Any hoo... Denim Dresses. I'm thinking a sound choice and a positive addition to one's wardrobe, provided the right style is chosen.
There are three basic shapes around at the moment
Let's call them 1. The Shirt Style
2. The Smock Style
3. The Simple Tunic
They all have their virtues and also their downsides. Can look great or Painter's Overall, Ship in Sail or American Dustbowl Orphan!!
1. The Shirt Style
This is beautifully soft and because it's Tencel, is largely crease free. I found the sizing to be a little on the small size and in any event this style benefits from being a little looser. Length wise for someone 5 ft 10 or over ( I wish) it falls an inch or two above the knee. That would be too short for me but given that I'm not that tall, it sits on the knee, a length I'm comfortable with without the benefit of opaque tights!
So, wearable alone as a dress and, because it falls straight, looks good over skinny or straight leg trousers. I liked the turn back cuffs and three quarter length sleeves which gave greater balance when worn over trousers.
As with the Marks and Spencer dress this is far softer than an " un mixed " denim. It's a slight fuller cut and so may be more suitable for a pear shape. The breast pockets have the benefit of drawing the eye away from the lower half , if that's your aim, and the three quarter length sleeves also pull the attention upwards. It has a slightly sculpted hemline at the sides- like a man's shirt- and could be worn loose, alone on a warm day or over trousers if it's cooler. It also looks good loosely belted.
Unlike the two dresses above, this is in heavyweight denim which means it can happily be worn as both a dress and a long line jacket. It's in a rich, deep indigo with looks vibrant and luxe. The detailing is terrific- chunky 'bone' style buttons and two breast and two thigh high pockets. I love pockets ! Be brilliant to grab and throw on once the sun goes down .
I only discovered Hush last summer. Their brochure landed on the mat and I was enchanted. I bought loads of things from their Summer Collection- a lot of it in the sale as it is slightly more expensive than my usual- and I love it all! It's a very cool, relaxed brand and all highly wearable. Actually, not all of it, some is a little " young" for me but, as with so many things, choosing what to wear it with- shoes in particular- is the key to feeling comfortable. I wouldn't wear this dress with ankle boots. It looks brilliant on the model but I'd feel too self conscious and "try hard". But if you're ok with it- do it!
Predictably, this dress is as relaxed as the brand. Washed denim, fading from lighter to dark, top to bottom,slightly oversized and effortlessly stylish. If I was a brand, I'd want to be Hush !!
Lyocell is a fabric to look out for if you want clothes to wear in the heat. It's a form of rayon and was first marketed as Tencel. It's often mixed with other fibres, such as denim, cotton, silk and it's fibres are soft, absorbant and resistant to wrinkles. Now you know!
I would like this dress and is the one I feel I would be most comfortable in. It's a good length for me but.... just too much cash at this stage. Will there ever BE another stage???
2. The Smock Style
There are a good deal less of these around. Probably with good reason as this can be a dangerously frumpy look. If you have a large bust, all the material falls from your furthest point, if you get my meaning, missing your waist and giving the effect of a shapeless block. I speak from experience so have the licence to say such things !
If you're small, you can look like an extra from "Annie"! And I say this with love! It doesn't mean you ARE a Stage Show Orphan, just that this can magically make you so. And that's not a good look- on anyone!
I love this and look forward to wearing it a great deal if the weather looks up for long enough. It's made of cool ( as in not hot) TencelI and feels silky and soft .
I'm not a big fan of my knees but this is fine. Short enough not to look dowdy with bare legs . It's not too long to wear over slim trousers and I imagine myself sporting it at the airport, so comfortable and crease free that it's the perfect flying outfit. Until I add my fleecy socks on the plane so... Maybe not!
I've added this because I've only got one other dress in this category ie mine! I think this is probably an example of a dress which suits no one. Even the model looks sheepish! The embroidery at the neckline is pretty but the sleeves end at exactly the same level as the detailing. If that's your widest part, that's where everyone will look. Also, who needs gathering at the hips - not me! Let's move on.
3. The Simple Tunic
There are plenty of examples of this on the High Street. In fact, Primark did a great version last Summer but, presumably because it wasn't yet high in the general consciousness, it went into the Sale. I bought one but returned it. I didn't have the courage of my convictions. I should have taken the advice in my last blog!
It's a dress perfect in its simplicity. It's the small details- a pronounced zip down the back, a well placed button- which give it it's charm.
The essential style with discreet side pockets and exposed zip at the nape. 100% cotton. The material is structured without being rigid .
I must confess a bias against Toast. I don't really get it. I go in the shop in Harrogate and feel overwhelmed by the tasteful, neutral palette. There's nothing that calls out to me, but maybe that's the point. A Toast lady is probably not someone who feels she needs much adornment , is happy in her own skin- with the exception of tasteful ash highlights perhaps. My impression is that it's really for skinny, yoga loving Scandis who have beautiful bodies which they don't need to enhance with clever clothing. Or maybe those of us who'd prefer to drop a couple of pounds and in the meantime are only to happy to cover up the bumps with large, relaxed styles?
That said... this is a beautifully cut and finished dress/ tunic. The pockets are selvedge edged and the detail of the over stitched central panel is a delight to behold. I shan't be lusting after it though - too worried that, without youth and beauty on my side, I'd just look dowdy!
This is one of the least expensive dresses but, in my opinion, one of the nicest. Although a shift style , there is a degree of shaping around the waist which is extremely flattering. This is shown particularly well in the view of the back of the garment, which also features the exposed zip. A real winner !
The final offerings are from Top Shop. As you might expect they are, without exception, right on trend and great value . I know that the Top Shop Mum might be a bit of a cliche but there's good reason why so many of us are shopping there. Whilst we might not style the clothes in the same way as our Daughters ( gulp ) the clothes ( ok some of them) do have an almost universal appeal. The dresses below make my point. You might not wear them with socks and brogues or cleated soled flatforms, but you definitely CAN wear them. With no whiff of tragedy. Hope I'm not protesting too much here?!!
Next blog I'll look at suitable shoes .
Top Shop
And in Black
The frayed edges, together with the ever so slightly flared hem give this dress a real twist. It manages to be relaxed but chic. How can it be naive but sophisticated at the same time? Who knows, but it is. With jewelled flats this would be an easy choice for Summer- a simple dress to throw on that you go back to time and again.
I hope that you've seen a style in here which you feel could work for you. Sometimes the hardest bit is deciding what to wear on your feet with a particular dress. It can alter the look entirely. That's the next subject for the blog. Can't wait!'
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