Why John Lewis’ autumn dresses are the perfect blend of style and affordability

If you don’t know where to start when it comes to updating your autumn wardrobe for the new season, look no further than John Lewis. The high street retailer’s own-label collections – John Lewis, ANYDAY and AND/OR – are always my go-to when it comes to affordable, trend-led pieces. But this fall’s dress selection has far exceeded my expectations and I believe it is by far the best on the market.

Featuring rich, warm fall colors from green to burgundy, each dress is versatile, fashionable and perfect for dressing up or down with a good pair of sneakers, boots or heels for a variety of occasions. If you’re looking for a few statement-making pieces that will make you look and feel effortlessly chic, these dresses are worth trying.

And let’s not forget the extremely reasonable prices; All but one of the dresses come in under the £100 mark, and one is even currently on sale for a bargain £32.50. You can’t deny that these dresses offer excellent value for money, and the quality and attention to detail makes them look and feel much more expensive than their high street price tags.

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Some styling and sizing tips

📈 Sizing: Some of the dresses run large, so I definitely recommend sizing down a few or buying two sizes to be on the safe side
👠 Length: It’s worth noting that some of these dresses are maxis and not midis, I’m 6’1″ and the longer styles needed a platform trainer or heeled boots for extra height
🔴 Shape: Some of these dresses have a layered, loose-fitting shape that is incredibly flattering and comfortable; but they can often be better defined with a cropped leather or denim jacket to give the overall look a brighter silhouette.

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Of all the dresses, I found this to be the best bang for your buck. It looks a lot more expensive than it is and has serious wow factor for me. I absolutely love the mix of khaki tones; I think they are complementary and perfect for fall and a size 10 fits me perfectly.

The tie collar detail is a great feature, you can wear it as a bow or tie it loosely like I did. I also love the flared sleeves, which fall just above my elbow and give the dress a nice, elegant look.

I found this dress extremely flattering, it showed off my curves and pulled me in all the right places. I felt so chic when I wore this to my husband’s late summer work party, and the material is so soft, comfortable and lightweight, making it practical as well. Overall, it’s an excellent wardrobe staple that I know will be worn again and again.

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Made from flowing chiffon fabric, this dress gives a very boho chic and elegant feel. This model, which is extremely trendy for autumn 2024, has burgundy and earth tones as well as romantic bow and ruffle details. It’s super easy to wear as there’s no need for a lot of accessories due to the eye-catching pattern, so it’s an easy fail-safe trick where you know you’ll look great with very little effort.

Since I am 1.70 meters tall, I can only wear this dress a little higher, which is not a big deal. I paired the dress with black cowboy boots for coffee with a friend, it looked so chic. However, I preferred to wear it with some platform sneakers for a more comfortable and casual look.

For just £65, this is a versatile and well-designed number (it even has pockets!). From the ruffle cut to the delicate bows and high-quality billowy fabric, not to mention the dress looks so much more expensive, it could easily beat out a dress costing hundreds. I have no doubt that this dress will sell out quickly, so if it looks like something you’d like to try, I’d snap it up.

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Although this dress is navy blue, it actually looks almost black when worn and is a very demure choice, perfect for special evenings. I wore it with a simple gold necklace and heels and the color combination was beautiful. The dress also looks and feels much more luxurious than it actually is; The silk fabric felt incredibly comfortable and smooth on my body.

I love the ribbed sleeves, which add a touch of femininity and drama, and they fit my 6’2 frame perfectly. A cross-cut silhouette, the material is designed to fall and drape, creating a slinky shape that I find sophisticated and flattering. The only issue is that I’m not sure how well the material will look on larger busted ladies compared to my 34C bust where it feels quite comfortable.

Normally I thought maxi dresses stifled me, but that didn’t happen and allowed my two-inch heels to peek out from underneath. This dress is the perfect evening option to add to your wardrobe if you’re looking for a change from your usual black dress. It exudes understated charm and is a stylish piece that you’re sure to feel good in.

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The design of this A-line maxi dress isn’t something I would normally wear because asymmetrical hemlines don’t usually appeal to me. But this dress completely changed my mind.

It actually looks much better hanging, and the different lengths accentuate the body and drape elegantly. I’m a little self-conscious about my tummy, which tends to bulge in tight and wide designs, but I feel like the asymmetrical hemline helps draw the eye away from the tummy, which flatters in all the right places. I love the blue abstract print and the short flowy sleeves that reach just above my elbow are perfect if, like me, you prefer to hide your upper arms.

One thing to note is that the V-neck of the dress is quite low (for me, it hits the middle of my cleavage), so be careful what underwear you wear. Currently the dress is also half price, bargained down to £32.50.

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This dress looks super luxurious at an affordable price and reminds me of the Boden dress in my wardrobe that is twice the price. I also found that this dress looks better elevated a bit in the form of a pair of cat boots.

It has a very Bohemian feel with its layered silhouette, leaf print and comfortable, flowing design. I like how the material hangs effortlessly on my body, and since the top half has a button-down shirt design, you can adjust the collar to go as low as you like. The dress also features balloon sleeves that help elevate the silhouette and give it a more sophisticated look.

It also has side pockets that are discreetly sewn on to the side as it gives the dress a more intimate feel, which I’m a big fan of. On a practical level, there’s enough space to store your phone and keys if you don’t want to carry a bag.

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This semi-sheer A-line maxi dress features a green lining underneath that’s lightweight enough to wear all year round. The ruffled cuffs of the dress add a really feminine touch, while the abstract animal print and green ombre design give it a very contemporary vibe.

On the John Lewis website, I love how the model wore the dress with a big brown coat and black boots. Because of the delicate material of the dress, I think this would make a lovely statement piece for a special occasion, which you can then style more casually and wear many times for years to come.

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Due to its voluminous layered shape, this dress definitely runs wide, so I’d recommend going down a size or two, as other shoppers have noted in their online reviews.

It has quite a vintage feel and I love the striking pink and burgundy floral print, the tie detail on the collar, the side pockets and the beautiful gathered sleeves. However, since the sleeves are frilled, they appear longer than normal.

Even though it’s a midi dress, it actually falls at a longer length on my frame—though a pair of white stiletto boots gave it a little more height. I also styled it with a cropped black leather jacket to better balance the dress’s volume and enhance its shape.

More John Lewis autumn dresses worth checking out