Royal designer BRUCE OLDFIELD picks the best High Street party dresses – and says Zara is as good as Chanel
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as a couturier for more than 40 years, i’ve become used to the same requests. Women want to dress their figures to accentuate their best bits while minimising their worst, to look elegant, feminine and not, under any circumstances, like mutton dressed as lamb. on New Year’s eve — our calen-dar’s glitziest, most bedazzling, show-stopping night — never has this been more true. However, quality and a flattering fit are by no means the sole preserve of high- end fashion designers such as myself who’ve made a living out of knowing our silk gazar from our silk cloqué. i’m pleased to report the High street is a rich seam of bargains that won’t forfeit taste, cut or your economic stability.
John Lewis is a marvel, as are Hobbs and Karen Millen for wonderful silhouettes and decent fabrics. often, i spot dresses with price tags under £ 100 and am stunned at what they’ve achieved.
Zara is the master of window design and presents its collections better than many high fashion labels — on a level with chanel. i’ve always said i’m not a great lover of fashion, i’m a lover of clothes. i appreciate great style and timeless tailoring; classic shapes that flatter and make women look and feel the best they possibly can.
You don’t have to spend a fortune to wear something that’s been carefully tailored; you just have to know where to look.
as a young boy growing up in Hett, a rural village in county Durham, the nearest High street was in sunderland or Durham city. My foster mother — i
never met either of my parents — was a dressmaker and we were so poor we’d have to make our own clothes or buy them from the market. I remember pressing my nose up against the shop windows of glossy stores and giggling at the absurd wigs on mannequins. It was like looking into another world.
The true wonder of the High Street only became clear when I arrived in London as a wide-eyed 20- something and enrolled at St Martins School of Art and Design. Then, I’d trail the King’s Road, admiring the quality at Biba, Lee Bender’s Bus Stop boutiques and Wallis, the latter of which would send designers to Paris to buy patterns from the couturiers to reproduce for the masses.
Now formal eveningwear is even cheaper and collections appear in shop windows faster than the seasons change.
The High Street has become a far more welcoming place for mature women, too. Designers have woken up to the importance of sleeves, graceful hem-lengths and necklines that flatter rather than flaunt, but still look lively.
Designer collaborations have further democratised fashion. Over three years I’ve produced six collections for John Lewis. Working for the masses has been a steep learning curve and taught me to limit my use of velvet!
To celebrate the best New Year’s evening outfits the High Street has to offer I’ve picked ten of my favourites, each of which will carry you to far beyond December 31 and, hopefully, become a wardrobe staple. Viva the British High Street!
Dark pink sequin dress, was £550, now £385, L.K.Bennett X Preen at lkbennett.com Satin ruffle sandals, £150, reiss.com Earrings, £120, cocoand kinney.com Clutch bag, £59, kurtgeiger.com tHis dress works for any age. cloaked in sequins with long sleeves and a high neck, you’ll be well covered — and warm! — but still look sassy. People assume women need to bare more skin to look sexy. they absolutely do not.
FuLL length is perfect for a formal New Year’s eve. i can imagine this worn on board a yacht in the caribbean. it’s silky and streamlined with a gathered front, leg slit and bags of class. Gathered pink silk dress, £109, massimo dutti.com Cross strap heels, £59, office.com Stretch jewel bracelet, £12, accessorize.com Pearl earrings, £14, accessorize.com
Jacquard blazer, was £170, now £136 & jacquard party trousers, were £110, now £66, both at boden.co.uk Velvet and lace camisole, £49.95, massimo dutti.com Mules, £34.99, hm.com Circle bag, was £20, now £14, accessorize. com seParates are great for versatility. You could wear these trousers with a sweater later on to dial down the glamour, or team with a black velvet jacket if you’d rather not be matchy-matchy. the burnished metallic shimmer is ideal for those who want to stand out but not fully commit to garish gold.
Sequin crossover dress, £89.99, zara.com, Gem-trim sandals, £64, office.co.uk Diane silver earrings, £120, cocoand kinney.com tHis is heavily embellished with swirling black sequins. there’s an elastic waist and deep V-neck which will suit hourglass figures, and a polyester lining to prevent any see-through moments. a stunning garment and perfect for the glamour of New Year’s eve.
Metallic jumpsuit, £59, marksandspencer.com Hermione black heels, £79, and Carvela clutch bag, £69, kurtgeiger.com Beaded tassel earrings, £12, accessorize.com a gorgeous sparkly seventies-inspired jumpsuit that, at £59, gives a lot of bang for your buck. clever finishes, such as the knot detail and laser cut edges to avoid fraying, elevate this to a superb buy. team with a short jacket and boogie into the early hours.
Floral jacquard dress, £169, Bruce by Bruce Oldfield at johnlewis.com Jewelled toe courts, £35, marksandspencer.com Layered necklace, £110, stelladot.co.uk A cASuAL and comfortable
dress with a bygone fifties tea-dance feel. It has a flared skirt with a fitted bodice, three-quarter sleeves and neatly cinched waist. The pattern doesn’t scream at you and the modest yet carefully fitted shape will flatter all shapes and sizes.
Red dress, £190, karenmillen.com Gold sandals, £29.99, zara.com Tassel earrings, £12, accessorize.com THIS has a lovely silhouette with a carefully designed asymmetrical hemline to lengthen the leg without uncomfortably shortening the skirt. Interesting cut-out shoulder detail, topstitching across the belt and a sumptuously soft crepe fabric makes this look far more than its £190 price tag. A 10/10 party frock. Issa blue ruffle dress, was £99, now £60, houseoffraser. co.uk Gold satin courts, now £157, lkbennett.com Glitter box clutch, £495, aspinaloflondon.com Waterfall pearl earrings, £120, Carousel Jewels at thepommier.com PeRfecT for those with a nice décolletage and shoulders. Dramatic fluted sleeves draw the eye and the bold blue will help you stand out in a sea of sequins. A modern reimagining of a classic cocktail dress.
Printed midi dress, £69.99, zara.com Raspberry satin courts, £250, lkbennett.com Stud & tassel earrings, £95, cocoand kinney.com YOuNg, flighty and fancy — the zodiac print is right on trend. The semi-sheer viscose fabric is soft but has a bit of weight so it looks more expensive than £69.99 and the below-the-knee hem covers the bits you want without looking too conservative.
Faux fur shawl, £90, reiss.com Jumper, £69, coast-stores.com Skirt, was £129 now
£64.50, Bruce by Bruce Oldfield at johnlewis.com Velvet lace up sandals, £131.60,
intropia.com A PReTTY tulle skirt with subtle gold embroidery. A joy to swish around the dancefloor in. falling just above the ankle, wear with a skinny heel to further elongate the leg.