Dresses are an integral part of many of our wardrobes and have become an easy outfit solution we reach for on the daily, mostly due to their throw-on nature. Even I, a stylist who used to always gravitate towards trousers and separates, have fully embraced the appeal of dresses; especially right now when temperatures are peaking.
Whether you’re a minimalist who prefers clean lines and a neutral palette or find yourself eager to embrace one of the many, many romantic aesthetics 2023 has brought us—think renaissance-core or tomato-girl summer—rest assured your dress needs are catered for on the market right now. The hard part is knowing where to start your shopping quest.
I always advocate thinking about every pending purchase very carefully and buying the best you can afford. So, I thought I’d round up a selection of the brands I think do dresses really well, both in terms of style and quality. These are the brands that I, with all my shopping experience, actually invest my money in and wear on repeat. And I know for a fact I’m not alone—many of my fellow editors and so many stylish influencers on my social feeds also rely heavily on this small handful of brands.
Enter Doên, Me+Em, Reformation, Nobody’s Child, COS and Faithfull The Brand. From expensive-looking prints to easy-to-wear silhouettes that can work for a multitude of occasions, each of these brands delivers versatile, wearable dresses, mostly under the £300 mark. I fully appreciate that this isn’t an insignificant amount of money to spend on an item but I believe that just one dress from any of the aforementioned labels will stand you in good stead for years to come; especially if you select an item from my edit, which I’ve honed based on timelessness and overall wearability.
Scroll on to see the best dresses under £300, as told by me, your friendly neighbourhood fashion expert.