The beautiful thing about dresses is, even if you’re in a rush, just pulling on a dress makes you look so put together. You don’t have to worry about coordinating separates, just add a few accessories – unless the dress is already heavily adorned with embellishments – and shoes, and you’re good to go. This season, more than ever, the dress is incredibly versatile. Here are just a few of my favourite pieces from catwalk to catalogue, high end to high street, for the new autumn/winter season.
Asymmetric dress
Dipped hem dresses first burst into the fashion spotlight during the summer season and their popularity is showing no sign of waning. I love this printed one by Morgan because it has nods to this autumn and winter, with its animal print and gold embellishment around the neck. But, it’s also perfect to wear into spring and summer. I’m going to style it with a Victoria Beckham two-tone clutch and a pair of metallic heels for summer, switching to a pair of tan wedges and crossbody bag for summer holidays.
Two trends in one
The shirt dress has been seen on all the stylish A-listers this season with Rita Ora recently donning a white and gold version for a night out, and fellow popstar Taylor Swift opting for a simple shirt dress, worn with a burgundy bowler hat, while out and about in New York. This Alem number from La Redoute combines the shirt dress style with tartan, which was a key trend on the catwalks for this autumn. I’m going to be dressing it down for autumn, layering with chunky knitwear and a fluffy gilet, along with some biker boots.
If money were no object
If my other half wouldn’t mind me taking out a second mortgage to cover the cost of this dress, I’d be going for Dolce and Gabbana’s most stunning creation to date. Costing a whopping £32,000, there are only six of these in the world. It’s covered in hand-stitched resin crystals which sit atop superfine tulle and black chiffon so it’s more a work of art than a dress. You’d save on the cost of having to wear any jewellery though.
A bed of roses
While florals are usually the preserve of summer, partnered with pretty pastel shades, this season, the big name designers sent their models down the runways in moodier blooms – reds, deep pinks and mauves sitting against black backgrounds. For a more affordable option, I’m loving thismodcloth dress which combines winter flowers with subtle cut-outs to add a little sex appeal.
The Little White Dress
While years gone by may have been all about the Little Black Dress, this autumn, it’s all about the opposite number – the Little White Dress. Everyone from Taylor Swift to Sandra Bullock, Emma Watson to Julianne Moore has been wearing the purest of colours on the red carpet. Milly’s collection is one to look out for this season, with an array of gorgeous white dresses, including the Delilah, which has a cut out along the base of the back and edgy zip detailing. I’d match the black zip at the back to a black clutch and heels.
There are so many beautiful choices this autumn and winter that trying to narrow it down to just a few to update my wardrobe is proving tricky.
