Is it just me, or did loungewear lose its appeal in a big way this year? Until recently I’ve found myself reaching for leggings far more than anything else, but now that spring is here and summer is on the horizon, I have the overwhelming urge to wear beautiful dresses once again. Which is actually rather handy since there are so many excellent options to choose from right now.
A good chunk of my wardrobe is made up of dresses: party minis, romantic midis, and elegant maxis, and no matter how expansive my collection may be, I can always make room for another (it’s the easiest instant outfit after all), mostly because I know I’ll return to them again and again. Choosing which styles to invest in this year is proving difficult, though, as there are an array of gorgeous brands on my radar, each of which has countless styles that I can visualise sitting happily in my wardrobe.
Jess wearing a Matteau dress.
Of course, I’m a big fan of the go-to dress labels—both luxury and high street—but I (and the rest of the Who What Wear team) have a particular soft spot for discovering lesser-known, under-the-radar dress brands too. It doesn’t mean turning our backs on the labels we already know and love, but when it comes to dress shopping, it often pays to think outside the box, broaden your horizons, and find something that you’re less likely to see everyone else wearing.
With that in mind I’ve listed 10 impressive under-the-radar dress brands below that, honestly, I wish I could keep a secret. But we don’t gatekeep here at Who What Wear, so lucky for you I’m sharing these beautiful dresses that will no doubt inspire many a compliment (and prying questions about where it’s from) at your next summer event.
From fabulous frocks you’ll want to wear to all of those summer weddings, to the everyday pieces that you’ll throw-on all year long, there’s a lesser-known dress brand for every mood, taste (and budget, no less). So keeping scrolling to see and shop the under-the-radar dresses I’m adding to my wish list now, I promise, you’ll forget all about your failsafe jeans and leggings in no time.
In case you didn’t get the memo, cutouts are very much in.
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