For the Past 5 Years, I've Bought All of My Favourite Dresses From This Store
The first sign of seasonal shift and I turn into a hippy. Anyone else? If floaty, printed, slightly retro midi and maxi dresses become your go-to, then we likely will share the same taste in shopping destinations. So listen up, because I'm about to share a bit of useful intel with you (don't worry—you can thank me later).
You may be thinking it's too late to invest in dresses with a chilly autumn/winter right around the corner, but it's all about snapping up those It dresses before they inevitably sell out and pairing them with the right cosy layers. So, to go with my knee-high boots, wool coat and museum of earrings, I always head to Free People when the weather starts to turn. It's my secret source for bohemian dresses that you won't keep bumping into on your commute. The Philadelphia-based brand might not be as known in the UK as it is in the States, but I predict that once you see its latest collection, you'll want to channel your inner Stevie Nicks.
What's more, I often find that Free People's dresses are of a better quality than you'd find elsewhere on the high street. Rather than more cost-effective obvious prints, for example, you'll find embroidery on linen instead. In the place of cheaper elasticated waistbands, you'll discover cinched, full-skirted silhouettes or cutaway details. It's partly down to the in-house designs but also a credit to the buying team, which cherry-picks a mixture of pieces from other niche brands as well.
Basically, if your icons range between the Olsens circa 2005 and Talitha Getty in the '70s, you've come to the right story (and the right online store). Keep scrolling to shop my top Free People dresses (before I buy them all). They're a versatile, all-weather option well worth investing in, and believe me, your wardrobe will be grateful.
Shop Our Free People Dress Edit
I don't know whether it's the length or the colour, but this dress in undeniably chic.
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Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits.
Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.
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