Krissy Turner irl on a budget
How to spot a high-street It Dress – before it sells out
Last summer, The Telegraph’s fashion team came close to creating a Whatsapp group solely to ensure that we didn’t all wear the same floral Zara dress to the office on the same day. The frock in question (red and pink, with short ruffled sleeves) was lightweight cotton, ideal for the heatwave. At least five members of the team bought it before it sold out nationwide. Several of my friends and family trekked around different branches in search of their size. I dubbed it the season’s Most Wanted Dress (MWD).
If you missed out on 2018’s MWD, fear not: I’ve identified the It Dress formula so that you snap them up early, as the summer collections are already arriving in our favourite high street stores.
A sleeve of some sort is a vital component. Last year, British brand
Kitri had a waiting list of 800+ for a printed green midi dress with long chiffon sleeves
– and that was before it even went on sale. This summer’s equivalents are Arket’s red version, and Kitri’s new pink gingham frock. The slightly puffed sleeve is very flattering (should you
be looking for arm-slimming effects) and the square neck isn’t so low that it delves into milkmaid cleavage territory either, so it’s officeappropriate. It’s on sale from April 16 and there’s already a waiting list, so sign up for stock alerts. A hemlength either on or below the knee is the next ingredient. & Other Stories releases different iterations of its hero wrap dress each season; this dandelion print is the latest and, depending on how tall you are, will fall somewhere between your knee and ankle. A pretty print is key, though it shouldn’t be so bold that you can’t rewear it fortnightly. Zara excels here, and should be your first stop. This polka dot maxi frock is heavenly in real life, and as it’s the cheapest on my predicted sell-out list you can afford to have it taken up a few inches if you’re petite. Price is another major factor. As the UK weather is as unpredictable as its politics, we daren’t throw hundreds at a dress that may only get one or two wears, which is why a flattering, dress-code busting high-street one is like gold dust. Whichever dress you opt for, a proactive approach is key. Better to act now and keep the receipt than spend hours trawling the high street for leftovers later.
As the UK weather is as unpredictable as its politics, we daren’t throw hundreds at a dress that may only get one or two wears