Can cheap be chic?

Clothes are like cars - with the odd exception, you tend to get what you pay for. Which is why I have never been tempted by the new wave of ultra-cheap clothing ranges that flood the supermarkets, discount stores and websites at this time of year.

I know my onions, and I don't want to buy a party frock that's been sat anywhere near them, thank you very much. I'm a fashion editor - get me out of here before I break into a polyester induced rash.

When it comes to turning a sow's ear into a silk purse, these bargain-bucket clothing ranges are up to all the tricks. Expensive ad campaigns, clever lighting and celebrity associations are used so liberally that they would put Versace to shame - anything to convince the public that a £30 dress is a far more satisfying purchase than a £300 one. But can it ever be?

While these tactics don't fool me, they might well be fooling others. And so, in order to save the gullible from acrylic hell this Christmas, I ventured into my own idea of hell in search of bargain heaven.

Can cheap ever be chic? I road-tested four frocks to find out. Okay, so I didn't actually go out in them - that would be far beyond the call of duty - but I tried them on and twirled in front of the mirror.

The results might surprise you ...

FUCHSIA 'MATTHEW' DRESS, £35
by As Seen On Screen from www.asos.com
The sell: "It's just like the one from Matthew Williamson's current collection!"
The ASOS website specialises in running up designer looks for a fraction of the price - with variable results. Some "tributes" are truly dire - this one is based on Williamson's fuchsia chiffon Peony dress (price: £565), worn by everyone from Sienna Miller to Faria Alam.
The reality: Very cleverly made: no zips, the straps and waistband are elasticated, which keep production costs down. The fabric isn't too nasty and the velvet ribbon trim makes the dress look much pricier than it is. Fits and hangs well, but would be impossible to wear if you were bigger than a B cup, as the bra top is cut very skimpily.
Verdict: Not to be worn anywhere that the real Peony dress might surface, or your night will be ruined and you will feel like a cheap tart.

PALE PINK 'MATTHEW' DRESS, £25
by Amarato from Matalan, (01695 552793)
The sell: "It's just like the one from Matthew's current collection!"
Er, no it's not. It bears as much resemblance to a Williamson dress as an elephant does to a teacup. But never mind - let's shoot it in a floodlit garden, on a moody blonde model! That'll get women buying it in droves ... not.
The reality: The fabric feels scratchy and the saccharine colour looks cheap. It hangs really badly because the fabric pulls at the seams. The only plus point is that you get some silver beading along the neckline and across the skirt.
The verdict: I don't know who this dress is playing to - women with Christmas weddings to go to? With its hanky hem, beading and frilly shoulder straps, it's almost too fancy for a wedding, never mind an office party. Neither the colour nor the style are fashionable - truly dire.

CREAM STRAPLESS PROM DRESS, £45
by Florence & Fred from Tesco (0800 505555)
The sell: Vast amount of money spent on enlisting Sex and the City's Kristen Davies to model the range. She is photographed in front of an 18th-century chintz sofa with gold legs - every photographer's favourite trick as a shorthand signifier of upmarket chic and all-round general poshness. The focus is soft to avoid showing the dress in too much detail.
The reality: The dress feels cheap and nasty, with horrid shiny mock-satin panels (actually 100 per cent polyester) and a scratchy underskirt of stiff white net. Things improve once it is put on: the size 12 is generously cut, it hangs well and the bustline is quite flattering.
Verdict:The fabric is so vile that it will always look cheap, but could be redeemed with a corsage and some dim lighting. Bonus points for having a zip and a boned corset, which at least gives support to larger women.

PURPLE PLEATED DRESS, £18
by G21 for George at Asda (0500 100055)
The sell: None - just a model in a dark studio with her legs crossed like she's trying to hold in a wee. Although we wish the chains would stop sub-dividing their ranges: G21 for George at Asda is a bit of a mouthful. One look at this dress and we've already figured out that you need to be 21 to wear it -we don't need it spelling out to us.
The reality: Soft fabric with no scratchiness, although still that unavoidable polyester feel. Hangs well thanks to the knife-pleats falling from the bustline, which create a pleasing swishy effect. The satin ribbon is a nice touch, although it's only attached by loops so that it droops when tied at the back.
The verdict Cut so you can wear it with a bra - hurrah! The empire cut won't suit everyone, but for £18, it's a quick, cheap party fix.