I'm a Dress Expert—These Are the 9 New Styles I Rate
If there's one thing I know, it's dresses. My wardrobe is full of them, and I wear them 99.9% of the time. I've always struggled with casual dressing (long-time Who What Wear readers will have repeatedly read about my ongoing struggle with denim—sorry to be a bore!), so easy, good-looking frocks are my most-trusted fashion staple.
Throughout my 16-year career as a fashion editor I have gathered quite the collection. There are affordable dresses that I wear each and every week. I have special, more expensive versions that come out for important occasions or big meetings. I have those in-between, mid-priced options that bridge the gap between casual and fancy days. I own styles that are ultra summery and best for heatwaves and holiday packing, but I've also got a fair number of clever, trans-seasonal styles that can work layered up and with tights in winter or with bare legs and sandals during warmer months. I even have dresses that I've made at home because I can't always find the exact colour, shape or fit I've been dreaming of. I have some It dresses, I suppose—although, I'm always very careful to buy dresses that really speak to my personal style and that I know I'll wear even when their cult status has worn off. I may own a lot of frocks, but entry into my wardrobe isn't easy. I'm a pretty discerning customer who values quality and longevity above all else.
On Hannah: Ghost Emily Yellow Satin Maxi Dress (was £159, now £127)
So who could be better positioned to bring you a very trustworthy edit of the best new-in dresses than a self-confessed frock obsessive with a very picky taste? No one! Now that spring is starting to feel real, here are the loveliest styles I've seen this month.
Shop this month's best new-in dresses:
This timeless dress ticks off so many trends: butter yellow, bias cut, cowl neck, maxi… And it's a delightfully comfortable, slinky little number to wear.
I can't stop thinking about this Marella dress and how it's going to make me look like a 1950s film star filming a major motion picture in Roma (in my head, at least).
Aligne's denim pieces this season are so unique and yet so classic—this dress is the kind of casual piece I'd get so much wear out of.
I'm slowly but surely growing a mini-collection of Doên dresses, and this grungey lace slip dress is next on the list.
COS do some of the coolest minimal dresses around, and thanks to the drop waist and pleated skirt, this looks more like a designer piece.
I'm still not over the prairie dress trend and this looks like a supremely easy style to throw on.
Mondo Corsini is a new brand that caters to all of my rustic, bohemian fashion whims. It also stocks cool homeware and vintage finds.
I can't help it, I just love the shape and colour of this dress!
I have a feeling that this long T-shirt style is going to be the next big seller at Sezane.
Shop last month's best new-in dresses:
The plaid! The smocking! The sleeves! The hem! This adorable dress is still a statement but manages to be entirely timeless too. It can work for every season, so that's a bonus.
Talking of party dresses, this gold-foil style from ALIGNE is one that I've tried on and adored wearing. It has such a satisfying amount of volume and swish to it.
You can get 30% off this price at checkout right now—this is a classic 16 Arlington style that is always in the brand's line-up, so it's a big deal!
I wear black dresses multiple times a week, so it makes sense that they always feature so heavily in this gallery!
Bernadette has just launched a range of candy-striped dresses, and I adore every single one.
I've never felt as fabulous as I did wearing to host a Who What Wear dinner.
This ruched detailing was a big hit for Dagmar in the summer months, and so it's not a crazy idea to buy the dress version in preparation for 2024!
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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