Last year, I was a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding and I hated what I wore. To be clear, the bride didn’t choose my dress – her only instruction was to pick something pink or red. Simple enough, right? I had glittering visions of gliding – nay, floating – down the aisle in an ethereal pale-pink dress. Sadly, the reality was rather different. After much to-ing and fro-ing over which dress to choose, I ended up panic buying something the day before, without even trying it on! It was only once we were on our way to the ceremony that I realised how uncomfortable I felt. The dress hugged all the wrong places and trailed clumsily on the floor. Moreover, the semi-sheer fabrication meant that I had to wear very specific and slightly restrictive underwear. Luckily, I had a reserve slip dress back at base, and while it was comfortable, it was a reserve for a reason, and didn’t make me feel as fabulous as I’d have liked. The worst part? I only had myself to blame.
I seem to be at a stage in life where every other week brings news of a friend’s engagement, so there are a fair few more weddings on the horizon – and next time, I want to get it right. In my quest to find the perfect affordable wedding guest dress, I’ve spent a lot of time in the changing rooms of high-street shops, trying on countless styles – of reasonable price points – to discover what works and what doesn’t. The lessons I’ve learnt are simple: buy (or rent) in advance so you have plenty of time to road test a dress and find out how comfortable it really is. If you plan on wearing a bra, then I’d suggest trying on a handful of different bras, since the way a silhouette sits on the body can vary hugely depending on what you’re wearing beneath. The most important takeaway? Consider if – or how! – you’ll be hitting the dance floor, as many dresses on the market aren’t exactly movement friendly.
In an ideal world, I’d recommend trying on multiple dresses before landing on your final choice, but if you’re short of time or can’t face the busy streets, then consider me your guinea pig. In the name of research, I trawled the high street to find the best affordable wedding guest dresses available now – read on for the standouts.
As someone whose uniform typically consists of oversized silhouettes, it was a pleasant surprise to see how this dress made me look so put together and – dare I say – feminine. The XS size was just about the perfect fit (if ever so slightly tight on the top), with just the right amount of flare on the skirt. I’ve already snapped this up for a wedding in May – and I can’t wait to wear it!
This dress was not only extremely comfortable, but it also fit like a dream. One winning quality that you can’t tell from the picture: it’s lined from the neckline to halfway down the thigh, meaning the fine material doesn’t suffer from being see-through. The spaghetti straps make it look elegant, while the bottom section (which is a little more sheer), adds an conceal-reveal element. I would wear this to a wedding and then all summer long.
To caveat: this dress didn’t wow me straight away, but I was eventually won over by the immeasurable level of comfort it offered. I tried a UK 8, which worked perfectly. The soft cotton lightly hugged my body without feeling at all tight, and the movement of the skirt was a welcome juxtaposition to the fitted top-half. I’ve tried similar ruched styles made from thicker cotton, but they didn’t look nearly as flattering. Plus, you could get away with wearing a style like this as an everyday summer dress – so it’s 100 per cent worth the investment.
In recent months, I’ve avoided slip dresses, having been disappointed by so many styles that I’ve tried on. Thankfully, this silky style struck a middle-ground between a slip and a structured dress. The picture doesn’t do the material justice: it’s made from a thick satin that held its hourglass shape while looking and feeling like liquid on the body. In short, it felt expensive – with the side-note that the fit wasn’t perfect as they didn’t have my size in store. In a size up, it was a little baggy around the back and the scoop neck was too low. If you opt for this dress, choose your true size and it may well be a winner.
A wise colleague of mine suggested I give this silky style a go – and I’m glad I did, because I think it’s my favourite of all the dresses I tried on. The watercolour effect was a unique twist that gave it a runway-ready finish, and the material felt incredibly soft against my skin. The cut, which ran the risk of making me look like a bin bag, was the perfect straight line and still allowed room for movement (dancing). I’ll be saving my pennies for this one!
This was the kind of dress I could imagine wearing while swanning around a country estate on a hot summer’s day; with a glass of bubbly in hand and dark sunglasses at the ready. I tried it in a UK 6, which fit perfectly, and the quality of the linen blend was evident considering how breathable and soft it felt. I’m awaiting my invite to a country estate…
With a stick on bra, this Rixo dress made me feel like I was ready for anything. The attention to detail in the design of the tiers made the skirt fall beautifully around the body – and there was extra material that fell down the back of the dress once the neck section was tied. With the addition of a heel, this could work for both casual and black-tie weddings.
Since my go-to fashion choices tend to revolve around big and baggy pieces, I was surprised that I enjoyed the feeling of wearing this. The linen felt strong and held its shape in a way that feels comfortable but not too tight. There’s also a split down the front, which allows you to walk and move without too much restriction. As was the case with a few other Mango dresses I tried on, the shoulder straps were a little long – thus, I would consider getting them shortened on this style. Other than that, it’s a piece I could see working perfectly for a number of summer occasions.
While this isn’t made from the most luxurious material, I think the way it moves with the body makes up for where the fabrication lacks. The playfully-cut material drapes in a way that looks like a waterfall – I can see it being fun to swish around in on a hot summer’s day. I’m wearing the top in a UK 8 and the skirt in a UK 6.
In a size UK 8, this fit me perfectly. I find that some slip dresses can feel a bit restricting, but this was breezy – and the colours were noticeably vibrant. Rixo dresses are on the higher end of the price spectrum, but the silk crepe de chine felt luxurious and the bias silhouette was clearly designed with a lot of attention to detail. If you’re between sizes, I’d suggest going for the larger.
If you want to feel comfortable and unrestricted, then this is the dress for you. I breathed a sigh of relief when putting it on because the material really is that soft. Again, this was a size up (UK 8), so if it was my true size, I think it would engulf me a little less and look more beachy/boho. That being said, with plenty of wiggle room, you’ll be able to tear up the dance floor without any wardrobe mishaps. I also see this being a great maternity dress.
