Designer Dresses Under £300

The most versatile length in any wardrobe, and the one designers do best at this price. Maje and Sandro bring French ease in linen blends and knits, Michael Kors adds polished jersey shapes, and Miu Miu's poplin styles read smart enough for work. A good midi takes you from a daytime event to dinner with a change of shoe, which is exactly why it earns its place first.

For when you want presence without effort. The maxi is the holiday dress, the summer wedding guest, the evening piece you throw on and feel finished in. Across these brands you get everything from breezy cotton to fluid jersey, cut to move. Look for a length that clears the floor in flats and a neckline you can wear without fuss, and the dress does the rest.

The dress with the most occasion energy, and the one that flatters a good pair of legs and heels. From structured shift shapes to softer ruched jersey, these shorter styles cover drinks, parties and dinners where you want to feel dressed up rather than dressed down. A clean shoulder and a defined waist make a mini feel considered rather than girlish.

The grown up everyday dress, as easy as throwing on a shirt but far more put together. A shirt dress belts in for shape or hangs loose over the weekend, and the designer versions here come in proper cottons and crisp poplins that hold a press. This is the dress you reach for when you want to look effortless and actually be comfortable, which is rarer than it sounds.