IT’S DRESS TO IMPRESS TIME!
We’ve had enough of being casual. This summer, insist you put your most fabulous foot forward . . .
IT’S been a tough year, but now the sun is shining and as we inch ever closer to a type of normality, we can now pull out all the fashion stops.
Back in June we might have hedged our bets and gone with an old favourite, but we’re not doing that now. Oh, no. If there’s one thing this pandemic has taught us, it is to seize the day, scrub up when you get the chance and always wear the fabulous thing not the second best.
There are several ways to channel your style siren this summer. Here are some of them . . .
SEVENTIES REVIVAL
HALSTON, the American designer who was the darling of the Studio 54 set in the 1970s, built his reputation on figure-skimming fluid dresses, and his best party trick was rainbow-coloured, batwing-sleeved dresses made to twirl and spin in.
If you’re in the mood for unleashing your inner disco queen (but want to look uptown elegant while you do), then Zara’s poncho dress (right) would fit the bill.
The Terry de Havilland gold platform shoes aren’t compulsory — they’re pretty high — but it’s worth noting that the rainbowcoloured Non-Stop Disco style on the website is sold out. So. Definitely something in the air.
THE HOT SUIT
SOMETIMES the only thing that will put you in the party mood is a ‘nothing comes between me and my tailoring’ sharp suit.
No ordinary tuxedo will do this summer and it certainly can’t be standard black. Given the time of year (and the year we’ve had), this suit must be extra-glamorous and memorable. White or cream could work, but if you want to look right on the fashion money, you might consider sunset pink.
Pink is the colour of the moment (a suit in mint green will not have the same impact). Otherwise, the only rule of the Hot Suit is it stands alone: the look is all about smooth, sleek and sexy, so don’t clutter it up with a blouse. It should be worn in the tried-and-tested style of Kate Moss and Bianca Jagger . . . with nothing underneath.
The waistcoat is optional and, let’s face it, will only appeal to those with gorgeous toned arms. Otherwise, wear a lace insert camisole and keep your jacket on.
And if on the night a suit seems too smart, then a blazer and print trousers should be just right.
SILVER AND SHINE
WHEN our thoughts turn to parties, the lure of something shiny is never far behind. We’re not suggesting you go the full Barbarella (although why not?), but a silver top will do, paired with a satin skirt or wide swishy trousers.
Silver works best next to fabrics with a glossy finish and metallics look chicest in simple styles, so Roland Mouret’s asymmetric sliver of a tunic top with the silky trousers (third from right) is perfect. Not to mention timeless. You could be wearing this on New Year’s Eve 2030, heating permitted.
ROARING TWENTIES
TALKING of dazzle, some predict a Roaring Twenties mark II in the wake of the pandemic — and their hunch may not be far off.
Gatsby glitz and flapper style — sequins, feathers, silk tassels, plenty of swing and sparkle — does
look tempting in our current mood. If you’re casting around for a dressing-up theme this summer, you could do worse than Roaring 2021 and the dresses pictured are perfect for would-be Daisy Buchanans.
BOLD AND LONG
A BLOCK colour maxi dress is this summer’s one stop party look. Wearing one bold colour automatically makes you look smarter and, because long is no longer just for balls and bridesmaids, it’s glamorous and relaxed at the same time.
The yellow Me+Em dress (far right) is one of this season’s hardworking maxis, meaning it can be a head-turner at parties, with the right accessories, but you could equally wear it with white plimsolls in the city or out to dinner on holiday.
The secret of a successful party maxi is the fabric (this one is silk cotton), a detail that gives it after-dark potential (this dress has a keyhole neck) and some bare skin.
It’s arms and shoulders on show again, sorry to say. But if you’ve got toned biceps, this is your moment to flaunt them. Just add bejewelled mules (or maybe something you can dance in) and you’re off!