Mindy Kaling’s $99 Midi Dress Is a Cheat Code for Dressing for Between Seasons — Get Similar Styles for $50 or Less

Welcome to The Blueprint, where we break down the celebrity looks we want to wear right now and build them back up, piece by piece. 

If the Jonas Brothers saw Mindy Kaling’s Instagram post, they might have the same reaction as me — to sing “High heels, red dress” from their song “Burnin’ Up.” 

The Office actress, 45, shared a carousel of images earlier this week with the caption “Please take my tooth!!” I will, in fact, not be doing that, but I am taking note of her red dress that was staggeringly stunning. And because Kaling knew the people (aka me) would want to know where it was from, she tagged the brand, Astr the Label, in her post. 

Her flattering square-neck style costs $99 and was the perfect encapsulation of everything I start to look for at this time of year. The thin straps were obviously breathable both on their own and under a fall-proof jacket, while the midi length works for now but also increases its longevity. 

Mindy Kaling’s Outfit Blueprint 

• Dresses: Anrabess Square-Neck Midi Dress, $49.99
• Urban CoCo Sleeveless Flared Midi Dress, $27.86
• Zesica Sleeveless Square-Neck Pleated Maxi Dress, $25.49–$27.99 (orig. $34.99)
• MakeMeChic Spaghetti Strap Square-Neck Maxi Dress, $44.99
• Anrabess Spaghetti Strap Linen Maxi Dress, $43.99
• Shoes: Lm Two-Band Slide Sandals, $18.39 with Prime (orig. $22.99)
• Katliu Two Strap Slide Sandals, $24.64 with Prime (orig. $35.99)
• Tyflove Studded Jelly Thong Sandals with Bows, $16.99 

Anrabess Square-Neck Midi Dress

For $49 less, this maxi dress from Anrabess has all of the same qualities that made me fall in love with Kaling’s dress in the first place. I’ve found that square necklines are really flattering and dramatically lower my chances of having a bra-showing slip or mishap, and the breezy bottom looks like it’d fall nicely on bodies of all shapes and sizes. And the in-between length is, well, good for dressing between seasons and beyond. 

And I already have at least two different styling ideas for the fall and even the holidays: Shopping excursions could involve a white button-up and some matching sneakers, while I could layer up with black tights and a coordinating sweater on colder days.  

MakeMeChic Spaghetti Strap Square-Neck Maxi Dress

It doesn’t get too cold where I live, but I grew up in Chicago, so I know that a midi might not fly as it gets deeper into fall. In that case, a maxi dress is like the more fashionable version of a wearable blanket. Shoppers say this one is “very comfortable” and “light and airy,” which is still important for where we’re at now. 

“I personally love the straps that you can tie and adjust [according] to your comfort, and it makes the dress that more unique,” one shopper said. 

Lm Two-Band Slide Sandals

Like the song, it looks like Kaling went the high heels route. There’s nothing wrong with that, but they’re not in tune with my lifestyle. I like flat shoes because a) I’m already tall and b) they’re cushier on the feet. This pair has two bands, and they’re under $30, so I won’t feel bad when I inevitably wear them out. 

Keep scrolling to shop more red dresses and black shoes inspired by Mindy Kaling now. 

Urban CoCo Sleeveless Flared Midi Dress

Zesica Sleeveless Square-Neck Pleated Maxi Dress

Anrabess Spaghetti Strap Linen Maxi Dress

Katliu Two Strap Slide Sandals

Tyflove Studded Jelly Thong Sandals with Bows