Why John Lewis's autumn dresses are the ultimate mix 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-branded collections — John Lewis, ANYDAY, and AND/OR — are always a go-to for me when it comes to affordable, trend-driven pieces. This autumn, however, their dress selection has far exceeded my expectations, and I believe it's by far the best on the market.
Tie Neck Short Sleeve Maxi Dress
£69Frill Abstract Print Chiffon Midi Dress
£65John Lewis ANYDAY Bias Cut Slinky Satin Maxi Dress
£59John Lewis Fit & Flare Dress
£33£65Save £32AND/OR Jessie Block Print Shirt Dress
£89AND/OR Phoenix Crinkle Print Maxi Dress
£129AND/OR Nadia Bloomsbury Print Midi Dress
£89Ruffle Maxi Dress
£65Dobby Frill Maxi Dress
£69Long Sleeve Marble Print Midi Dress
£65Short Sleeve V-Neck Asymmetrical Hem Midi Dress
£75Tiered Tie Neck Midi Dress
£59Snake Print Frill Midi Dress
£65Rose Print Batwing Maxi Dress
£89Side Ponte Midi Dress
£55
Featuring rich, warm autumnal colours, from greens to burgundy, each dress is versatile, on-trend, and perfect for dressing up or down with a good pair of trainers, boots, or heels for a range of occasions. If you're searching for a few standout pieces that make you feel and look effortlessly stylish, these dresses are worth trying.
And let’s not forget about the super reasonable prices, with all but one dress coming in under the £100 mark, and one even currently on sale for a bargain £32.50. There’s no denying these dresses are excellent value for money, and the quality and attention to detail make them look and feel a lot more expensive than their high street price tags.
Some styling and sizing tips
📈 Sizing: Some of the dresses come up large, so I’d definitely recommend sizing down in a few of them or maybe buy two sizes to try to be on the safe side
👠 Length: It's worth noting that some of these dresses are maxi not midis, I'm 5ft 3 and the longer styles needed a platform trainer or heeled boot for some extra elevation
🔴 Shape: Some of these dresses have a tiered, loose-fitting shape, which is incredibly flattering and comfortable — however, they can often be better defined with a cropped leather or denim jacket to give the overall look a more polished silhouette
👗Tried & Tested: John Lewis Tie Neck Short Sleeve Maxi Dress
Out of all the dresses, I found this one to be the best value for money. It looks a lot more expensive than it is, and for me, it has some serious wow factor. I absolutely love the mix of khaki shades — I feel they are complementary and ideal for autumn, and the size 10 fitted me like a glove.
The tie-neck detail is a gorgeous feature, as you can wear it as a pussy bow or just tied loosely like I did. I also love the flared sleeves that fell just above my elbow, which help to give the dress a lovely elegant flow.
I found this dress to be extremely flattering, showcasing my curves and pulling me in at all the right places. When I wore it to my husband’s late summer work party, I felt super fashionable and the material is very soft, comfortable, and lightweight, making it practical as well. Overall, it's an excellent wardrobe staple that I know will be worn on repeat.
This elegant maxi dress looks luxury, designed with tie-neck detail, fluted sleeves, an asymmetrical hem and fit-and-flare shape.
👗Tried & Tested: John Lewis Frill Abstract Print Chiffon Maxi Dress
Made out of a flowy chiffon fabric, this dress feels very boho chic and elegant. Very on-trend for autumn 2024, it features strokes of burgundy and earthy hues, as well as romantic bow and frill details. It's super easy to chuck on as there’s no need to accessorise much due to the eye-catching pattern, so it's an easy fail-safe number you know you'll look great in with very little effort.
Being 5ft 3, I can only wear this dress with a little extra elevation, which isn't too much of a problem. I paired the dress with black cowboy boots for coffee with a friend, which looked super chic. However, I preferred wearing it with some platform trainers for a more comfy, everyday look.
For just £65, this is a versatile and well designed number (it even has pockets!). Not to mention, the dress looks much more expensive, from the ruffle trim to the dainty bows and high-quality billowing fabric, it can easily pass for one that costs hundreds. I have no doubt this dress will sell out quickly, so I'd snap it up now if it looks like something you want to try.
This flowy floral number is the perfect transitional piece for autumn.
👗Tried & Tested: John Lewis ANYDAY Bias Cut Slinky Satin Maxi Dress
Although this dress is navy, it actually looks almost black when worn and is a super demure choice, perfect for special evening occasions. I wore it with a simple gold necklace and heels, and the colour combination worked beautifully. The dress also looks and feels much more luxurious than it is, and the silk fabric felt incredibly comfortable and smooth against my body.
