I used to think cut out dresses were a young person’s game, the kind of thing you wear once at twenty three and then quietly retire when you realise you spent the whole night adjusting a waist panel instead of dancing. Wrong opinion, held for years, and I’m only admitting it now because blue changed my mind. There’s something about a blue cut out dress that reads considered rather than try hard, the shade does half the styling work before you’ve even picked shoes.
The good ones are about placement, not exposure. A cut out at the waist or the back gives you a bit of shape and a lot of confidence without turning the dress into a puzzle you have to solve every time you sit down. Look for a heavier crepe or a jersey with proper weight to it, the cheap satin versions crease if you so much as glance at them and the cut outs gape in a way that stops being flattering and starts being a hazard.
Blue in particular wants a fabric with some body, a flat matte cotton or a substantial jersey holds the colour properly instead of letting it go washed out under lights.
Styling one is less complicated than the shape suggests. Bare skin at the cut out means you can go quite plain everywhere else, a simple gold hoop, a slim heel, maybe a jacket you can sling over your shoulders rather than actually wear, because these dresses were never designed to be layered under things. A structured blazer half on works for dinner, nothing at all works for later. Sandals in a neutral keep it evening appropriate, a boot pushes it towards something you’d wear to a gig, which is a completely different and equally good outfit.
Occasion wise this is a going out dress, properly going out, not a lunch dress that’s wandered in by mistake. Birthdays, a wedding evening reception, the kind of dinner where you’ve already decided you’re not getting the bus home. It photographs well because the cut out catches light in a way flat fabric doesn’t, which sounds vain but is exactly why you’ll actually wear it twice, not once. The trick is choosing one where the cut out sits somewhere you won’t spend the night thinking about, hip, waist, low back, and then genuinely forgetting it’s there.
Top Picks
BLUE CUT OUT DRESSHARVEY NICHOLS USNafsika Skourti Carla Cut-out Satin Dress - Light Blue
$985.33 HARVEY NICHOLS US
BLUE CUT OUT DRESSEGO (US & CA)Strappy Twist Front Detail Cut Out Maxi Dress In Blue Mesh, Women's Size US
$23.00 EGO (US & CA)
BLUE CUT OUT DRESSW CONCEPT (US)Neck Cut-Out Shirring Dress, Sky Blue
$240.00 W CONCEPT (US)
FARMRIOLight Blue Spring Affair Cut-Out Mini Dress, SPRING AFFAIR LIGHT BLUE
$248.00 FARMRIO
THE LUXURY CLOSETEt Ochs Blue Stretch Jersey One Shoulder Cut Out Midi Dress
$314.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
FARMRIODark Blue Cut-Out Short Sleeve Maxi Dress, DARK BLUE
$170.00 FARMRIO
GODDIVAGoddiva Cut Out Ruched Bodycon Midi Dress
$28.00 GODDIVA
ZEAGOOFlowy Cut Out Halter Neck Long Dress 3D Flower Chiffon Ruffle Frill Trim Puffy Swing Dress - Blue / L(8-10)
$45.99 ZEAGOO
THE LUXURY CLOSETFendi Blue Silk Blend Waist Cut-Out Jacket Dress
$666.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
THE LUXURY CLOSETSelf-Portrait Blue Embellished Jersey Cut Out Mini Dress
$248.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
THE LUXURY CLOSETJacquemus Navy Blue Linen Blend Cut-Out La Veste Arles Dress
$357.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
THE LUXURY CLOSETAje Blue Linen Blend Wave Cut Out Midi Dress
$229.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
HARVEY NICHOLS USNafsika Skourti Carla Cut-out Satin Dress - Light Blue
$985.33 HARVEY NICHOLS US
EGO (US & CA)Strappy Cut Out Maxi Dress In Blue Abstract Print Satin, Women's Size US
$29.00 EGO (US & CA)
RENT THE RUNWAYMarissa Webb x RTR Cut Out Tiered Dress Blue-green-print
$56.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
RENT THE RUNWAYWeworewhat Cut Out Mini Dress Blue-cream-print
$104.00 RENT THE RUNWAY
THE WEBSTERCut Out Dress Light Blue
$890.00 THE WEBSTER
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDElegant Lace Bodice Satin A-Line Cut out Corset Gown Sexy High Slit Formal Evening Dress - royal-blue
$157.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
THE LUXURY CLOSETMaje Blue Paisley Print Citton Cut-Out Asymmetric Midi Dress
$138.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
EGO (US & CA)Strappy Twist Front Detail Cut Out Maxi Dress In Blue Mesh, Women's Size US
$23.00 EGO (US & CA)
THE LUXURY CLOSETAlice + Olivia Blue Floral Print Georgette Cheney Cut Out Maxi Dress
$188.00 THE LUXURY CLOSET
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDUnique 3D Floral Lace Corset Cut Out Sweetheart rom Dress Illusion Bodice Satin Mermaid Gown - royal-blue
$141.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
EGO (US & CA)Off The Shoulder Cut Out Detail Mini Dress In Blue Sequin Mesh, Women's Size US
$47.00 EGO (US & CA)
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDElegant Lace Bodice Satin A-Line Cut out Corset Gown Sexy High Slit Formal Evening Dress - blue
$157.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDClassy Sweetheart Cut Out Lace Prom Dress Sleeveless A-Line Tulle Formal Party Gown - blue
$175.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDClassy Sweetheart Cut Out Lace Prom Dress Sleeveless A-Line Tulle Formal Party Gown - light-blue
$175.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
W CONCEPT (US)Neck Cut-Out Shirring Dress, Sky Blue
$240.00 W CONCEPT (US)
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDUnique 3D Floral Lace Corset Cut Out Sweetheart rom Dress Illusion Bodice Satin Mermaid Gown - blue
$141.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDElegant Lace Bodice Satin A-Line Cut out Corset Gown Sexy High Slit Formal Evening Dress - light-blue
$157.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITEDClassy Sweetheart Cut Out Lace Prom Dress Sleeveless A-Line Tulle Formal Party Gown - royal-blue
$175.99 CHICSEW TRADING CO., LIMITED
−60%
CALVIN KLEINCalvin Klein Women's Cut Out Denim Mini Dress - Blue$119.90
$47.96 CALVIN KLEIN
−35%
ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)Monstera Halter Cut-Out Mini Dress$138.38
$89.95 ANTHROPOLOGIE (US)
