Jun 6, 2019

We Try Before You Buy: 5 ASOS Bridesmaid Dresses You Can Wear After the Wedding

by Emma Spedding

These days, most brides in the UK are flanked by bridesmaids wearing dresses from ASOS. The site currently has over 600 styles accounting for all body shapes and tastes at a fairly reasonable price, making it a popular bridal destination. Our We Try Before You Buy series aims to take the stress out of shopping, and nothing is quite as stressful as trying to find one dress that will keep several of your friends happy. It would take hours to scroll through the hundreds of dresses available on ASOS, so I tried on a selection of the best.

Disclaimer: I have never been a bridesmaid, so I have yet not experienced the pain that can come from a bridesmaid dress WhatsApp group chat. ASOS has a lot of the traditional chiffon gowns in sugary pinks, greens and lilacs that you'll see in many a wedding group photo on Facebook, but there are also some more unusual options if you want to try something a little different.

The Pinny Maxi Dress With Ruched Bodice is arguably the hero bridesmaid dress at ASOS right now, and at £75, I was impressed by the fit and how expensive the fabric looked. Plus, these dresses photograph really well, which we all know is a top priority from a wedding outfit. After testing the classic option, I also went for some dresses outside the pastel, floaty norm. Keep scrolling to see the fashion dress, the statement dress, the crowd-please and more that I loved.

Photo:

Emma Spedding

ASOS Design Shirred Dress (£38)

My verdict: This was my favourite dress of all of the ones I tried on—I adore the floaty sleeves and the square neckline and found the shirred bodice really flattering. And who doesn't love an expanding waistband when there's a three-course dinner? The stone colour—rather than a sickly pastel hue—means it doesn't look too bridal and you could easily wear it as a wedding guest.

Photo:

Emma Spedding

ASOS Design Tall Plunge Tea Maxi Dress With Pep Hem (£38)

My verdict: Fashion editors I know who are bridesmaids this year have all said that they would love to wear a Vampire's Wife maxi length dress, and this is ASOS's take on the prairie-style silhouette. It's an unusual shape for a bridal party, and so might get receive from pushback your group, but I think this looks expensive for its price and I love the muted sage green colour.

Photo:

Emma Spedding

ASOS Design Bridesmaid Pinny Maxi Dress With Ruched Bodice (£75)

My verdict: This isn't my colour, as blush tones like this tend to wash me out, however, I am a fan of the subtle halterneck and liked how the bodice fitted around the waist. Thankfully, this comes in other colours, so bridesmaids could all pick a shade that suited them best.

Photo:

Emma Spedding

ASOS Edition Embroidered Maxi Dress With Scallop Edge (£150)

My verdict: I usually hate the word "extra," but I'm struggling to think of another way to describe this OTT dress. This makes me feel like a Dolce & Gabbana-clad bridesmaid about to attend a six-course, six-figure wedding in the Amalfi coast— so if it's a formal affair, you won't find something quite as fabulous.

Photo:

Emma Spedding

Y.A.S Angel Sleeve Textured Maxi Dress (£90)

My verdict: This was probably my second favourite dress, as the floaty capped sleeves look really delicate and the fabric is light-weight, making it perfect for a summer wedding. You could shorten the length after the wedding too, and you'd have a perfect everyday sundress.