I love the fluted sleeves that add a touch of femininity and drama, and on my 5ft 3 frame, they fit perfectly. Being a bias-cut silhouette, the material is designed to fall and drape in a way that creates a slinky shape, which I found sophisticated and flattering. The only issue is that I’m not sure how well the material will lie on bigger-busted ladies compared to how it did on my 34C bust, where it felt quite snug.
I normally find that maxi dresses swamp me, but this one didn’t and allowed my two-inch heels to peek out beneath it. This dress is the perfect elevated evening option to add to your wardrobe if you're looking for a change from your usual black dress. It exudes understated glamour and is a chic staple you're sure to feel good in.
This is such a great classic dress to have in your wardrobe.
👗Tried & Tested: John Lewis Fit & Flare Dress
The design of this A-line maxi dress is not something I would normally wear, as asymmetric hemlines usually don’t appeal to me. However, this dress, has completely changed my mind.
It actually looks a lot better on than it does on the hanger, and the different lengths accentuate the body and drape elegantly. I’m a bit conscious of my tummy, which tends to bulge in fit-and-flare designs, but I feel the asymmetric hemline helps draw the eye away from the stomach area, which flatters in all the right places. I love the blue abstract print, and the short draped sleeves, which hit 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 (on me, it hits the middle of my cleavage), so be mindful of what underwear to wear. Right now, the dress is also half price, reduced to a bargain £32.50.
This blue midaxi dress is lightweight, flowy and super comfortable for wearing all day and is now half price.
👗 Tried & Tested: AND/OR Jessie Block Print Shirt Dress
This dress looks super high-end at an affordable price and reminds me of a Boden dress in my wardrobe that was double the price. I also found that this dress looked better with a bit of elevation in the form of a pair of kitten boots.
It has a very Bohemian feel with its tiered silhouette, leaf print, and relaxed, flowy design. I like the way the material hangs effortlessly on my body, and since the top half has a button-up shirt design, you can adjust the neckline to be as low as you want. The dress also features balloon sleeves, which help elevate the silhouette and give it a more sophisticated look.
It also has pockets inconspicuously sewn into the sides, which I am a huge fan of, as they add a cosier vibe to the dress. On a practical level, there’s enough room to pop your phone and keys in if you don’t want to carry a bag.
This tiered dress has a lovely shape and is a lovely lightweight fabric that is very comfortable for everyday wear.
👗Tried & Tested: AND/OR Phoenix Crinkle Print Maxi Dress
This semi sheer A-line maxi dress comes with a green slip underneath, which is overall very lightweight for wear all year round. The frilly cuffs on the dress add a really feminine touch, while the abstract animal print and green ombre design makes it feel very contemporary.
On the John Lewis website, I love how the model wears the dress with a big brown coat and black boots. Due to the delicate material of the dress, I feel this would be a lovely statement piece for a special occasion, which you could then style more casually afterward for lots of wear for years to come.
With its abstract print and frilly cuffs, this dress features a feminine and modern design.
👗Tried & Tested: AND/OR Nadia Bloomsbury Print Midi Dress
Due to its voluminous tiered shape, this dress definitely runs large, so I'd recommend sizing down one or even two sizes, as other shoppers have also noted in their online reviews.
It has a very vintage feel, and I love the striking pink and burgundy floral print, the tie detail on the neckline, the pockets at the sides, and the pretty shirred sleeves. However, due to the ruffled style of the sleeves, they come up longer than usual.
Although it's a midi dress, on my frame it actually falls to more of a maxi length — however, a pair of white stiletto boots helped give it some additional height. I also styled it with a cropped black leather jacket to better balance the volume of the dress and enhance its shape.
This vintage inspired dress with shirring on the sleeves is an ideal throw-on number.
Other John Lewis autumn dresses worth browsing
Designed with ruffle detailing on the long, fluted sleeve and asymmetric waist, we just know this dress is going to fly off the shelves.
Rock this vintage-inspired maxi number with your favourite pair of white trainers or black boots. It features a woven fabric that has a subtle pattern and texture that makes it look a lot more expensive.
Complete with a gorgeous marble print in a versatile navy colour, this dress comes designed with a midi-length hem that drapes beautifully and long sleeves that are perfect for cooler temperatures.
This brand-new red number is a definite head-turner! Designed in a bold red, with a modern asymmetrical hem, short sleeves and V-neckline, there's no wonder it's a current bestseller.
Bohemian in style, this effortless floaty dress comes in two colours: blue and black, and has been described by shoppers as "beautiful". We particularly love the tie wrist details and pleating.
This vintage-style dress comes with a trendy snake print, with frill detailing, a flowing midi-length skirt and keyhole fastening.
This maxi dress is already running low in certain sizes, no-doubt due to its flattering batwing shape, tie-neck detail and watercolour-style rose print.
An elevated take on a classic black dress, this pick comes with a form-fitting silhouette and knee-length hem for a flattering finish.
