Best Brands for Summer Dresses (and How to Get the Fit Right)

A great summer dress should feel effortless. It should move with you, keep you cool, and transition seamlessly from day to evening. Whether it's tailored linen for the office, relaxed cotton for holidays, or structured silhouettes for special occasions, the perfect dress isn’t just about style—it’s about fit.

The challenge? With sizing inconsistencies across brands, countries, and collections, finding a dress that actually fits can be harder than choosing the design itself. A UK 10 in one label might feel like an 8 in another, and shopping online often adds another layer of complexity.

That’s where Tellar.co.uk steps in. As the UK’s leading free sizing tool, Tellar matches your exact body measurements—or your known size in a favourite brand—to over 1,500 labels. Whether you're shopping at COS, Zara, Mango or Reformation, Tellar ensures you get the right size the first time.

Before we explore the sizing solution in more detail, here’s a curated guide to the best fashion brands for summer dresses in 2025—from timeless investment pieces to affordable seasonal staples.

1. Reformation

Origin: USA

Price Range: £150–£300

Reformation has redefined sustainable occasionwear with dresses that combine feminine detailing and flattering fits. Their summer collections feature responsibly sourced linen, TENCEL™, and cotton, designed with timeless elegance.

Best For: Summer weddings, city breaks, day-to-night styling

Sizing Insight: Reformation dresses run small, especially at the bust and waist. Sizing up is often recommended.

🟩 Use Tellar to check your Reformation size

2. Mango

Origin: Spain

Price Range: £30–£130

Mango is a high-street favourite known for elegant summer silhouettes inspired by Mediterranean ease. Their belted dresses, linen-blend maxis, and floaty wrap styles are highly wearable.

Best For: Everyday elegance, minimalist holiday dressing

Sizing Insight: Mango can run slightly small, particularly in fitted or structured styles.

🟩 Check your Mango size with Tellar here

3. COS

Origin: Sweden

Price Range: £65–£200

For clean lines and architectural silhouettes, COS delivers minimalist fashion that transcends trends. Their summer dresses often feature oversized cuts, high-quality cottons, and subtle tailoring.

Best For: Elevated basics, capsule wardrobes

Sizing Insight: COS tends to run large. Many styles are intentionally oversized—Tellar helps you determine whether to size down or embrace the relaxed fit.

🟩 Use Tellar to confirm your COS fit

4. Nobody’s Child

Origin: UK

Price Range: £39–£99

Nobody’s Child pairs affordability with sustainability. With floral midis, breathable cotton shirt dresses, and event-ready tea dresses, their collections are accessible yet environmentally conscious.

Best For: Daywear, casual events, layering

Sizing Insight: Most styles run true to size, though smocked waistlines and shirred backs provide flexibility.

🟩 Check your size instantly with Tellar

5. & Other Stories

Origin: Sweden

Price Range: £55–£145

With ateliers in Stockholm, Paris, and Los Angeles, & Other Stories blends Scandi design with French femininity. Expect puff sleeves, silky slips, and cotton poplin with structured lines.

Best For: Occasionwear, trend-led wardrobes

Sizing Insight: Generally true to size, but fitted styles may be snug at the bust or waist.

6. Free People

Origin: USA

Price Range: £80–£250

Known for bohemian silhouettes and lightweight layering pieces, Free People dresses are perfect for heatwaves and holidays. Their gauzy fabrics and statement prints are summer staples.

Best For: Festival wear, relaxed holiday styling

Sizing Insight: Most styles are intentionally oversized, but structured pieces may run small. Fit varies—use Tellar to be sure.

7. Massimo Dutti

Origin: Spain

Price Range: £79–£199

Massimo Dutti balances tailoring and subtle elegance. Their summer collections often feature neutral-toned dresses with sharp lines, premium fabrication, and refined detailing.

Best For: Workwear, structured minimalism

Sizing Insight: Runs small, especially through the waist and shoulders. Size up or use Tellar for brand-specific accuracy.

🟩 Use Tellar to check your Massimo Dutti size

8. H&M

Origin: Global

Price Range: £17–£59

H&M offers affordable access to seasonal styles—ideal for experimenting with summer trends without commitment. Their collections include cotton sundresses, linen blend pieces, and jersey staples.

Best For: Budget-conscious shoppers, trend testing

Sizing Insight: Core lines are often true to size, but Divided and trend collections may run small.

9. Arket

Origin: Sweden

Price Range: £69–£175

Arket focuses on functional fashion with a Scandi aesthetic. Their summer dresses lean toward tonal, relaxed fits and versatile wearability.

Best For: Timeless everyday style, slow fashion enthusiasts

Sizing Insight: Arket generally runs slightly large, particularly in looser silhouettes.

🟩 Check your Arket size with Tellar

Why Fit Matters: Beyond the Label

Sizing inconsistencies are one of the biggest barriers to confident shopping. Even within a single brand, dresses may vary by fabric, cut, or collection. Traditional size charts rarely account for real-world body variations—resulting in returns, frustration, and wasted time.

This is why Tellar.co.uk is transforming how we shop. Instead of relying on generic size guides, Tellar lets you enter:

Your actual body measurements (bust, waist, hips)
Or your known size in a brand you trust

From there, Tellar calculates your ideal size across other brands—adjusting for regional differences (UK, US, EU) and brand-specific fit characteristics.

How Tellar.co.uk Works

✅ Free to use – always

✅ Covers 1,500+ women’s and men’s fashion brands

✅ No passwords or apps—just a simple one-time login

✅ Free printable measuring tape available here

✅ Works across luxury, premium, and high street

🟩 Create your free Tellar profile

🟩 Find your size instantly before buying your next summer dress

Conclusion: Choose Your Brand. Then Choose the Right Size.

Summer dresses should make dressing easier—not more complicated. While brand discovery is part of the joy, the real difference lies in getting the fit right from the start. Tellar eliminates the guesswork, giving you personalised recommendations based on real data—not assumptions.

Whether you’re shopping for a linen midi for the office, a printed wrap for a wedding, or a breezy maxi for travel, pair your style with precision using Tellar.co.uk.

Follow Tellar for Fit-First Fashion Guidance

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Tellar.co.uk – Find your size in 1,500+ brands real-time. It’s Free & Easy.