I'm Picky When It Comes to Dresses, But This Affordable Brand Has Impressed Me

Every fashion editor has their own Achilles heel—a particular piece they find it near impossible to resist. And for me, that weakness is dresses. I've never really been one for trousers, but over the last few years, my dress collection has defined not only my wardrobe but also my persona. It's become my signature.

But just because I adore them doesn't mean I shop frivolously for frocks—quite the contrary. In reality, because I hold them in such high esteem, I probably give them more acute consideration than I would any other purchase. And in doing what I do for a living, I also see more dresses than your average person comes close to, so it takes a lot to impress me. 

One brand that's recently caught my attention, and for good reason, is Nobody's Child. If you're not familiar with it, Nobody's Child is an independent British brand that creates on-trend, affordable clothes with a sustainable ethos and a focus on pretty prints. With everything including swimwear, skirts, tops, and loungewear, there's plenty of appealing items to browse. Still, no section is quite as covetable as its dresses. With an excellent array of minis, midis and maxis, Nobody's Child is a dress haven—one that's attracted a very respectable fan base.

Historically, celebrities including Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby have all championed the label, sparking respective sell-outs. Then, just a few months ago, Nobody's Child's now-iconic Esme was worn by Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor, consequently catapulting the brand into the spotlight. And while there's no direct correlation, surely it can't be a coincidence that Sienna Miller also opted for a Nobody's Child dress for an appearance on This Morning a short while later. A brand to watch? Without a doubt. 

Now, let's discuss the dresses. Nobody's Child's new summer collection is a feast for the eyes, with a gorgeous pastel colour palette painted across new silhouettes as well as some of the most popular dress styles to date. The aforementioned Esme is back in two new shades—a delectable pink and a pretty lilac—while the best-selling Alexa tea dress has been reimagined in an on-trend cornflower blue. For those of you on the hunt for the perfect white summer dress, you needn't look any further, for Nobody's Child has ticked this off, too—in backless broderie, no less. 

Often, the word "affordable" brings with it a cause for contention. What does affordable actually mean? It's contextual—affordability means very different things to different people. That said, I think many of us can agree that stylish and celebrity-adored dresses that sit around the £45 mark are more than justifiable. As for sustainability, the brand prides itself on its eco-conscious ethos, which includes partnerships with ethical factories, the use of more sustainable materials and a focus on zero-waste manufacturing. 

Between having a more considered manufacturing process, an accessible price point and an endless edit of genuinely stylish dresses, Nobody's Child has done what many perceived as impossible. And it's just getting started.

Scroll on to see the three Nobody's Child dresses I'm backing for summer. Then, continue to browse the best of the rest of its impressive dress department. 

1. GINGHAM

What summer wardrobe would be complete without a gingham dress? And just when I thought the original green Esme dress (the one Phoebe Dynevor wore) couldn't be improved upon, I saw this perfect pink iteration. 

2. TEA

I've always had a thing for tea dresses, but I often find the fit can be unflattering. Nobody's Child's Alexa dress strikes the ideal silhouette balance, with floaty sleeves, a breezy skirt and a nipped-in waist. I love this cornflower blue, too. 

3. BRODERIE

If dresses are my weakness, then white broderie dresses are my addiction. I intend on ticking off all of summer's top dress trends in one go with Nobody's Child's tie-detail, cut-out back, puff-sleeve midi. 

MORE NOBODY'S CHILD DRESSES