by With the temperature rising, it’s time to start thinking about your new season wardrobe and I have some style tips to share. Firstly, if you’re looking for a new midi or maxi dress to see you through the warmer months, whether it’s an easy-to-wear everyday number, or one suitable for a specialoccasion, the John Lewis’ new range of self-branded dresses. well worth checking out. Not only are they feminine, flattering, comfortable and breathable, but they are also incredibly affordable.
Blending practicality and function with effortless style, I tried and tested five John Lewis suits that caught my eye to find out why they’re flying off the shelves.
The high street store has a huge range of options, from flowing linen silhouettes, to bright and bold prints. John Lewis is definitely one of my favorite retailers for frocks this season, not least because there are lots of pockets (which we all know is an added bonus!).
Unlike my other favorite clothing stores, such as Zara and River Island, I also find that John Lewis dress sizing is much more accurate than most. I’m usually a 10 and these dresses, except one, fit perfectly. Also their size range is very comprehensive, going from 8 to 20.
And the good news is, you don’t need to have deep pockets to buy these dresses as they all usually retail for less than £100. Right now though, John Lewis has 20% off all their dresses, so now is the best time to bag yourself a new outfit and make some savings.
Don’t hang around too long if you want to grab one of these, as they are selling out fast.
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In one word: WOW! This pleated midi dress is one of the prettiest dresses I’ve worn in a while and it made me feel very elegant.
It also looks and feels a lot more expensive than it is, thanks to the intricate pleat detail that helps add dimension to the dress. I wore it to a friend’s 50th birthday party and got so many compliments. The dusty blue color is gorgeous and makes my blue eyes pop.
Although I don’t often wear dresses without a defined shape, the way this material hangs and outlines the curves of your body is very flattering. I also love the balloon sleeves, as I know the upper arm wings, which are often shown in some clothes.
In addition, the sustainability factor of the dress is another huge bonus, as it is made from 100% recycled polyester, helping to reduce single-use plastics from ending up in landfill.
John Lewis
Full-length sleeves and elegant pleated detailing make this dress versatile and extremely flattering.
£63 at John Lewis
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This spot print midi A-line dress should definitely be a staple piece in your spring and summer wardrobe. I’m not usually a fan of polka dot designs, but I was really impressed.
Linen isn’t my usual way of dressing fabrics as I find it tends to fray a lot, but I was surprised how low maintenance this dress was. Even when washed, it only needed a quick iron.
The fabric felt super lightweight and comfortable and I loved the length of the dress, which hit just above my ankles with a nice flare. Often dresses without waist definition can look baggy on me, but this was completely flattering and a real winner in my eyes.
I wore it out on a weekend walk, paired with trainers, and it felt so gorgeous on. I especially liked the open neckline and the sleeves with button cuff detail, a nice touch of luxury. I know this is a dress I will wear again and again when the weather gets really hot.
John Lewis
This linen blend dress is a classic midi length with a contemporary twist thanks to its modern spot print.
£60 at John Lewis
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This sleeveless dress makes an excellent transitional piece, worn alone or with a jacket over the top. The pattern is extremely flattering, with the diagonal design of the leaves creating an illusion of length that lengthens my body. This clever design draws attention away from areas like the belly, which is my main problem area.
I love the versatility of this A-line dress with its all-over leaf print, I wore it with white trainers and dressed up with heels and I felt super comfortable in it.
Although it is described as a midi dress, at 5ft 3 inches, I found it really hit my ankles. The cotton blend material gave it a breathable feel and I especially liked the neckline, which laid flat and helped the dress hang perfectly on my body, cinching in a little at the waist.
John Lewis
This A-line dress is made from a cotton blend that is super light and breathable.
£47 at John Lewis
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This A-line cotton midi dress has a beautiful watercolor tropical print and is the perfect transitional dress for spring. I love the low V-neck sleeves and the balloon sleeves, both of which give it a fresh and summery feel.
The only feature I didn’t like was the self-tie belt, which made my stomach look a little big from the side due to the flare of the skirt. My recommendation is to choose a regular belt for a flatter fit.
The content swallowed me up a little bit, so I would suggest you size down in this one as well. I’m a big fan of dresses with pockets and this puts them in on the sides. In terms of length, it was more like a maxi dress on me. Although I paired it with sandals, a pair of brown heeled boots would be ideal footwear to elevate it all year round.
John Lewis
This statement dress features balloon sleeves and a waist with a self-tie belt.
£52 at John Lewis
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As a shorter woman with curves, this type of smock dress doesn’t usually do anything for me. However, I was surprised by this dress, because the fabric (55% linen, 45% viscose) is designed to have a fluid and flattering shape, so I liked the way it hung on my body.
For me, the best part of the dress is the color, as the smoke pine green is very different from other colors in my wardrobe and made a nice change.
This dress sat slightly above my ankle and has slits on both sides, which helped give it a breathable feel. Again, I usually pass on linen garments because of their crease factor, but this material barely needed an iron after washing and the fabric was extremely comfortable.
And it has pockets! Big ones which gave the dress an extra cool vibe and meant I could go hands free, putting my phone in my pocket when I went out.
If you are a little bigger in the bust area you might get the top of the dress, so I recommend you go up a size. I wore a size 10 and have a 34C bust and it felt a tiny bit of stretch over the bra area but nothing too obvious or uncomfortable. This is a really easy dress that is perfect for summer evenings or to wear a bathing suit on holiday.
£55.20
Designed for warm, sunny days, this linen dress has a loose, fuss-free fit that’s ideal for keeping cool.
£55 at John Lewis
🛍️ Other John Lewis dresses on sale that you’ll love 🛍️
John Lewis Agnes Tea Dress | £52 (Was £65)
John Lewis Agnes Puff Sleeve Dress | £63.20 (Was £79)
ANYONE Animal Print Puff Sleeve Midi Dress | £36 (Was £45)
ONE DAY Bloom Floral Midi Dress | £36 (Was £45)
John Lewis Holiday Bloom Linen Dress | £52 (Was £65)
