National Dress Day

National Dress Day is celebrated every year on March 6. It was established in 2016 by fashion designer Ashley Lauren Kerr, founder of the ASHLEYlauren dress line.

The day is about the emotional connection people have with their clothes. It is an invitation to reflect on the dresses that marked milestone moments like a prom night, a wedding, a first date or a job interview. It also celebrates the confidence that comes with finding the right dress and encourages people to share the stories behind their most memorable ones.

👗 National Dress Day

Six Surprising Facts About the Dress

01
The World’s Oldest Dress The Tarkhan Dress, found in an Egyptian tomb, is over 5,000 years old. Made of woven linen with pleating on the sleeves and neck, it proves that high fashion is nearly as old as civilization itself.
02
Dresses Were Not Always Feminine For most of human history, men wore dress-like garments — tunics, togas, robes. Tailored trousers only became standard for men in the West during the Middle Ages. Even then, young boys commonly wore dresses until the age of six or seven, a practice called “breeching” that lasted into the early 20th century.
03
The Pink Rule is Newer Than You Think Before the 1940s, pink was often considered masculine — a stronger shade of red — while blue was seen as delicate and suitable for girls. The gender-coding of pink for girls only became a marketing standard after World War II.
04
The Little Black Dress Revolution Before Coco Chanel published a short, simple black dress in Vogue in 1926, black was strictly reserved for mourning. Chanel transformed it into a symbol of chic accessibility — famously dubbed the “Ford” of dresses because it was available to all classes.
05
A Billion-Dollar Industry The average U.S. bride spends about $1,900 on a wedding dress, yet the global wedding dress market is projected to reach nearly $80 billion by 2030. The most expensive dress ever made — the “Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur” — is valued at $30 million and features 751 diamonds.
06
The Hemline Index In 1926, economist George Taylor proposed that skirt lengths fluctuate with the economy. Hemlines rise during booms and drop during recessions — the theory being that women in harder times couldn’t afford expensive stockings and opted for longer skirts to cover up.

How People Celebrate

National Dress Day is a perfect excuse to celebrate the dresses that captured your favorite memories. Here are some ways to mark the day.

Treat yourself to a new dress that makes you feel confident and like yourself.

Or go the other way and revisit the ones you already love. Dig through your closet or flip through old photos to remember the dresses that marked special moments.

If you feel like sharing, post your favorite look on social media using #NationalDressDay.

And if you want to go a little deeper, it’s a great day to explore how dresses have evolved through history, from ancient tunics and medieval robes to the styles we wear today.

👗 National Dress Day

Upcoming Dates

A reminder to celebrate the memories tied to your favorite dresses and to embrace the joy of fashion. Celebrated every year on March 6th — here are the dates to plan ahead.