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For years I’ve been guilty of buying a new dress for pretty much every occasion, wearing it once, posting it on Instagram and then listing it on Vinted a few weeks later. But after recently reducing my wardrobe by around a third, I’ve become much more intentional about what I bring into it.
During my wardrobe clear-out, I tried on every single item I owned and was ruthless about what stayed. I didn’t want a wardrobe full of clothes for hypothetical occasions. Instead, I want a smaller collection of pieces that I genuinely love and can wear again and again.
Occasionwear is probably the category where I’ve had the biggest personal style change over the years. I’d hold onto things for sentimental reasons, like my engagement party jumpsuit, or because they cost a lot of money – but my new rule finally saw a lot of them find new homes.
This year, I wanted to build up a small collection of occasionwear pieces so that, rather than buying a new dress for every wedding, awards ceremony or special event, I could return to my rotation of five-or-so versatile styles that I know I love.
These three (okay, four) occasion dresses are new for 2026, but will stay in my wardrobe for years to come. Between them, they’ve taken me from a black-tie wedding to an awards night and even hosting a beauty influencer dinner. They all work across multiple dress codes with a simple change of shoes, accessories or styling, but truthfully, I’ve been wearing mostly the same Topshop Anna bag and Dorothy Perkins kitten heels with all of them.
So if you’re looking for some occasionwear inspiration for your next event, these are the three occasionwear dresses that earned their place in my wardrobe this year.
ASOS Printed Polka Dot Ruched Drop Waist Circle Dress – £42
I immediately knew this dress would be perfect for wedding season. I initially spotted the frock on the lovely Lydia from Lyds_wardrobe and fell in love. I went to order my usual size small but it wasn’t available so I went for the XS and thankfully, as the dress is super stretchy, it fit perfectly.
The drop-waist silhouette is one of the biggest trends of the moment, but the design still feels timeless and flattering enough that I know I’ll wear it again in years to come. The high neckline and sleeveless cut feel so sophisticated, making it ideal for more formal occasions. The rich wine shade and baby blue polka dots feels elevated and just that little bit different, without being too over the top.
I recently wore this dress to a black tie wedding and whenever someone complimented it, they couldn’t believe that a) it was from ASOS and b) it was under £50. The circle skirt moves beautifully making it the ultimate dancefloor pick.
At £42, it’s also one of the most affordable occasion dresses in my wardrobe. If burgundy isn’t your colour, it also comes in several other shades, including a gorgeous blue-and-brown polka dot version and a plain sage green option. For those of you who are expecting, it’s also a great maternity option that you can wear once baby is here, too.
Never Fully Dressed Aria Mesh Dress
Never Fully Dressed has become one of my favourite brands for statement occasionwear and their Aria dress is so nice, I bought it twice. I picked up the Star Fawn Aria Mesh Dress at John Lewis before snagging the Blue Poppy option on Vinted and it’s simply so good, I had to keep both.
This is the definition of a feel-good dress. It’s a mesh dress over a slip, it’s no-crease so it’s perfect for all-day wear and holiday suitcases, and as someone who sweats when she’s anxious, you won’t spot damp patches in these either.
I wore the Blue Poppy version of this dress to host a beauty influencer dinner, which is a vibrant blue and red floral design. Meanwhile, the Star Fawn boasts an all over brown deer print covered in the brand’s signature mix of prints and motifs, including stars, suns and palms, creating a piece that feels fun and unique.
I chose the Star Fawn dress for an awards evening because it perfectly tows the line between glamorous and comfortable. The mesh fabric feels lightweight and easy to wear, while the slightly flared sleeves add drama (and who doesn’t love a little bit of drama?) I actually also wore it to a baby shower – see, I’m already outfit repeating with them!
One of the things I love most about this dress is the colourful print as you can pick out a new colour for accessories each time you wear it. I’d recommend this style of dress to anyone, and would 100% buy another if they launched a fresh design I loved.
Abercrombie & Fitch Emerson Drop-Waist Maxi Dress
Last but not least, if you’ve spent any time on TikTok recently, chances are you’ve seen the Emerson Drop-Waist Maxi Dress. Abercrombie’s viral dress has built up quite the reputation and, after wearing it to another wedding this year, it’s easy to see why it’s so well loved.
It’s another drop-waist but totally different to the ASOS number, with a square neckline and softly puffed sleeves for a really feminine design. The ruching through the bodice is so flattering and the slightly shirred back adds a bit of stretch for comfort. But my favourite feature has to be the discreet side pockets which means you don’t have to carry your bag around all day.
I went for this butter yellow and blue floral design which is near sold-out now, but it does also come in a cute cream and green polka dot, plain green, black, white and a few other designs. I think it’s a great pick for christenings, garden parties, holidays and summer events, making the £100 price tag feel much easier to justify.
If I had to choose just three occasion dresses from my wardrobe right now, these would be the ones I’d keep. Each one feels completely different, which means between them I’ve had almost every special event covered this year without constantly buying something new – and isn’t that what good occasionwear is supposed to do?
