Missed your chance to shop Never Fully Dressed’s red and white stripe midaxi before it sold out? We have a £35 solution…
There are few greater highs in fashion than spotting a lookalike of a cult designer piece at a fraction of the price, especially when it hits the season’s biggest trends perfectly. Right now, New Look has come through with a summer dress that could easily be mistaken for a much pricier Never Fully Dressed design.
If you missed out on Never Fully Dressed’s now-sold-out stripe cotton midaxi dress, you’re not alone. It was everywhere one minute and gone the next. With its playful mix of pastel stripes, embroidered detailing and that flattering midaxi cut, it had summer holiday written all over it. But now, New Look is offering a strong alternative that’s not only just as eye-catching, but also comes in at £35.99 instead of NFD’s £169.
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At first glance, the similarities are striking. New Look’s red striped woven puff sleeve milkmaid midi dress shares many of the same standout details as the designer version. The vertical stripes are fun and summery, the puff sleeves give a little vintage charm and the milkmaid neckline is a universally flattering shape that suits all bust sizes.
Where the original NFD version leaned into its signature eclectic look with beachy embroidery and a slightly more bohemian feel, New Look’s version takes a cleaner approach. The simpler red and white stripe has a timeless, slightly nautical feel that nods to vintage summer holidays.
Both dresses also feature a fitted bodice that nips in at the waist before flaring gently into a breezy skirt. New Look’s dress lands at a midi length, just below the knee, which makes it slightly shorter than the NFD version. For many, that slightly shorter hemline makes it easier to wear day to day, especially with trainers, flat sandals or even a chunky espadrille.
New Look’s dress is also made from a cotton-rich blend, so it’s light and breathable without feeling flimsy or looking see-through. For a £35.99 dress, the quality is surprisingly strong. Perhaps most importantly, New Look’s dress is still in stock across most sizes. That is likely to change once the word spreads, especially among those who missed out on the designer version.
If you’re shopping around for other similar striped dresses, we also love Nobody’s Child’s Pink And Red Striped Starlight Midi Dress, £89 – cheaper than NFD but pricier than New Look.
