Loved my wedding guest inspiration post but not sure where to find these party-perfect pieces yourself? I’ve listed 6 surprising brands where you’ll find a unique look that nobody else on the feast will be wearing too!
That’s right! Lots of you asked me for tips on affordable yet original labels to shop a one of a kind Summer party dress. We all know the big high street brands that deliver beautiful but also very popular party pieces, and we wouldn’t want to bump into the same outfit at a wedding, right?
I’ve discovered some lovely, lesser known labels you might want to check out too. Think super fun but also super wallet-friendly dresses! Curious? Take a look!
Sister Jane
This London-based fashion brand is mainly inspired by fun vintage design, so you can expect eccentric and colourful dresses! Yup, Sister Jane definitely aims at life-loving girls that aren’t afraid to stand out. The label delivers a new capsule collection every 6 weeks, which means that literally every piece is a limited edition. So if you REALLY want the most unique dress at the party…
links to the pieces from left to right:
- textured jacquard pink dress
- metallic ruffle blouse
- floral organza dress
- blue embroidered dress
- puffy pink dress
- green bow dress
Never Fully Dressed
“Feminine fashion for all shapes, sizes and styles” is how founder Lucy describes her young brand Never Fully Dressed. The label creates all kinds of (very flattering) dresses that can be worn dressed up for weddings and dressed down for picnics. They also sell samples, sales and recycled pieces through Depop and share tutorials on how their customers can reinvent their already existing wardrobes. Love!
links to the pieces from left to right:
- pink & lilac flower print dress + comes in bigger sizes too
- yellow ditsy print dress
- orange & blue flower print dress
- short floral dress
- blue and green star print dress
- white and nude cheetah print dress + comes in bigger sizes too
- rainbow dotted print dress + comes in smaller sizes too
Lost Ink
Here’s a more minimalist approach to wedding wear! As a boutique brand at affordable prices, this London-based label brings flirty, fun but also edgy styles to dress up or down. The LOST INK girl (ranging from UK size 4 to 26) loves to express herself without spending a fortune. I personally love that you can wear all of these pieces for plenty of different occasions — not just a party!
links to the pieces from left to right:
- beige wrap top with balloon sleeves
- beige smock dress in abstract print + comes in bigger sizes too
- organza floral print blouse
- tea dress in mixed floral prints + comes in bigger sizes too
- black textured fabric dress + comes in bigger sizes too
Twisted Wunder
Another lil’ colour bomb just dropped! Twisted Wunder has a fresh take on vintage with a handwriting for today’s modern woman. Their dresses are meant to empower, give confidence and stand out in the crowd. The feminine 60s shapes and colourful flower prints are just that extra bit different from what you usually encounter — I like!
links to the pieces from left to right:
- puff sleeve floral dress
- smock dress in pastel checks
- midi dress in pink animal print
- mini dress in blue/red floral print
- mini dress in blue/green floral print
Ghospell
Have you noticed that nearly all brands featured here are London-based? The UK gals love a good dress! GHOSPELL must be one of my faves among this list, exploring bold and urban elements of a modern lifestyle. The pieces are sophisticated but relaxed, and their use of fabrics and shapes looks super chic. GHOSPELL drops capsule collections every 6 weeks too and is actually a sister brand of Sister Jane.
links to the pieces from left to right:
- blue smock dress with open back
- green polkadot dress with bulky shoulders
- light blue shirt with balloon sleeves
- ruched top in contrasting print
- loose yellow maxi dress
- pale midi dress with matching ruched belt
- maxi striped dress with pockets
- puff sleeve printed mini dress
- black ruched longsleeve top
Glamorous
And finally, some more colour! Glamorous is quite a bigger brand already, but for me personally it was a new discovery so maybe I can enlighten you too. Think feminine designs, light colours and fresh prints. They have lots of casual day-to-day pieces too, but many of the dresses are perfect to dress up for a party!
links to the pieces from left to right:
- baby blue floral printed dress
- green puff sleeve dress
- midi smock dress in sheer pink checks
- asymetric leopard print dress
- short pink high neck dress + comes in bigger sizes too
- green quilted maxi smock dress + comes in bigger sizes too
- lilac button front maxi dress
Other ideas
Now, the BEST option would of course be recycling a dress you already have in your own wardrobe! However, if you feel like none of your pieces really works for the occasion you have to dress up for, but also don’t want to buy anything new, these are a few good ideas to explore too:
Your Friend’s Closet — that’s right, why not wear one of your friend’s pieces to the party? Ask your friends with similar taste and size if they have any dresses that would suit the occasion, and style it in your own personal way! An easy peasy way to wear a unique piece without having to invest.
ASOS Market Place — instead of browsing ASOS, you can also check out their second hand department! Here ASOS customers sell new, pre-owned and vintage pieces they are not wearing anymore, so it’s a super lovely and sustainable way to find yourself a cool, original item.
The Vintage Shop — not everyone has the patience to go out on a vintage hunt in an actual store, so online vintage shopping is a lot easier and more accessible! Check out websites like Vestiaire Collective, The Next Closet and Labellov for cool pre-loved party pieces.