Finery London is hands down my favorite brand of all time right now. Every time I wear one of their dresses, I receive compliments without exception.
If you’re not familiar with Finery, it’s a British womenswear fashion label that launched in 2015 and has grown in popularity since then. Now it is available at Marks & Spencer, Tu Clothing, QVC, as well as via its own website.
Although Finery sells a variety of clothing, including denim, knitwear and jumpsuits, it is best known for its dresses; think striking prints, flattering silhouettes and luxurious-looking details.
Specializing in super affordable contemporary designs without compromising on quality or style, Finery’s mission is to “bring the modern woman high-quality, sophisticated designs and timeless styles to make her look and feel fantastic” and they will certainly make that happen.
View all Finery summer dresses View the new Finery dresses View the Finery dresses on sale
Because of their super budget-friendly prices, when I first started buying from the brand, I expected something to be wrong: maybe the material would feel stiff, or the clothes would fit poorly. 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 favorite. In the end I settled on seven.
Finery’s sizing ranges from 8 to 24, and being a size 10 myself, I’m impressed with how the clothes fit true to size. To give you an idea of the length of the dresses, they generally range between 125cm and 128cm and I am 1.80m tall.
Finally, I must mention the prices; you don’t need to have deep pockets to buy these dresses as most cost less than £60. I have a few luxury dresses from Me+Em and Karen Millen that cost almost three times as much and Finery has the same, if not more, expensive feel.
Although the dresses I’ve highlighted below are all from Finery’s new Summer 2024 collection, Finery is also currently having a summer sale up to 70% off if you’re looking for a bargain, with dresses starting from just €8.70.
£49 at Finery
This dress made me feel like I made a million bucks, 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 cost three times the price. Wearing the right underwear with this dress is important, not only because of the color but also because it fits nicely. I wore a nude bodysuit underneath and the dress fit like a glove.
I love the bust pleat on this dress: a fabric technique that gives the dress a three-dimensional contour by folding the fabric and sewing it into a point. It ensures that the V-neck fits well to the bust and provides a flattering and flowing effect. I found it really accentuated my waist, and when the skirt falls over the thighs it gives a simple flared and flattering look.
The short puff sleeves are very nice and completely hid my upper arms, which I’m always aware of as I’ve developed the dreaded bingo wings as I’ve gotten older. On the three occasions I wore this dress – to a family gathering, a work drink and a black tie party (combined with gold heels and jewelry) – I received many compliments. And as a bonus: you can simply put it in the washing machine at 30 degrees and it will remove wine stains!
£49 at Finery Shop from M&S
I’m not surprised this is one of Finery’s bestsellers, as it’s also my favorite from the collection. For €49, this dress is an absolute must-have for your summer wardrobe; However, be quick, because I already see that a number of sizes are out of stock.
It actually comes out a little bit on the large side, so I think you can make this number smaller. I noticed that the neckline showed a bit of cleavage, and when I bent down it gaped open a bit. So if you are a lady with big breasts, you may not like this dress. I’m a size 34C and had to change my original bra for a tighter one to make sure the dress didn’t expose as much skin at the V-neck.
The ric rac detail on the neckline is very trendy and gives the dress an expensive look. I felt it flowed nicely as I walked, making it perfect for warm weather as the material feels super light. All in all, I think this dress is ideal for summer and is extremely versatile, whether you pair it with slippers for your holiday or with white heeled ankle boots for a special occasion.
£59 at Finery
This dress is made of crepe material, which is super light and has a beautiful drape, making it a pleasure to wear. I love the smocked bodice which gives it a flattering and feminine look, and in terms of functionality when the weather is warm, the pleated top prevents the fabric from showing sweat marks.
Normally I’m not a fan of sweetheart necklines as I often feel like I look bustier than I am, but on this dress I loved it. Additionally, I avoid elastic cuffs in the summer months because I don’t like the feeling of fabric cutting into my skin. However, these short blouson sleeves were very comfortable and not tight at all.
The deep sage green shade and all-over daisy print scream summer. While it’s certainly smart enough to dress up for a summer BBQ party or for work, I found it perfect for weekend strolls paired with sandals.
Overall, thanks to the pleated bodice that accentuated my waist and the flowy skirt, I felt super confident wearing this super pretty floral dress.
£59 at Finery Shop in red
Black may not be the first color you think of when it comes to summer clothes, but the delicate blouson sleeves and airy fabric of this dress make it the right color.
Made from Georgette, a lightweight semi-sheer fabric, I love the spot detail that runs through the dress. The ruffle detail on the cuffs matches the high neck, making it look a lot more expensive than it is.
Again, this dress features a smocked bodice that gathers at the waist and flows into a tiered skirt. This design feature takes the dress to the next level and I thought it was smart enough to wear to my summer work party. The invisible zipper on the side and the button closure at the neck created a streamlined look. I wore it with black slides, but I think a pair of chunky white sneakers would look really cool too.
£49 at Finery Shop in black
A linen dress is always a summer wardrobe staple, and the reason I chose this electric blue one instead of the classic black option is because I simply love this rich sky blue shade. It suits my slightly bronzed skin and always makes my blue eyes pop.
This is the ultimate summer dress. I’ve worn it around the house on days when I don’t know what to wear, and I also wore it to a friend’s tea party with a pair of slippers.
The empire-line bust gives the dress a high-waisted look, ending in a flowing skirt. With the ever-changing British weather, this light and airy dress is perfect for this time of year. Moreover, it would also be suitable for your summer vacation; surprisingly, it barely wrinkles.
If I had to fault this dress, I’d say it’s the least flattering of the seven, just because it’s a little less form-fitting than the rest. The pleated waist panel breaks up the fabric nicely, and I love how the V-neck was low enough to feel airy against the skin, but high enough not to show enough cleavage.
£79 at Finery Shop from M&S
This dress is beautiful, from the striking pattern to the fit, the ruffles and the way it feels. I love everything about it except one thing: it’s made of 100% polyester, the most commonly used synthetic fabric. Polyester has several negative environmental impacts, including the fact that it is not biodegradable, and Finery’s reputations tend to be a lot more sustainable.
In all other respects, this dress is a timeless garment that will be worn repeatedly. It wasn’t sticky at all and I happened to wear the dress to a garden party where it was quite warm and the fabric didn’t stick to my skin. Coincidentally, the room was full of rose bushes, so I stood out nicely.
The cuffs of the sleeves are gathered, as is the waist, which accentuated my figure in all the right places. I wore it as a casual dress with white sneakers, but it can also easily be dressed up with a pair of heels for a summer wedding or special occasion.
£59 at Finery Shop from M&S
This white floral dress has a classic summer look and features a broderie anglaise pattern defined by small holes cut from the fabric. The round neck of this dress has the same ruffles as the layers of the skirt, and the beautiful floral print on the embroidered fabric is beautiful. When I wore it, it reminded me of a Laura Ashley wallpaper pattern I have in my living room.
This dress is quite heavy, compared to the others. Even though it is 100% cotton, I did feel quite warm in it, but that is probably due to 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 like most about this dress are the cap sleeves. They covered my bingo wings and the small holes in the fabric of the broderie anglaise pattern made them breathable. The dress exudes a romantic atmosphere, it would definitely be a great dress for a date night!