I'm obsessed with Finery's summer dresses, these are my most complimented ones
With all but one priced under £60, it’s no wonder these versatile midi dresses are selling out fast.
Finery London is hands down my all time favourite brand right now. In fact, every time I wear one of their dresses out, I get compliments, without fail.
If you're not familiar with Finery, it's a British womenswear fashion label that launched in 2015 and has since grown massively in popularity. Now, it's stocked at Marks & Spencer, Tu Clothing, QVC, as well as through its own website.
Although Finery does sell a variety of clothing, including denim, knitwear and jumpsuits – it is best-known for its dresses; think bold prints, flattering silhouettes and luxury-looking details.
Specialising in super affordable contemporary designs without compromising on quality or style, Finery's mission is to "offer the modern woman; high quality, sophisticated designs, and timeless styles to make her look and feel fantastic” and they certainly deliver.
Browse all Finery summer dresses Browse new-in Finery dresses Browse Finery dresses on sale
Due to their super budget-friendly prices, when I first started purchasing from the brand, I was expecting something to be amiss – perhaps the material would feel starchy, or the clothes would be ill-fitting. However, neither could be further from the truth.
Finery's 2024 summer dress collection is a perfect example of their quality designs at affordable prices, each dress exceeded my expectations so much that it was impossible for me to choose a favourite. In the end, I ended up with seven.
Finery's sizing ranges from an 8 to a 24, and as a size 10 myself, I am impressed by how the clothes fit true to size. Just to give you an idea of the length of the dresses, they typically range between 125cm and 128cm and I'm 5ft 3.
Finally, I must mention the prices; you don’t have to have deep pockets to buy these dresses, as most cost under £60. I own a few high-end dresses from Me+Em and Karen Millen that cost almost three times the amount and Finery has the same, if not more, of an expensive feel to them.
While the dresses I've highlighted below are all from Finery's new-in summer 2024 collection, if you're after a bargain, Finery also has an up to 70% summer sale right now, where dresses start from just £8.70.
👗 Tried & Tested: Sophie Ivory Ponte Jersey Dress
This dress made me feel like a million dollars, and at £49, it's an absolute bargain! Made from ponte jersey fabric, it reminds me of a similar one I have from Ted Baker that probably costs three times the price. Wearing the correct underwear with this dress is important, not only because of the colour but also because it is quite fitted. I wore a nude bodysuit beneath it, and the dress fitted like a glove.
I love the bust dart on this dress—a fabric technique that gives the dress a three-dimensional contour by folding the fabric and stitching it to a point. It makes the V-neck sit correctly on the bust area and creates a flattering and fluid effect. I found it really accentuated my waist, and then as the skirt skims over the thighs, it gives a simple flared and flattering look.
The short puffed sleeves are very pretty and totally concealed my upper arms, which I’m always conscious of, having developed the dreaded bingo wings as I’ve got older. On the three occasions I have worn this dress—to a family get-together, work drinks, and a black-tie party (paired with gold heels and jewellery)—I received lots of compliments. Plus, as a bonus, you can just pop it in the washing machine at 30 degrees, and it removes wine stains!
👗 Tried & Tested: Melony Red Floral Midi Dress
I am not surprised this is one of Finery's best-sellers, as it is my favourite from the collection too. At £49, this dress is a definite must-have for your summer wardrobe; however, be quick, as I can already see a number of sizes are out of stock.
It actually does come up a tiny bit on the big side, so I think you could size down in this number. I found the neckline showed a bit of cleavage, and when I bent down, it gaped a bit. So if you are a big-busted lady, you may not like this dress. I am a size 34C and needed to swap my original bra for a tighter one just to ensure the dress did not expose as much skin at the V-neck cut.
The ric rac detail on the neckline is very on-trend and gives the dress an expensive look. I felt it flowed nicely as I walked, making it perfect for hot weather as the material feels super light. All in all I think this dress is ideal for summer and extremely versatile, whether that's paired with flip-flops for your holiday or white heeled ankle boots for a special occasion.
👗 Tried & Tested: Lacey Green Daisy Crepe Midi Dress
This dress is made out of a crepe material, which is super lightweight and drapes beautifully, so it feels lovely to wear. I love the shirred bodice that gives it a flattering and feminine look and in terms of practicality when the weather is hot, the gathered top prevents the fabric from showing any sweaty patches.
