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Fashion editors share their secrets to being the best dressed guest from £23

Fashion editors share their secrets to being the best dressed guest from £23

The Sun24-04-2025

Occasion season is well and truly on the horizon and the high street is jam packed with fresh summer arrivals.
And with every wedding invite or save the date comes the inevitable dilemma, what to wear?
What's appropriate and how to navigate the dreaded dress-code.
Whether you're heading to the races, attending a wedding or celebrating a special birthday, finding the perfect outfit on the high-street can seem a near-impossible task.
So we've hit the shops early and picked out some of our favourite finds, from as little as £23 to give you the inspo you need to be the best-dressed guest this season.
Top tip: snap up your summer gems now, because come July, the rails will be packed with knitwear!
Tracey Lea Sayer, Fashion Director
4
A Special Birthday Abroad
I'm off to Mallorca with girlfriends this summer for a special birthday, and I'm after something that will look amazing but also be really comfy and keep me cool on a balmy evening.
Step forward this gorgeous two-piece from John Lewis.
I love the oversized A-symmetrical print which I think makes it look really expensive.
The kimono-style sleeves and wide-leg pants feel really elegant, but they are also so comfortable because they have a drawstring waist, so are perfect for overindulging on tapas!
I've added white accessories - this JD Williams bag also has an oriental vibe with the faux tortoise shell handle, and I can dance all night long at a late night bar in these TKees flats…
Bring it on!
Abby McHale, 30, Deputy Fashion Editor
The Races
I love dressing up for all kinds of occasions, but this year I'm heading to the races.
I would never normally think to go to the likes of Joe Browns for dressier occasions, however the brand has a lovely selection of dresses, including this floral halterneck one.
Pink and green are great together and scream spring/summer, plus the fabric on this dress is so soft.
I've popped a blazer over the top to give me an extra layer for the unpredictable British weather, and added this fun beaded bag from Mango, along with some ASOS gold heels.
While I'll be sporting this outfit at the races, you could also wear the dress to any other occasions you have this summer - in fact, I've already worn it once on holiday!
Emily Regan, 25, Fashion Assistant
A summer wedding
I loved this Primark bow dress when it launched in black as part of Rita Ora's range last year.
It went so viral that I was unable to get hold of one, so I was thrilled to see that they've brought it back for summer in new colourways.
Plus, I think it'll be a piece that I reach for time and time again, as it's so wearable - and would be a great option for everything from the races to a wedding guest, or would look equally as lovely as an evening outfit on holiday.
If you're less keen on hot pink, then fear not as Primark has also released it in a cream and floral print.
Plus, there's even a midi-length that's only £32, but be quick as I think they'll fly off the shelves.
I've finished off the look with my go-to bow heels from River Island and this gorgeous rattan bag - it's a little bit more on the expensive side, but a great investment that's ideal for special occasions.
Clemmie Fieldsend, Fashion Editor
A Christening
I'm in my Christening era of life - I have two this year - so I want a one-and-done outfit.
This season, you can't escape butter yellow on the high street - and I'm loving it.
The M&S three-piece suit was a hit at the beginning of the season, and the blazer is a winner for spring.
I'll be wearing mine as a top on its own, so I don't have to worry about what's happening underneath - plus it's great for cinching me at the waist, while the exaggerated shoulders help this further by making a more defined hourglass shape.
Paired with this amazing linen wrap-style skirt that looks like something from designer Thom Browne, the deconstructed, falling-apart style is what sets it apart from the rest of the high street's midi-skirts.
Paired with tonal accessories, like this pearlised bag and a hint of yellow in my shoes, and I'm all set.
Why Primark is great for looking expensive on a budget
By Clemmie Feildsend, Fabulous Fashion Editor
AS someone who's no stranger to grabbing a last-minute outfit from Primark for a night out, it's about time that celebrities started catching on too.
For as long as I've been heading out, Primark has been my go-to for those 'I have nothing to wear' moments, rushing in at the last minute to find something perfect.
And I'm definitely not alone - on any Friday or Saturday night, you'll find plenty of shoppers doing the same thing, right before closing time.
But no matter what, Primark always delivers.
Now, Rita Ora is leading the charge, showing that you can snag a designer-worthy look without spending a fortune at high-end stores.
While Rita's not rushing in last minute for a red carpet outfit, she's proving you can achieve the same high-impact style for much less.
Looking stunning in her tailored suit alongside her mum Vera, Rita fit right in among the other A-listers dripping in Prada, Dior, and Victoria Beckham - if anything, she looked even better than some of the guests at The Fashion Awards.
With Myleene Klass and Roxy Horner already jumping on the Primark bandwagon, I'm sure more stars will be following suit soon enough.

