Some celebrities choose to wear exclusively luxury labels, while others gravitate towards more affordable options. When it comes to dresses, there are a handful of brands that stars regularly rely on for mid-priced styles, from LA-based dress specialist Reformation to London-based favourite, Rixo, and Scandi cult label, Toteme.
All of their respective ranges vary all year round, and for summer there are plenty of styles to choose from. Here, Vogue looks at the best mid-priced dress brands and the standout styles to shop now.
Reformation
LA-based brand Reformation was founded in 2009 with a mission to create clothes sustainably, with a focus on manufacturing practices and fabrics. Since then, it has been the unofficial outfitter of wedding guests the world over, as it is perhaps best known for its wide selection of occasion wear and sundresses. Key celebrity moments include Jennifer Lopez wearing a bright pink Reformation dress on her honeymoon in Paris and the Duchess of Sussex selecting a striped midi for the royal tour in Australia.
Read more: Vogue’s Guide To The Best Dresses
Rixo
Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey founded Rixo in 2015, creating dresses with a distinctive aesthetic comprised of colourful hand-painted prints and vintage-inspired silhouettes. Now it is a powerful player with a flagship on the King’s Road and plenty of loyal fans, including the Princess of Wales, Sandra Bullock and Selena Gomez.
Rat & Boa
You might have spotted Rat & Boa’s wispy dresses in celebrity holiday pictures, layered on top of a bikini with a picturesque sunset in the background. And while the brand specialises in barely-there resortwear, there are also dresses that could be appropriate for a wedding or party.
Mango
High-street brand Mango needs no introduction. However, you might not realise quite how strong its dress offering is. Sienna Miller wore a brown linen minidress to Glastonbury in 2022, while the Princess of Wales wore a dark olive-green knitted dress by the label in November of the same year. This summer it launched a collection with London-based designer Supriya Lele.
Réalisation Par
On holiday, Victoria Beckham usually relies on one minidress – the “Christy” by Australian brand Réalisation Par. The brand was founded by Alexandra Spencer and Teale Talbot and is known for its throw-on printed dresses, worn by Joan Smalls, Hailey Bieber, Emily Ratajkowski and Alexa Chung.
Cos
Cos coats are a common sighting on the streets of London, but the brand has also found a fanbase with its versatile dress range. From minimalist and reliable office-worthy styles to experimental, embellished silhouettes that’ll see you through party season, Cos’s dresses aren’t to be missed.
Aje
Australian brand Aje has become a mainstay at weddings, both for brides and for the guests, thanks to its delicate designs which blend classic romanticism with more directional silhouettes and detailing, from ruched panels to cut-outs. The designs all tend to embrace volume, with statement puff sleeves and full, tiered skirts, that will result in a flurry of compliments.
St.Agni
Australian label St. Agni specialises in warm-weather pieces – its trousers and tops have been seen on several celebrities – and its dress range is made with the same understated sensibility. The asymmetric off-the-shoulder dress and draped cowl-back dress are refined takes on maxis, while there are many short-hemmed silhouettes to choose from, too.
Me + Em
Founded in 2009 with an aim to produce “flattering, functional, forever clothes for modern women”, Me + Em has built its brand success from clothes that deliver time and again; season after season. Timeless in their design and clever in their construction, its dresses are made to serve a variety of needs – be it a meeting, dinner or date.
Dôen
Dôen has perfectly captured the whimsical, boho mood that is sweeping this summer, and all the It-girls, from Alexa Chung to Leandra Medine, are wearing one specific white nightie dress by the Californian brand. It’s the perfect babydoll nightie, with a ruffled trim at the collar, while the brand has also mastered effortless midi-dresses which all have a romantic, vintage charm. As founders Katherine and Margaret Kleveland told British Vogue earlier this year: “Doên is heavily inspired by nostalgia, family, and the warm hues of Southern California days that start with foggy mountain hikes and end with our feet salty in the sand.”
Faithfull
Based in Indonesia, Faithfull was founded in 2014 and holiday dressing is at the heart of this resortwear brand. Alongside the bikinis and sarongs, dresses are a core offering for Faithfull, with throw-on styles that are ideal for destination weddings, poolside sundowners or warm weekends at home. It has built a strong online following, however the seal of approval extends beyond influencers, as the Princess of Wales even wore one of its floral midis.
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