Autumn & winter dresses

Dresses built for colder months: long sleeves, knitted and heavier fabrics, and cuts that work with tights and boots. Every piece here is one of a kind, checked, graded and photographed by hand, so what you see is the actual dress you will receive. Sizes typically run from UK 4 to 22, with day dresses, midis and shirt dresses from high street names turning up most often.

22 products

Buying preloved autumn and winter dresses

What turns up on the rail

The regular names here are New Look, ROMAN, H&M, Apricot, Yours, George, TU and White Stuff, so it leans high street and comfortable rather than occasion-only. Sizes usually run across UK 4 to 22, though each dress is a single piece in a single size. Patterns repeat: floral is the most common, followed by abstract prints, animal print and polka dot. Styles are mostly knee length and midi day dresses, casual everyday shapes and the odd shirt dress. Most pieces are graded Very good, with the occasional Good or New with tags.

What to check before you buy

Heavier dresses wear in particular places, so read the photos and the grade together.

  • Knitted dresses: look at the seat and elbows, where knit can thin or bag out. A dress that has dropped slightly in length is normal for knitwear and usually settles after washing and drying flat.
  • Bobbling: common on soft jersey and knit. It is cosmetic and comes off with a fabric shaver, but it is worth seeing where it sits.
  • Underarms and cuffs: long sleeves get the most friction, so check cuff edges and seams in the images.
  • Linings: heavier winter dresses are often lined, and a lining can be a different size to the shell. Ask for measurements before buying if you are between sizes.
  • Fastenings: zips, shirt dress buttons and belt loops. If a belt is included it will be shown in the photos.
  • Sizing: high street sizing shifts between brands and over the years, so the label is a starting point rather than a promise.

Why buy winter dresses preloved

Winter dresses are worn less often than summer ones. A dress bought for a few months of cold weather is often still in good shape when it comes back round, which is why so much of this rail grades Very good. Buying preloved also gets you shapes and prints that are no longer on the shop floor, including older ROMAN and White Stuff pieces you will not find new. Everything here is one of a kind, so if a dress suits you there is no second one behind it in a different size. Measurements for any item are available on request before you buy, and there is 14-day returns for any reason if it is not right once it arrives.

Common questions

Are the dresses here all long sleeved?

Most are, but not every one. The collection is grouped by weight and warmth as well as sleeve length, so you will also find heavier short sleeved or sleeveless dresses meant for layering over a top or under a cardigan. Each listing states the style, and the photos show the full garment.

How do I know a knitted dress has not stretched out of shape?

Honestly, knit does relax with wear, and a preloved knitted dress may hang slightly differently to a new one. The grade and the photos cover anything visible, but if the fit is critical, ask for measurements before you buy rather than relying on the size label. Knitted dresses are also best stored folded rather than hung, which stops the shoulders dropping further.

What sizes do you usually have?

Sizes typically span UK 4 to 22 across the collection, with high street brands like New Look, H&M, George and Yours covering both the smaller and larger end. Each dress exists in one size only. If you want to compare two listings, ask for measurements on both.

What do the condition grades mean for a winter dress?

We use five grades: New with tags, Like new, Very good, Good and Fair. Most winter dresses here grade Very good, which means light wear with nothing that stands out when worn. Anything more noticeable, such as bobbling or a mark, is described in the listing and shown in the photos.

How quickly will my dress arrive?

Orders are dispatched within 2 working days and sent on tracked UK delivery. Standard delivery is free on orders over £50. If something turns out to be faulty or not as described, you have 30 days rather than the usual 14.

I cannot see the dress I had in mind. What now?

New pieces go up most days, so the rail looks different from one week to the next. If you are after a particular brand, size or style, use the contact form to ask whether something like it is in stock at the moment.