Dresses
Dec 16, 2023

If You Told Me This £45 M&S Dress Was Designer, I’d 100% Believe You

by Maxine Eggenberger

When it comes to dress shopping, finding something that's both classic and cool is a tall order—the two just aren't usually mutually exclusive. So, when you do come across a dress that feels on-trend but, somehow, also incredibly timeless, it's not the sort of thing you should let pass you by. Which is why I wanted to share this with you: a very chic dress option from Marks & Spencer which, yes, is a formidable combination of these two things.

I first spotted it on influencer Liv Madeline; a sleek, well-cut black bandeau dress I had to assume came from a high-end label. Minimal but impactful, it's clean lines mimic the types of dresses usually found at a higher price point. So, you can imagine my delight when I tapped my screen and a Marks & Spencer tag appeared.

Heading straight to M&S's dress category on site, I hurriedly scrolled. Please don't tell me this dress—my dream dress!—is sold out. But would you believe, it's still in stock. Available in sizes 6-24 (and 6-16 in petite too!) and in a go-with-everything colourway, this might just be the most versatile party dress around—one you can dress up with sparkles and rhinestones, or take a low-key approach with velvet mary janes and fine jewellery. It's truly a blank canvas.

Emma Wells, a stylish influencer whose wardrobe reads like Net-a-Porter's brand directory, has also snapped up Marks & Spencer's bandeau dress. Coming in at £45 it's much more reasonable than other the party pieces currently saturating the market—you pay a premium for sequins, after all—but it's also simple enough that you'll genuinely get the wear of it year round. I'm already picturing wearing mine to a wedding I have in March with a chic cropped jacket and slingback heels. As for now, I'm opting for a crystal bag and the highest sandals I own.