What do you wear when the seemingly unending winter finally gives way to 18 degrees and sunshine? After months of mastering your layering formula, suddenly the top priority is staying cool and comfortable. For me, the key is keeping things simple with a great throw-on spring dress in a breathable fabric. With spring finally in full swing, I've logged countless hours looking for the perfect dress to add to my daily rotation, and after cycling through many great designs that cost a lot of money, I landed on an internet-favourite that's surprisingly affordable: the Aurelia check dress from Aligne.
That spring 2025's 'It' dress is from Aligne comes as no surprise. The brand is well-versed in crafting high-quality, wearable pieces that quickly achieve viral status. Just this year it's reversible trench coats were the ultimate street style star at Copenhagen Fashion Week while it's waisted Daphne knits are a common sight at Grazia HQ. Now, countless influencers have given its checked shift dress their seal of approval, and it's already selling out fast.
Shop: Aligne's Aurelia Waisted Dress
aligne.co
The Aurelia dress takes after the brand's signature waisted silhouette with an adjustable buckle for a cinched waist and short curved sleeves. The crew neck mini features a button-up shirt dress design with an all-over navy gingham pattern – a cheery print that's both trendy and timeless. Where the shift dress silhouette lends a refined finish, the lightweight cotton means it'll be ideal for those sweltering spring days. Coming in under £140, the dress is also inclusively made in sizes 4-22, and as a size UK18, I can confirm it's flattering across all body types. It's also a great dress for petite women.
As always, the key to a great sartorial addition lies in its versatility and the Aurelia dress ticks the right boxes. Often styled with leather loafers or sandals for a casual look or with heels and chunky silver hoops for an evening event, the sleek dress also works well with tights and knee-high boots while the weather's still chilly. If you'd rather opt for a more minimalistic design, the Aurelia frock's denim iteration is just as chic and will work wonders with chunky trainers for the weekend or your favourite cowboy boots for summer festivals.
Shop: Aligne's Aurelia Denim Dress
aligne.co
Main image credits: ©Instagram/@marthawr
Hitanshi Kamdar is a senior commerce writer for Grazia. Hitanshi is always on the hunt for the latest trends, emerging designers and the internet’s most bizarre style discourse. When not writing, she can be found IDing outfits during Netflix binges and shopping for the latest It-girl shoe trends.