Where can I find beautiful summer dresses at a decent price?

[ijustlovecoffee]

I’ve seen these four dresses and love them, but the cheapest is £42 and that’s a lot of money.

I really want a good collection of 4 or 5 beautiful summer dresses that I can wear for work, on holiday, at the weekend etc.

I am a size 18, not too confident about my arms but also I want to stop hiding them just because of silly insecurities.

I’ve got a bit of an apron belly so like to hide that with floaty skirts.

Any recommendations welcome!

I was paying that for dresses at Topshop 20 years ago.

The only reason you’re still able to buy dresses at that price is that manufacturers have slashed expenses by using much cheaper fabrics.

And unethical labour practices. I recall paying £50 for a pair of next jeans in the late 90s. They would be half the price now and nowhere even close in terms of quality.

Hi OP, have a look at BrandAlley.

Have you looked at some of the individual online boutiques?
I have this dress and a few of their others and they are all about £25
https://manamou.co.uk/collections/dresses/products/gathered-deep-neckline-dress-cream?variant=56869329502586

Same! And £40 for a Topshop dress 20 years ago is about the equivalent of paying £80 today, accounting for inflation over that period. This is why the quality of so many clothing brands has turned to shit, because people still have the same price expectations as 20 years ago. It’s just not possible to make a decent quality item, ship it half way across the world, and pay workers a liveable salary for those prices.

I bought a couple of summer dresses for under £40 from Mountain Warehouse and Trespass. However they are not good quality, one came in a hole and the other the cotton has gone paper thin and so I have had to get rid of them after only two yers wear.

You would be better off spending the £40 on just two dresses rather than buying 4-5 of them. Either that or (as I do) searching on Vinted.

Honestly, look on eBay and buy some good quality dresses that will last. I've recently bought 6 blouses from Jigsaw, Mint Velvet and Hush for £15 each, all new or nearly new.

I've just put up a White Company Dress new for £15, Boden worn once £15. There is so much good quality stuff for sale you just need to spend a bit of time looking.

Buy just one or two, or, even better second hand.
Better to have one lovely dress you feel good in, than four that are.........so so.

I remember buying a cherry print cotton jersey midi sun dress from Topshop in the early 2000s . It was £55, I remember the price distinctly because I ummed and ahhed about getting it. I am glad I did as I wore it and wore it until it literally fell apart. It was so flattering.

But buying second hand online is such a gamble and potential waste of money as you can’t return stuff. So many unironed smelly clothes that bear no resemblance to the photos!!

No denying it can be a gamble. But I've been doing it a VERY long time and a few things help IME:

• Look for things with measurements (it doesn't take long for sellers to add a tape measure to photos when selling but I know from other threads it's controversial)
• And/or go for brands and styles you know work for you
• Ignore anything badly presented or unironed (for this reason I prefer eBay over Vinted)
• Be prepared to get a refund if something arrives in bad condition (my experience on this is with eBay and has always been fine)

Apricot have some nice styles for bigger busts/larger figures. I bought one then found the same style on Vinted just a different print. Half the price

I really would steer clear of cheaper brands because the quality is generally not great and the fabric does matter for the overall appearance, IMO. Identify dresses by brands you do love then find them secondhand on Vinted - you can find things way below £40. If you don’t like them, just sell them back on. But really if you want beautiful clothes and you are on a budget the only answer is secondhand. Learn to love it, it’s such a great way to shop.

Would you not be better spending more on one really good item? I've bought onne dress a year for the past however many years and now have a decent selection. I'd not dream of buying 4 in one year.

Was just coming on to say Vinted. Gorgeous stuff. I'l selling a load atm and it's amazing, However, am buying more! it's amazing. give it a go and you can pick up much more quality stuff thank Primarny!!

What about Yours Clothing?

I love their smock midi dresses, and have quite a few.

The ones I have were all under £30

Just to add to all the above, material makes all the difference in the summer and cheaper dresses are often 100% polyester (grim at any time). Apart from cotton and linen, look for viscose or bamboo fibres to stay cool.

If you really study the listing you can tell. Reviews are important, photos, measurements, how they describe it.

That's what I was thinking, that people have got used to things being cheap. I'm pretty sure when I was shopping in Miss Selfridge in the 1980s I'd spend £20 -£30 on a dress.

I got two in Mountain Warehouse today. They’ve got pockets and they’re a slightly stretchy jersey which hangs and washes well (I got two in a slightly different design last year).
They fit me perfectly but I’m only 5’1” - they do have other longer styles which would have been too long on me.

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/search/Dresses/

Dresses from 19 and sale on right now too

I’ve got some brilliant dresses from New Look , and they have great discounts too!

Try Debenhams outlet op.

Sainsbury's and New Look in particular have some really excellent clothes.

Lots of cotton, cotton blends, and viscose.

Have a look on vinted - people sell some lovely ones in really good condition I get a lot of things on there for me and the kids and my partner too - we’ve had some amazing bargains. Plus if you have things you don’t like anymore you can get those listed and then you have that money to put towards new things so it works well.