I Spent Hours Looking for Under-£100 Dresses—These 30 Came Out on Top

Ah, dresses. Nothing else holds quite the same special place in our wardrobes, does it? An easy all-in-one outfit that can instantly make you feel put-together. Whether you’re a minimalist who favours monochrome slips and ribbed knit dresses or a maximalist who lives in bold, printed milkmaid dresses, there’s a place in every wardrobe for this pretty staple.

The best thing about dresses, though, just might be that you can bag yourself a really great one without having to dig too deep into your purse. Across the high street, second-hand and independent brands, you can find so many beautiful styles for under £100, which couldn’t be better for this time of year when your wardrobe may feel like it needs a refresh as we near the start of summer, but you’re still trying to stick to a budget.

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(Image credit: @_jessicaskye)

Jessica wears a striped knitted dress from Arket

Although it’s not the worst problem to have, there are almost too many great affordable options out there right now—trying to make an edit for this story took me hours. But I think I’ve whittled it down to the very best under-£100 styles I could find. To cut it down, I used the criteria of being expensive-looking, easy to throw on and good for as many body shapes as possible. They also have to be versatile and hard-working—meaning you can wear these dresses not just at the weekends but for weddings and smarter occasions as well as right now and well into the warmer months. Just switch up your footwear from boots to trainers and then sandals in a few weeks time and you're off. Keep scrolling to shop. 

Shop the Best Dresses Under £100

Up Next: The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week

This story was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.

Promo image: @francescasaffari wearing COS. 

Emily Dawes
Affiliate Editor

Emily Dawes is the very definition of a fashion multi hyphenate. An editor, stylist and writer with over eleven years’ worth of experience in the industry, Emily is known for her impeccable taste, elegant outfit choices and being able to spot the next big thing in fashion from a mile off. Our readers loyally trust her advice and shopping suggestions; so much so she began her own column documenting the most expensive-looking pieces on the high street, which has become a top-performing piece of content for the Who What Wear brand.

Emily has worked for Who What Wear UK since 2020 in a myriad as roles, spanning from contributing editor and branded content editor. Now, she holds the position of affiliate editor and is responsible for the brand’s overall affiliate strategy, ideation and content execution. Working closely with Who What Wear UK’s affiliate manager, Emily has been instrumental in securing and nourishing brand partnerships, surpassing her goals as standard. Leading the team in tentpole shopping moments including Black Friday and Peak Trading, with Emily’s guidance and leadership, team Who What Wear is in a stronger affiliate position than ever before.

Prior to joining the Who What Wear team, Emily served as YOU Magazine’s acting fashion editor where she managed the fashion team and oversaw all fashion content output for the fast-paced weekly title. Emily is a stylist in her own right, having worked with a slew of VIP clients including writer and television personality, Elizabeth Day, as well as styling and art directing several celebrity cover shoots for glossy print publication, Grazia. Her adept fashion knowledge means brands regularly sought out to work with her as a consultant: previously she has developed marketing and content plans for brands for Cocoon and Edge of Ember. Before entering the industry, Emily obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies with International Study from Nottingham University. Fun fact: Emily spent a year studying in America which saw her join a sorority during her time there.

When she’s not working or tracking down the chicest, new-in items to share with our audience, you’ll find Emily bestowing her East London home with her stylish flair, reading everything from the classics to cowboy romance novels and escaping to the country with husband, baby boy and dog, Roo, whenever she can.

Emily is currently on maternity leave.