gratitude for each other as a unified support system. And this doesn’t even include all of the smaller get-togethers with loved ones sprinkled in throughout the month. 

With that said, I needed a versatile special occasion dress to wear to multiple Valentine’s Day events. I scoured everywhere — from Nordstrom to Saks Fifth Avenue to Amazon — in pursuit of one perfect dress that I could get multiple wears out of while turning heads. Though I already landed on a dress, I also fell in love with these eight top contenders from Reformation, Free People, House of CB, and more, starting at $30 — and I plan on going back for a few simply because I can’t resist how stunning they are. 

8 Versatile Valentine’s Day Dresses:

• Beagimeg Ruched Long-Sleeve Midi Dress, $30; amazon.com
• Fixmatti Belted Wrap-Knit Dress, $33 with coupon (Originally $53); amazon.com
• Gokatosau Ruched Off-the-Shoulder Mini Dress, $39 (Originally $46); amazon.com
• Houstil Halter-Neck Fishtail Bodycon Dress, $67 with coupon (Originally $70); amazon.com
• Free People for the Moment Ruched Cotton V-Neck Minidress, $88; saksfifthavenue.com
• Amanda Uprichard Shiran Silk Midi-Dress, $127 (Originally $282); saksfifthavenue.com
• Reformation Nelle Organic Cotton-Blend Body-Con Dress, $178; nordstrom.com
• House of CB Charmaine Corset Dress, $285; nordstrom.com

Fixmatti Belted Wrap-Knit Dress

The Fixmatti Belted Wrap-Knit Dress was my go-to holiday dress, being great for everyday wear and super easy to dress up with a pair of knee-high boots or strappy heels. While this didn’t make the cut for my Valentine’s Day plans, it was a strong contender, and I strongly suggest everyone pick up this style before the 30-percent-off coupon expires. The faux wrap dress comes in 11 colors, including red, purple, black, white, and beige, and sizes S through XL. The body-hugging design features a wide V-neckline that can be styled off the shoulder and a decorative belt for extra cinching at the waist. It also has an open back, full sleeves, two side seam slits, and a midi length that falls at the mid-calf. 

House of CB Charmaine Corset Dress

When I think of the perfect Valentine’s Day dress, I imagine a corset and, of course, a heart-shaped neckline, so when I came across this House of CB Charmaine Corset Dress, I was crushed that I had already found my dress for dinner. The dress comes in eight colors, such as red, black, pink, white, and brown, plus sizes XS through XL. It features a corset-style boned bodice with draping at the bra cups and adjustable straps for a more secure, custom fit. There’s a zipper closure at the back for easy on and off, plus the skirt is fully lined and falls right at the ankle. 

Gokatosau Ruched Off-The-Shoulder Mini Dress

I’m still considering adding Gokatosau’s Ruched Off-the-Shoulder Mini Dress to my repertoire because I think baring your decollete is such a chic but modest way to give off sex-appeal. It also has longer sleeves, which will keep you warm. The dress comes in 13 colors including red, pink, blue, green, and black, and sizes S through XL. The knee-length dress has an easy slip-on design with lots of stretch and features a ruched mesh overlay with an opaque bodycon dress underneath. 

Shop more of my Valentine’s Day dress picks, below.

Beagimeg Ruched Long-Sleeve Midi Dress

Free People for the Moment Ruched Cotton V-Neck Minidress

Reformation Nelle Organic Cotton-Blend Body-Con Dress