Finding Affordable Dresses That Look Expensive Is My Core Skill—I've Outdone Myself With These 19
From office days to seaside escapes, these high street dresses are ready to make summer dressing that much chicer.


After our first mini heatwave of the year, it’s clear that summer is on its way. The sunshine is attempting to peek through the skies, and it's time to get our warm-weather wardrobes in order. Naturally, dresses are the first thing to come to mind. Polished and yet requiring little to no styling, able to be dressed up or down, these versatile additions are primed for the days when the sun is shining and you don’t want to waste time putting together an outfit.
Taffy wears a dress from Aligne.
Hunting down a great dress is something I take very seriously. A few years ago I began rebuilding my dress collection, and so any new addition has to come with careful consideration. It’s a time when you can invest a little more, like a great Reformation dress or even a designer buy, but if you're currently looking for something more affordable, there are treasures to be found in the high street new-in sections. And I’ve taken the time to sift through the hundreds of styles to bring all of the best affordable summer dresses together for you below.
Rachael wears black mini dress from Other Stories.
With a quick scan of the edit you can see that there's something for all occasions below. For those who rely on a staple LBD, contemporary updates have been made to silhouette and design details to bring a fresh take to this classic. Naturally, I had to include bestselling styles from Other Stories and Free People, that are just so good they come back every year (and every season) but alongside you'll find fresh new-in finds from some of our favourite brands like COS, Nobody's Child and plenty more. Minimalists can rest assured that there are plenty of neutral styles ready to support their summer wardrobes, whilst those with a penchant for print and colour will also be impressed with the more standout styles.
Kim wears a red dress from COS.
Whether you’re headed out on for a picnic in the park or dressing up for a garden party or event, you’ll find a range of styles from day to night below. Keep scrolling to shop the best affordable summer dresses for 2025.
Shop the Best Affordable Summer Dress for Summer 2025
It's no secret that polka dots are big news this summer.
There's something undeniably chic about a dropped waistline.

Florrie embarked on her fashion journey whilst studying in Aix-en-Provence, she began to write her dissertation on the history of fashion and landed her first role at Harper’s Bazaar. Following this, she interned for various publications including Elle, Grazia and Marie Claire before joining the fashion team at Conde Nast Traveller. There, she contributed to international photoshoots, styled pages and covers, and produced engaging digital content. Over eight years of fashion industry experience, Florrie has honed her skills from styling e-commerce photoshoots to personal shopping. Florrie first joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK as a freelancer before becoming the Commerce Writer. Now, as the Shopping Editor, she monitors current trends, new-in styles, wardrobe heroes and how best to style them.
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