The shirt dress has proven to be a style staple of 2018, and no wonder: after all, they tick a number of style boxes. Easy to wear? Tick. Comfortable to sit in all day? Tick, tick. Ability to take you from boardroom to bar? Tick, tick, tick. From linen to silk, midi to maxi, the right shirtdress can easily become the hardest working item in your wardrobe.

Plus, with the likes of Meghan Markle and Holly Willoughby giving them their seal of approval this year, we’ve no doubt the trend is going to continue well into 2019, too.

All in all, it makes sense to invest in a good shirt dress – ideally one of a midi-length and in the print of the moment, too (we’re talking a muted leopard).

And, according to a recent survey by John Lewis, it seems there is one such dress which ticks all of these boxes. So much so, in fact, that it was their most sold-out item of 2018.

Say hello to the Somerset by Alice Temperley Leopard Print Shirt Dress.

Made from a lightweight viscose, this £99 buttoned dress – available in sizes 8 to 18 – features short sleeves, a mandarin collar and a waist-cinching tie at the middle. And, for those who prefer a little more coverage, there’s a long sleeved maxi version at £140, too.

Not convinced this is the one for you? Check out our pick of the ultimate shirt dresses below:

Image: Getty