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Gold rats, inflatable balls and community photography: inside the Royal Academy's 2025 Summer Exhibition
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Gold rats, inflatable balls and community photography: inside the Royal Academy's 2025 Summer Exhibition

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Brit celebs who quit UK for off-grid lives abroad…from soap actress who runs Thai ‘drug bar' to star who lives in a TENT
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Brit celebs who quit UK for off-grid lives abroad…from soap actress who runs Thai ‘drug bar' to star who lives in a TENT

Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THEY had it all - fame, fortune and adoring fans. But instead of basking in the spotlight, these British stars packed it all in and bid the UK adieu. 20 This week fans were in awe after Noel Edmonds made a stunning return to showbiz Credit: PA 20 The star is now set to showcase his new life in an ITV show Credit: PA 20 Noel is one of the most recognisable faces in British telly Credit: Getty This week fans were left in awe when Noel Edmonds made his big return to showbiz after years away. The last time many saw him was on I'm A Celebrity in 2018, where he was the first star to be booted out of the camp. Now he's back with a brand new ITV show set to focus on his life in New Zealand. The 76-year-old moved there with his wife Liz in 2015. Speaking to The Sun about his triumphant return, he said: "People still ask, 'Noel Edmonds? Didn't he die? Is he still around?' 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In 2023, she posted on TikTok, celebrating one year in Thailand with the caption: "Came for 4 months, now run a weed bar." Speaking about the move in an interview, Kelli said: "We'd been to Pattaya a few times on a holiday, we did a bit of island hopping and in June they legalised marijuana and we found this really cute little shop and got really good friends with the owner and decided to basically set up our own weed shop." She added: "I'll be honest, I've smoked weed since I was about 15, but I'm not a hard-core weed smoker. "I can't do full joints and edibles and all that, so it probably bodes well, or I'd probably smoke all the profits. "It's definitely not something I envisaged, but we've definitely made the right choice." S Club Prepper 20 Hannah Spearritt found fame in British pop group S Club 7 Credit: Getty - Contributor 20 Hannah Spearritt has given a glimpse into her new life in Costa Rica Credit: Instagram 20 She has quit the UK to become a 'prepper and survivalist' Last month former S Club 7 star Hannah Spearritt went public with her new life as a "survivalist and prepper" in the Costa Rican jungle. She relocated to the central American country with partner Adam Thomas and their daughters, aged three and five, back in January to start afresh after quitting the UK, having fallen in love with it during a trip in 2018. She'd previously admitted it was her dream to move there and buy some land or a farm and live "the simple life" with her kids. In her Instagram image caption she describes herself as: "Prepper, survivalist and creator now living the uninhibited jungle life." LA to Uruguay 20 Rhona Mitra moved to Uruguay after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease Credit: Rex 20 She now lives on a 400-acre farm where she rescues horses Credit: Instagram/iamrhonamitra 20 Rhona has spoken about how lonely it is on the farm Credit: Instagram/iamrhonamitra In 2023, British actress Rhona Mitra, 48, opened up about how she quit Hollywood to settle into a quiet life in Uruguay. The star, who grew up in West London, moved to the States after finding success in the American market. She was the first ever live-action Lara Croft in 1997, and also appeared in films such as Sweet Home Alabama and TV shows including Boston Legal. On Channel 5's Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild in 2023, she explained how she bought a 400-acre farm in Uruguay after being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2012. After a two-year recovery period, where she stayed in a cabin, Rhona said she knew she couldn't go back to her Hollywood lifestyle. 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She added: "It's very unusual for a single girl to move to this part of Campo by herself and with no partner, no husband, that's really strange." Off-grid school 20 Charlotte has had an illustrious career after finding fame as a teen singing sensation Credit: Rex 20 Charlotte set up a school that focuses on nature in the annex of her home in Wales Credit: Really Channel/Koska Productions/Discovery Communications) From chart-topping teen to school founder, Charlotte Church, 39, is now teaching kids how to grow veg, care about nature, and be proud of who they are. The former Voice of an Angel star has swapped the stage for the schoolyard, setting up her own eco-friendly education centre in the annex of her house. Back in 2019, Charlotte vowed she'd "work night and day" to create a new kind of school in South Wales - and she's stuck to her word. The result is The Arwen Project, a rural retreat-style set-up where kids learn permaculture, organic gardening, land management and even how to connect with nature. She spent up to seven years researching education before launching the venture, saying the current school system was doing more harm than good. "The more I speak to young people and teachers, the more I think the system… is starting to become actively damaging," she wrote in a blog. "A lot of people leave school thinking they're not good enough, not smart, not capable – and that's heartbreaking." In her school, pupils learn outdoors whenever they can, make their own rules and focus on real-world issues that matter to them. During an LGBTQ+ week, the kids were treated to a talk from drag queen Le Gateau Chocolat, who taught them about allyship and the power of knowing when to "pass the mic." "Especially as white privileged people, we need to know when to step back," Charlotte told the New Statesman. 20 Charlotte at her wellness retreat Credit: Really Channel/Koska Productions/Discovery Communications)

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