As a fashion editor who is faced with the the fast-moving nature and environmental effects of the fashion industry daily, I try to be as responsible as possible when I’m shopping for myself these days. That means avoiding fast fashion where I can and being extremely selective about the pieces I do end up buying on the high street. In an ideal world, of course, we’d all be shopping the quality and craftsmanship of luxury designers, but in reality most of us have to be wise with our budgets at the moment, too. So when I am shopping for more affordable buys I tend to stick to a few stores I know I can rely on for quality and classic design, like COS, Massimo Dutti and Arket. I also try to overlook the trend-led pieces being sold to me in the new-in sections—instead spending time scrolling through everything to pinpoint the most timeless buys that I know I won’t get bored of after just a few weeks.
& Other Stories is another brand I’ve turned to over the years for premium high street buys, but it’s often the case that, while beautiful, its signature printed dresses and bright tailoring can feel just a little too “of the moment” for me. However, this summer I’ve spotted not one, not two, but three & Other Stories dresses that have really captured my attention for being incredibly chic, anti-trend and, most importantly, easy to wear. I’m talking about the brand’s pleated kaftan dress, polo shirt dress and tank top midi dress—all of which are (unsurprisingly) bestsellers for the brand and have at one point or another over the spring/summer months been completely sold out thanks to their popularity. The good news is that, for now anyway, they’ve all been restocked so I wanted to share them with you before they fly out again.
Personally, I love that all three dresses feel really versatile and easy to dress up or down with the simple switch of a sandal to a heel. I’m always on the lookout for dresses that can multi-task for holidays, office days, events and more relaxed weekend wear to ensure maximum wearability and these dresses all tick those boxes. Their minimalist and monochromatic designs also make it really hard to pinpoint them to a specific time in fashion, meaning I’d be very happy pulling these out of my closet year after year. And lastly, I love that they’re all totally ageless and would look great on anyone, from a 20 year-old to a 70 year-old (meaning there hopefully will never come a time I don’t feel confident wearing them!). I do just wish & Other Stories would extend their size range above a large to be more inclusive, however.
Keep scrolling to see and shop these three classic & Other Stories dresses before they inevitably sell out again. I’m certain any one of them would be hard to regret.
Up Next, The 9 Most Expensive-Looking Pieces on the High Street This Week