Including styles straight from the runway.

Words by Halie Lesavage

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Ask a fashion person what makes her excited for autumn, and fall dresses outrank foliage tours and pumpkin spice everything every time. Spring dresses may get more attention for their botanical prints and UV-beckoning cutouts, but fall dresses are more withholding and, therefore, more interesting. Maxi sweater dresses in cream yarn; minidresses in patchwork prints; denim midis in moody florals: These are dresses that invite you to play with layers and accessories to elegant results. (Your most-worn leather boots would agree.)

Even with fall's start more than a fashion month away, the season's best dresses are already sliding onto hangers. Naturally, we're asking which ones are worth shopping now. The first gems on our list come direct from the fall/winter 2022 runways, including Chloé's updated sweater dresses and Ulla Johnson's eternally covetable florals. Then there are dominant fall 2022 trends getting reinterpreted in dress form. Sarah Tam, chief merchant officer at Rent the Runway, tells BAZAAR.com variations on leather (and faux leather) dresses are about to be everywhere. And lest you thought fall would be full of gothic lace and wine-toned velvet, this season has some potential for color play. "Electric hues are stepping in in place of fall's traditionally moody color palette," Tam says. Highlighter shades from Self-Portrait to Valentino back her up.

It's never too early to indulge in a fall dress—and some demand your attention now. Shop 20 fall dresses so good, you'll want to wear them before the season officially starts.