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Prairie Dresses That Won't Make You Feel Like Laura Ingalls Wilder

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Prairie dresses are the latest '70s trend to dominate fashion this fall. Designers of today have reimagined the style, originally worn by midwestern women of the 1800s, with modernized silhouettes and globally-influenced prints. On the runways, Tory Burch showed loose-fitting renditions with sexy side-slits, Zimmermann did diaphanous paisley gowns, and BCBG Max Azria layered bordeaux turtlenecks underneath its high-waisted versions. Bohemian dresses haven't escaped the grasp of fast fashion chains either, with retailers like Zara and Mango offering midi-length styles in a variety of fall colors.

From a practical standpoint, the prairie dress isn't a bad pick for dropping temperatures: modest necklines, long sleeves, and ankle-skimming hems offer practical coverage and are a fresh alternative to an autumn uniform of jeans and sweaters. Achieve the countryside-meets-Marrakesh look yourself with 13 of our favorite prairie dresses for fall, all shoppable in the gallery above.