I don’t have many skills—l’ve learnt to leave the cooking and sporting activities to the experts—but as a stylist of almost 10 years, I am good at spotting a really good wardrobe hero, particularly when it comes to dresses. I’ve made it my personal mission as an editor here at Who What Wear to hunt down the very best styles to share with you.
Jess wears a beautiful & Other Stories dress.
I love dresses as much as the next person, after all. They’re the gift that keeps on giving in our wardrobes as the most versatile, all-in-one outfits you can rely on for a multitude of occasions. Of course, this means they’re worth investing in, and a special designer dress will never let you down. But after years of analysing both designer and affordable collections, I’m also of the opinion that you don’t have to spend thousands to get a beautiful, expensive-looking dress you’ll wear again and again.
Right now especially, our favorite retailers have some incredible premium styles that could easily pass for designer. You know, the kind of dresses people stop you in the street to ask about. As the summer sales come to an end and the new collections are starting to trickle in, there’s a whole new wave of standout frocks waiting to be discovered. So below, I’ve curated an edit of the very best, most expensive-looking ones in my expert opinion. My advice? Don’t hang around on the ones you love most, if I’ve learnt anything in my career, it’s how fast a great dress sells out and how disappointing it is when you miss it. Keep scrolling to shop.
Shop the Most Expensive-Looking High-Street Dresses
Sometimes the simplest dresses are the best.
Zebra is a set to be a huge trend for autumn.
Gathered ruching is a sure-fire way to make a dress look premium.
How pretty is this back detailing?
I'm obsessed with the dainty rhinestone detailing on this LBD.
So simple yet so elevated.
The subtle crochet detailing on this is so chic.
Something about this chocolate brown looks so expensive to me.
A dress you just know you'll wear so much.
There are only a couple of these left in stock, but keep an eye out for restocks!
COS is always a go-to of mine for premium dresses.
A clear H&M winner.
Influencers are obsessed with this flowing dress, and so am I.
No one will believe this dress is under £30.
This color is gorgeous.
I recently spotted a very glamorous woman wafting down the street looking amazing in this, so I had to include it.
I'm so into the minimalistic lines of this dress.
Brown polka dots are eternally chic. Just watch Pretty Woman for confirmation.
The subtle lace detailing on this dress makes it look way more expensive than it is.
Dress this easy style up or down. It comes in extended sizes too.
Striped dresses are going to be huge this autumn—mark my words.
Beyond chic.
This would make an amazing wedding or black-tie event dress.
The perfect neutral.
The black version of this has already sold out, and I'm sure this elegant number is next to go.
One-shoulder dresses are my latest obsession.
A throw-on dress you'll never regret.
This is the most-wanted Free People dress right now and for good reason.
I love the color stripes on this super-comfortable dress.
Up Next: 5 Simple Items That'll Trick People Into Thinking You Spent a Lot on Your Outfit
This post originally appeared on Who What Wear UK.
