The New Cocktail Dress
Turn down the LBD, say no to a simple slip, this season there’s a new cocktail dress in town.
Whether it’s an outfit for the races or a dress for a spring wedding, we’re forgoing the classic trends and opting for a number that stands out. From bold prints, oversized ruffles, and statement textures, this is the cocktail dress as you’ve never seen it before.
The Ruffle
There’s no doubt that ruffles have unexpectedly made their way back into the hearts of fashion lovers all around. Gone are the saccharine-sweet connotations of yesteryear, this season that ruffle loses the flounce and takes on a looser, undone style.
Heavy, tiered, asymmetric ruffles in bright fuchsia from MM6 Maison Margiela make event dressing look easy. Worn to a summer wedding, race day or garden party, the silhouette feels timeless despite the trend led pleats.
The bright hue fits in perfectly with this season’s colour palette – a modern take on the fameux millennial pink – and the shade works well with fair and dark tones alike. Accessorise with a statement box bag and oversized earrings.
Bohemian Queen
“For me, if the clothes don’t move well and don’t allow someone to move throughout their life and throughout their day, then I don’t think I’m doing a good job.” Says Jonathan Saunders, creative director at Diane von Furstenberg. Silhouettes at DVF are made with a woman’s body in mind, wrap dresses cinch the waist and accentuate the curves, skirts sway with every moment and maxis lengthen the body and slim the form.
This season, let loose with beachy, tousled waves, oversized sunglasses and the perfect flowing dress. Always a summer favourite, the bohemian maxi dress is an investment item, worn at every occasion throughout summer, then dressed down with boots and knit once the leaves start to fall.
Red Alert
When only high drama will do, the structural prowess of Solace London truly ups the ante. With an architectural take on event dressing, Solace’s powerful silhouettes offer something new.
Blurring the line between statement and sophistication, the brand defines their aesthetic as ‘bold, confident and refined’. With fabrication and technique defining the design process, the result is a distinctly graphic collection known for precision cuts, craftsmanship and a signature flair of eccentricity.
Modern Romanticism
Ultra-feminine, opt for a romantic take on this season’s bohemian trend with a heavy broderie anglaise style from Perseverance London. A timeless classic, the all-white look has that breezy, summer-loving feel whilst the weight of the lace keeps the look firmly in the occasionwear sphere.
Always popular during event season, the lace dress offers a delicacy and femininity that is so synonymous with spring.
Whilst a classic nude court shoe wouldn’t go amiss, there’s nothing wrong with toughening up the look with an otherworldly pair of Rupert Sanderson heels. Whilst the black and gold embellishment may appear in total contrast with the otherwise soft silhouette, the ‘Eden’ style only reinforces that heavenly aura.
Garden Party Florals
A clever balance of elegance and fearless cool, incorporate romantic floral prints in modern silhouettes to your summer occasionwear.
A style that’s suited both to that summer wedding and a ladies’ race day, the garden party floral does not seem to age. RIXO London’s careful attention to detail make them the perfect choice for your spring pattern. Looking back to vintage prints, the brand creates the florals in their London based studio before incorporating the design into a contemporary silhouette.
