Where on earth do you find work dresses?

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I work in a smart casual environment, think midi dress and trainers, black jeans and a nice shirt and the sector is generally pretty casual.

However I’ve been invited to speak at a few conferences and to represent my CEO on a few quite high level groups while she’s on mat leave and I need to be a bit smarter and to invest in a couple of decent more formal dresses.

I like one colour (no prints), at least knee length, good cut, no pain pencil shift dresses and although I’m happy to spend a bit of money I don’t really want to start spending £200. In my mind I’ve got about £120 as a cut off as it’s an investment but won’t get masses of wear. I’m quite tall and slim so can get away with most styles but it’s literally 15 years since I bought anything like formal ish workwear

Way below you budget but most of mine come from Sainsbury’s!

Hobbs particularly good if you're tall and slim.
Next can be v good too, and well under your budget!
I'd get a jacket/blazer too if the dress is sleeveless.

Next have some good styles but they fall apart if you plan on wearing it more than once. Hems unravel and zips ALWAYS break.
Oasis and Warehouse are my go to but with your budget I'd probably try coast too.

Baukjen?

Scrap Coast, just had a look at their 'work wear section and it's clear they've never set foot in an office. I'd be sent home for at least half of that. Who wears a bardot top in an office? Pfft.

The Alice Temperley range for John Lewis is good (but limited selection).

Phase 8? LK Bennett? John Lewis usually has a selection? Wallis? Principles? (both in Debenhams)

there are some good well cut plain dresses in Boden of all places - most of their stuff makes me heave but I have got some good ones that work well .. such as www.boden.co.uk/en-gb/womens-dresses?fq_sub_category=Smart%20Day%20Dresses#navworkdresses

Reiss? Might have something in the sale now... Hobbs, Jigsaw, Jaeger, JL.

workdress

I got some nice stuff at Warehouse and Oliver Bonas.

Thanks so much. The Boden ones are nice, I never look there and for the suggestions of John Lewis, totally forgot about them, I’ll nip in there when I get a moment. Also like the idea of Oliver Bonas, there’s one near my office.

Gant usually has some plain navy dresses and surprisingly Jaeger.