I’m a fashion writer and £45 M&S dress is rivalling Aligne

It’s no secret that Marks and Spencer has slowly but surely been taking steps to elevate their status as one of the leading fashion brands on the high street. But one of their new-in dresses has taken it to a whole new level.

I think it’s safe to say that a decade ago, M&S had earned a reputation for somewhat frumpy fashion. In fact, my friend made a comment to me last year about ‘M&S having stepped up their fashion game’ and I joked back that ‘perhaps we’re just getting old’.

But, in truth the retailer has been working hard to shed that misconception, and in 2024, have been winning over fashion fans left, right and centre for their on-trend designs, flattering silhouettes and affordable price tags. Truthfully, probably a good 75 per cent of my wardrobe purchases have been from M&S in the last 12 months.

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Some of their success in recent times could be attributed to roping in the likes of Sienna Miller and Vogue Williams to front major campaigns. But much of it really does come down to their expensive-looking designs that lean into capsule wardrobe staples. Think the £35 bag that’s ‘similar’ to a Celine crossbody, or the £79 cotton trench coat that could save some spends on a Burberry.

One dress I found recently on the M&S website was their Linen Rich Striped Midi Waisted Dress, which is definitely emulating the vibes of cool-girl and celeb-loved brands like Aligne, without the larger price tags. The pinafore dress makes up part of the affordable ‘M&S Collection’, which stars ‘easy-to-wear wardrobe staples that combine classic and contemporary styles.’

Coming in at £45, it’s near half the price of similar styles I’ve seen online, but where it really shines is in its attention to detail. It’s cut in a regular fit, with a flattering waisted shape and graceful midi length.

Made from 55 per cent linen and 45 per cent cotton, known for being two of the coolest and most comfortable fabrics to wear in summer, the dress features a blue pinstripe design that mimics denim, with a square neckline and stunning cross-back detail. Not to mention, it also has a slightly shirred back, making it stretchy and comfortable to wear.

Described as ‘well made’ and ‘flattering’ by shoppers, the dress is available in sizes 6-24, as well as three lengths, short, regular and long. I’ve typically found that M&S boasts one of the widest size ranges on the high street compared to some competitors, which could also be a factor in its popularity at the moment.

Leaving a five-star review on the summer staple, one shopper praised it for its versatility, commenting: “Lovely addition to my summer wardrobe can be dressed up or down cool and easy to wear true to fit ..washes well great value for money comfortable.”

Another added: “Loved this dress, I managed to still wear a bra with this cross back dress and it was a great fit. Additionally it came in a petite option.” While a third added: “Nice dress, good quality material and well made. Dress up for work with a crisp, white blouse and heels for the office or tee shirt and trainers for a casual look.”

One did leave a more critical review, writing: “Beautiful dress but far too short in the body for me to keep. I was so disappointed as the quality was lovely. Considered sizing up but it would have left the bottom half too big.” But another penned: “A great light weight dress, I wore it with a white shirt and trainers. The fit is really good.”

The reason this particular M&S dress caught my eye in the first place was for its similarity to some of Aligne’s styles, namely their darker denim Rosa Pinstripe Midi Dress, boasting a similar shade and pattern to the M&S dress, while the female-led, East London–based label’s Madeline Midi Dress features a cross back design, not unlike M&S’s. Both of the Aligne dresses cost between £74.99 and £79.99, so at £45, M&S’s is almost half the price.

So if you fancy getting your hands on a luxury-looking dress for under £50 you can style a multitude of ways, you can get your hands on the Linen Rich Striped Midi Waisted Dress here.