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.
I have 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: A past-season Doên dress. 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! Here are the loveliest styles I’ve seen this month.
I can’t stop thinking about this dress—I think it needs to be mine.
You’ll no doubt be well acquainted by now with Norma Kamali’s Carrie Bradshaw-approved Diana dress, but this new style is much more up my street thanks to the bra-friendly neckline and longer hem. It’s giving Cindy Crawford ’90s red carpet—I’m here for that.
I keep gravitating towards dresses with a drop-hem as it provides a fresh silhouette with a vintage feel; this cut hasn’t been in fashion for some time but I’m certain it’s making a comeback.
I know, it seems very premature to be buying a tube dress in the depths of winter, but this COS style is back for another summer and it proved to be a really easy win in my wardrobe last year. I originally bought it in navy but could definitely be persuaded into the black…
If I had a fabulous holiday booked in for this year, I’d definitely pack this absolute beauty.
The colour, the cut, the length, the fabric… this is ticking every box on my wish list right now.
The kind of timeless, easy throw-on dress that will look just as current every summer from here on out.
I have this dress style in a plain blue colourway and it’s such a joy to wear—slinky, swishy and simple to chuck on, I think it’d be a safe bet to invest in a patterned version.
I love the back of this Rotate dress because of the bows, but I also appreciate the smocked panel across the hips as it should allow for more flexible sizing.
I’m a big Doên fan. Its flattering and easy dresses are a little bohemian but utterly timeless. These styles also tend to be good for all-year-round wear—this could work with suede knee boots for winter and simple slides for the summer.
This is one of those no-brainer dresses that I’ll wear on repeat throughout the winter.
From the blouson buttoned sleeves to the delightful shade of cornflower blue, this pretty almost-maxi has designer-looking written all over it.
Longer-line denim dresses and skirts are trending but I’d argue they are a forever kind of purchase.
I’ve talked before about the joy of this particular Baserange dress, and now it’s back again for 2023.
Everything about this is stunning.
I have a checked Ganni dress from one of the earliest collections and I still get excited to wear it now—they are worth it!
Everyone in the office is into this pretty slip. I think it has a lot of potential for event season but you could give it a grunge makeover right now with a giant cardigan and chunky boots.
So heavenly! This crinkle dress first came out in the summer in an off-white colourway and is now back in a beautiful shade of cornflower blue.
I’m something of a knitted dress superfan, and this one is possibly the best I’ve ever seen. The detail is incredible and yet it’s so versatile—timeless and wearable for every winter to come.
One of our contributors, Lily Russo-Bah tried this on recently and messaged me to say it was “such a Hannah dress”—she is right, it is! The ribbed fabric is quite firm and scupts the body beautifully. A very cool take on a classic LBD, from one of my favourite dress brands.
This knot-front jumper dress appears to now be a classic part of the JW repetoire, and I can completely appreciate why. It’s so laid-back to throw on and yet so utterly “fashion” in its cut.
If you told me this was from a French bohemian brand, I’d believe you!
Okay, okay, it’s not technically a dress. But when you wear these chic ruched brown pieces together, it just looks like a great cut-out midi. A little bit ’90s A-list, a lot like something that’s going into my wardrobe…
When it comes to decorative party dresses that fit like a glove, you simply have to try Needle & Thread. This lovely style comes in lots of different colourways.
I’m imagining this for a night out layered over a white tee and jeans!
It’s bringing all the drama without being OTT—perfect party dress material.
Do you have a winter wedding coming up? This is the one! Plus, this style will never date, so you can pull it out for many events to come.
You can probably tell by now that I have a thing for black dresses… well, they’re endlessly versatile and flattering! This one is a real treat with all of its intricate details.
You just can’t beat the overall effect of a Vampire’s Wife dress. There are many imitators, but none get it quite right. If you’re busty, I’d recommend sizing up.
The cuddliest, and yet sassiest, dress of the season.
French girls are going to go wild for this new-in style from Jacquemus—trust me.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
