For those of us who don’t wear a uniform to work, we have to create our own, and with a heatwave on its way, there’s no better time to refresh our workwear wardrobes. Blazers and tailored trousers are the obvious pieces to invest in, but don’t overlook the timeless appeal of an office-appropriate dress in the warmer weather.
So easy to style, wear the right one with a pair of smart sandals, trainers or loafers and your go-to laptop bag or tote - you’ll look instantly put together. From luxe floaty fabrics to sleeker styles and classic black to bolder colours, we’ve found nine of the best work dresses available to shop online now.
How we chose the best office dresses
- Cut: Depending on your office, there will be different levels of what is considered acceptable no matter what the weather, but we've mostly kept hem-lengths hitting the knee or below. If you feel more comfortable in a shorter dress, we've chosen pieces that balance this with covered shoulders and a modest neckline. Several options also have long sleeves.
- Price per wear: Creating a workwear wardrobe can be expensive, so we've chosen classic pieces you'll want to wear beyond just this summer and everything costs under £200.
- Ease of styling: Everything in this edit should slot seamlessly into your wardrobe. Many of us don't have time to be thinking too much about what we're wearing to work everyday, so these dresses are the kind of thing you can throw on and go.
The best office dresses to shop now
Reiss Jayla Midi Dress
Reiss is one of our favourite high street brands for workwear. Despite its fitted silhouette and summer-ready orange hue, the Jayla midi dress is still smart and office-appropriate.
Mango Buttoned Wrap Dress
With its lapel collar and button-down design, Mango's sleeveless midi dress is reminiscent of a tuxedo style. The flowy fabric falls to a midi length and it features a tie belt to cinch in your waist.
& Other Stories Linen Wrap Dress
For a shorter style, & Other Stories has this lightweight linen wrap dress that's perfect for the warmer weather. It features gathered pleats, a v-cut neckline, waist tie and short, wide sleeves. Pair it with ballet flats, or sandals on heatwave days.
Arket Linen Shirt Dress
Made from pure linen, Arket's midi shirt dress will keep you cool despite its modest cut. The pink hue makes a statement with minimal effort and the cut has a stylish curved hemline.
Finery Polka Dot Midi Tea Dress
Channel Princess Kate's workwear wardrobe in this polka dot dress by Finery London. Available at Marks & Spencer, it's elegant and flattering, softly skimming the waist before falling to a midi skirt. Wear with white trainers or heeled mules for a modern edge.
Nobody's Child Starlight Dress
Nobody's Child has a whole collection of stylish and sustainably-made office-ready dresses. This one is a bestseller thanks to its relaxed fit with soft gathering, puff sleeves and pretty line of covered buttons – it even has pockets.
Hobbs Cathleen Dress
Simple but so chic, Hobbs' Cathleen dress is a must-have addition to your workwear wardrobe. Made from polycotton with seam detailing and a feminine skirt, it's flattering and very easy to style.
Jigsaw Linen Midi Shirt Dress
If you're bored of neturals but don't want to wear bright colours to the office, sage green is a gorgeous summer-ready alternative. This lightweight linen dress from Jigsaw features three-quarter-length sleeves and a flared skirt which falls to a midi length.
Boden Back Detail Jersey Midi Dress
Boden's black midi dress is cut from soft modal jersey with puffed sleeves and a front slit for easy movement. Office-appropriate but still stylish, it has a small cut-out back detail to keep you cool. We love it with espadrille wedges but you could also wear it with flat sandals or sleek trainers.
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