I'm usually not a fan of sweetheart necklines because I feel they often make me look bustier than I am, but with this dress, I loved it. Additionally, I tend to avoid elasticated cuffs in the summer months because I don't like the sensation of fabric cutting into my skin. However, these short blouson sleeves were very comfortable and not tight-fitting at all.
The deep sage green hue and all-over daisy print just screams summer. While it's certainly smart enough to dress up for a summer BBQ party or for work, I found it perfect for weekend walks paired with sandals.
Overall, thanks to the shirred bodice that accentuated my waist and the flowy skirt, I felt super confident wearing this super pretty floral dress.
👗 Tried & Tested: Amelia Black Georgette Midi Dress
Black may not be the first colour you think of when it comes to summer clothes, but the delicate blouson sleeves and airy fabric of this dress means it makes the cut.
Crafted from georgette, a lightweight semi-sheer fabric, I love the spot detail that runs through the dress. The ruffle detail on the sleeve cuffs matches the high neck, making it look a lot more expensive than it is.
Again, this dress features a shirred bodice that gathers at the waist, falling to a tiered skirt. This design feature elevates the dress, and I felt it was smart enough to wear to my summer work party. The invisible side zip and neck button fastening helped give it a streamlined look. I wore it with black sliders, but I think a pair of chunky white trainers would look really cool too.
👗 Tried & Tested: Kiara Azure Blue Linen Blend Midi Dress
A linen dress is always a staple piece of summer clothing, and the reason I chose this electric blue number instead of the classic black option is because I just love this rich sky blue hue. It suits my slightly bronzed skin and always makes my blue eyes pop.
This is the ultimate throw-on summer dress. I've worn it tons around the house on days when I don't know what to put on, and I also wore it to a friend’s tea party with a pair of flip flops.
The empire-line bust gives the dress a high-waisted appearance, leading into a flowing skirt. With the ever changing UK weather, this light and airy dress is perfect for this time of year. Plus, it would also be suitable for your summer holiday; surprisingly, being linen, it barely creases.
If I had to fault this dress, I’d say it's the least flattering of the seven, only because it is slightly less figure-hugging than the rest. The shirring waist panel breaks the fabric up nicely, and I love how the V-neck was low enough to feel airy on the skin, but high enough not to show ample cleavage.
👗 Tried & Tested: Kensa Red Ditsy Midi Dress
This dress is beautiful, from the bold pattern to the fit, frills, and the way it feels. I love everything about it, except for one thing: it's made of 100% polyester, which is the most widely used synthetic fabric. Polyester has several negative environmental impacts, including not being biodegradable, and usually, Finery's credentials are a lot more sustainable.
In all other ways, this dress ticks the box as a timeless piece that will be worn on repeat. It was not clingy at all, and I happened to wear the dress to a garden party where it was fairly warm, and the fabric didn’t stick to my skin. As it happens, the venue was full of rose bushes, so I blended in nicely.
The cuffs of the sleeves have shirring, as does the waist, which helped accentuate my figure in all the right places. I wore it as a casual dress with white trainers, but it can also be easily smartened up with a pair of heels for a summer wedding or special occasion.
👗 Tried & Tested: Jane White Floral Broderie Anglaise Midi Dress
A classic summer look, this white floral dress uses a broderie anglaise pattern that is defined by small little holes which are cut out of the fabric. The round neck of this dress has the same ruffle as the tiers of the skirt, and the pretty floral ditsy print across the embroidered fabric is gorgeous. When I wore it, it reminded me of a Laura Ashley wallpaper pattern I have in my lounge.
This dress is quite heavy, compared to the others. Although it is 100% cotton, I did feel quite warm in it but that probably has to do with the amount of fabric used and also the high neckline.
The fit is incredibly flattering, with the empire seam waist helping to elongate my body, while the tiered skirt creates a loose and elegant finish. What I love most about this dress is the cap sleeves. They covered my bingo wings and the tiny fabric holes of the broderie anglaise pattern meant they were breathable. The dress oozes a romantic feel, it would make a great date night dress for sure!
