9 favorite black-and-white dresses for girls this fall

This summer’s hot black-and-white trend (remember the cool swimsuits we found from Nununu and Marimekko?) is still going strong this fall. So we pulled together our favorite black-and-white fall dresses for girls — from twirly styles to sporty pieces they can wear on the playground, to modern styles for parties or school plays. Is it too much to buy them all?

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I love to find dresses that give my daughter a sense of style but still let her act like the kid she is on the playground, and this terry A-line dress by Cat & Jack at Target is perfect for both. It’s comfortable and cute, plus Cat & Jack is made to last. If it doesn’t hold up to the monkey bars, you can return it up to 1 year after your purchase (just keep the receipt).

I think this simple black-and-white dress with heart print at LOUD apparel would look adorable over black leggings or jeans with ballet flats. Then again, you could go with an edgier look, with moto boots or a leather jacket, if that’s more your kid’s style.

For those kids who don’t want to look like little girls but still love to twirl, this star dress from Nununu, one of our very favorite kids’ indie clothing labels, is so fantastic! It’s modern enough to pair with Docs but sweet enough to wear with mary janes.Perfect for dancing, swinging, or sitting in class at school. And their fabrics hold up beautifully through many (many, many) washes, as our kids could attest.

I love the flowy, boho vibe I’m getting from this drapey print dress from Gap. It think it looks adorable over skinny jeans or leggings, or just on its own with a cute pair of high boots. Braided hair is optional.

For more traditional girls, the cotton boatneck dress from Garnet Hill is a more fun, energetic play on black, white, and grey for this fall, and admittedly a little more hip than what I’d have expected from the brand. (Actually it looks kind of Hanna Andersson, doesn’t it?) I love to keep a cute, simple cotton dress in my daughter’s wardrobe, because she feels like she’s in her “comfy clothes” even when she’s dressing up.

If you have a reason to dress up a little fancier — a night at the theatre or the daddy-daughter dance at school — this girls shift dress with zippers from J. Crew is a great look. Plus, pockets! I just wish they had it in my size too.

For those girls who like a little edge, I love the faux leather Sierra girls shift dress from Appaman from Appaman (also at very top, left). The poly fabric has a sheen to it that makes it look so cool, without having the weight or heat of a faux leather. Perfect for our girls who have a bold sense of style. Imagine it layered with a textured dress or even paired with a moto-style jean jacket. Fun!

The ’80s are sort of alive and well in this splatter print dress at H&M (also at very top, right) which takes the neon splatter patterns of our misspent new wave youth and makes them fresh for the 2000’s, in black and white on a modern, a-line shape. This girls dress is also one of those perfect, comfy everyday dresses that can easily go from playground to dinner with Nana.

I’m still really partial to the simple and flattering skater style dress which is definitely still in style, and this fun black-and-white striped dress from Soprano blends two cool trends that are big right now. It’s a great pick for those cooler fall days when you don’t yet need a coat, but maybe tuck a cardi or jeans jacket into a backpack just in case. I’d pair it with ballet flats for a fancier look, or a cool pair of metallic Chuck Taylors for everyday wear.