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Your Ultimate Guide to the Best Laura Ashley Dresses
There is probably no dress style that defined our country more or was more synonymous with the 80s than Laura Ashley dresses. With puffed sleeves, drop-waists, and decade-appropriate prints that icons like Princess Diana have been immortalised in, these are certainly not pieces you can search for in any modern shop today.
While the clothing line is still making dresses that are more appropriate to our modern time, people all around the world are still missing and finding the look of the vintage dresses that made the brand truly famous. We’ve found a blend of old and new finds from its collection that you can shop and wear today. Check them all out here.
Our Top Picks for the Best Laura Ashley Dresses
Editor's Choice  Best Overall |  Most Timeless |  Best Vintage Find |
Navy/Natural Meadow Print MidiCombining their design past with contemporary style, this piece is perhaps the perfect amalgamation of what made the brand so iconic. | Barbour ElmFlorals are always timeless, and combining that with a dress shirt silhouette makes it even more so. | Vintage Daisy Print SummerWhile all vintage products are winners in our books, this daisy print piece definitely takes the cake. |
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Let’s Go Over Each Laura Ashley Dress
#1: Navy/Natural Meadow Print Midi
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Combining their design past with contemporary style, this piece is perhaps the perfect amalgamation of what made the brand so iconic and how it has come to adapt to modern tastes and style.
This dress features a print inspired by its archive and is paired with breathable linen material for classic comfort in the summer. If you’ve been looking to buy a dress that works for virtually any occasion you can think of, then we’ve found the one for you.
Pros and Cons of the Navy/Natural Meadow Print Midi
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Classic floral design ✔ Versatile silhouette ✔ Breesy and comfortable material ✔ Available in a range of sizes | ✘ Comes in only 1 colour/design |
#2: Barbour Elm
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Florals are always timeless, and combining that with a dress shirt silhouette makes it even more so. We’re absolutely sold on this product that looks like it can fit in any decade and trend.
It has a feminine shape, and soft drape, and is styled with blouson sleeves and a full skirt with ruffle details on the placket and sleeve crown. This is something you can keep in your wardrobe and love for a long while.
Pros and Cons of the Barbour Elm
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Timeless and versatile silhouette ✔ Classic floral design ✔ Available in a range of sizes | ✘ Higher price point |
#3: Vintage Daisy Print Summer
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While all vintage products are winners in our books, this daisy print piece definitely takes the cake. Floral dresses have always been in style, but it can be difficult to find a floral print that survives and surpasses popular print styles.
This item features a lovely and flattering silhouette with a cinched waist, a long skirt, and thick straps perfect for summer and beach days.
Pros and Cons of the Vintage Daisy Print Summer
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Unique and one-of-a-kind piece ✔ Universally flattering silhouette ✔ Versatile design | ✘ Difficult to acquire ✘ Only available on Etsy |
#4: Vintage Navy Belted Summer Occasion
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Thanks to sites that allow vintage enthusiasts and buyers to search, promote, sell, and buy unique items that haven’t been made in years, many pieces that seemed unattainable have now become available for the average person to purchase from the comfort of their own home.
This navy blue belted number is one of our favourite Laura Ashley vintage things because of how classic and versatile its silhouette is while still bringing with it an air of nostalgia.
Pros and Cons of the Vintage Navy Belted Summer Occasion
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Unique and one-of-a-kind piece ✔ Universally flattering silhouette ✔ Versatile design | ✘ Difficult to acquire ✘ Only available on Etsy ✘ Limited size options |
#5: Spot Fit and Flare
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For a classier everyday go-to, the Spot Fit and Flare is the perfect buy that will get you through any casual day. We love the classic polka dots, capped sleeves, cinched waist, and matching belt that make this piece effortlessly chic.
All of these details make this dress classically elegant while still comfortable and casual enough to move around in.
Pros and Cons of the Spot Fit and Flare
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Classic silhouette ✔ Breesy and comfortable material ✔ Available in a range of sizes | ✘ Comes in only 1 colour |
#6: Bronwyn Black Velvet Midi Dress
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A collaboration with Joanie Clothing, this dress completely captures Laura Ashley’s romantic aesthetic. Inspired by the Great British countryside, this dress features a sweetheart neckline and exaggerated puff sleeves with bow details.
Based on a Laura Ashley dress from the 1980s, this piece is crafted using organic cotton fabric that’s soft and luxurious to the touch. It has a high waistline that leads to a midi-length skirt with pockets at the hips. It’s an elegant frock that can certainly be your go-to for any party or special event.
Pros and Cons of the Bronwyn Black Velvet Midi Dress
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔ Made with organic cotton velvet ✔ Puff sleeves with bow detail ✔ Has pockets ✔ Available in two colours | ✘ Limited sizes |
What Is Laura Ashley Best Known For?
Laura Ashley is a brand best known for its pieces that have a romantic and recognisable aesthetic. These range from dresses and jumpsuits that have floral patterns, intricate details, and eye-catching colours, to whimsical and decorative housewares unlike any other.
What Style is Laura Ashley?
When it was at the height of its popularity, the company created statement collections that mostly featured dresses with puffy sleeves, longer and more relaxed silhouettes, and loud colours and prints. These dresses were perfect for time spent in the countryside or attending a big event, with almost every woman sporting the look or style like it.
Is Laura Ashley Still Popular?
Trends change often and what was once on a decline has now seen a rise in popularity and vice versa. Thanks to vintage and retro styles making a return, Laura Ashley has also made a comeback.
Are Laura Ashley Dresses Worth Anything?
These days, Laura Ashley dresses and jumpsuits are being sold on e-commerce platforms such as eBay and Etsy for as low as 100 GBP to as much as 2,000 GBP and above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Laura Ashley?
The classic brand was founded by husband-and-wife team Bernard and Laura Ashley and began as a fabric company in 1953 before opening its first store in London in the late 1960s. Since then, its cultural impact has become unforgettable when we remember and reminisce about the fashion of the maximalist decade.
Conclusion
From when it opened its first store to the moment it sold its last iconic 80s product, Laura Ashley has been immortalised as an important fashion moment in the 20th century. Thanks to vintage lovers on the internet from Etsy to eBay who save and sell these now one-of-a-kind pieces such as dresses and jumpsuits, we’re still able to get our hands on pieces that we thought were long gone.
But even with that, the brand still provides us with new pieces that remind us of their origins while matching the styles of the present, so wherever you shop from, you’re sure to find something that you’ll love for a long time.
Editor’s Choice
Navy/Natural Meadow Print Midi
From its current collection of dresses, this product is the perfect blend of old and new. We love the floral design that takes inspiration from the prints of the 80s and how it can be taken from weekend errands to a classy garden party.
If you’re out to earn a piece of history that allows you to explore the classic 80s look while still exuding a modern flair, this piece is the complete package.
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