Red Dresses Under 50 Dollars

You'd have to feel about a thousand percent cuter immediately after donning this retro-inspired little red dress. (Or LRD. I just made that up.) ModCloth, $49.99.

You don't usually think of the word "ladylike" when you think of red dresses, but this v-necked, pleated chiffon dress is definitely that. It neatly toes the line between prim and sexy, so you don't have to worry about looking either like an extra on "Little House on the Prairie" or like you're on your way to a sleazy disco, circa 1979. Comes in Hazard Orange (which is really red) and Navy. Old Navy, $34.94.

There are few garments more flattering that the wrap dress. It pretty much manufactures a waist where perhaps none was before. It's also super comfy, which is my favorite. Comes in Crimson and Clover (i.e. red) and Black Jack. Old Navy, $29.94.

What looks like a basic, boring dress on the hanger turns into something else entirely on your bod. (A good something else entirely. Think a cross between a wiggle dress and classic office wear.) Comes in Zen Red and Black. Target, $29.99.

The ruffle trend of the few years has largely left me cold, I'll admit, but I like this subdued ruffled basic dress. It's cheap, functional, and is a bright basic for your wardrobe. Comes in Amaryllis Red and Blue Danube. Old Navy, $19.50.

Words cannot describe how much I love this dress. This dress is like a time machine, made out fabric, only instead of taking you back to a real time, it takes you back to an entirely made up time featuring all of the good things about Ye Olden Days and none of the bad. Basically, this frock is "Mad Men" without the crying. ModCloth, $47.99.

It warms my icy cold heart to see cool clothes like this red-hot dress at JCPenney, primary clothes supplier of my youth. I can assure you that there were no swanky ruched dresses there when I was a wee bargain shopper. Comes in Bleeker Red, which looks a lot like fire engine red to me. JCPenney, $38.00.

Anyone who's ever read anything on this site before knows how obsessed I am with sweater dresses. Seriously, there is no better outfit when the mercury dips below 40 degrees. Sweater dresses are warm, cute, and, at the moment, very much in style. American Eagle Outfitters, $39.99.

I would wear jammies all day long if I could, but since the people at the bank and the post office look at me strangely if I do so, I guess I can settle for this very comfy, flowing, kimono dress. Comes in Red and Black. Alloy, $44.90 - $46.90.

This is the kind of dress that makes you feel super dressed up, even though your outfit only took fifteen minutes to put together. Which means that this is my very favorite kind of dress. (Also, it's cheap, which makes it even better.) Comes in Black and the delightfully named Raspberry Sorbet. ASOS, $26.86.