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THIS summer’s must-have garment for women is a dress, and the summer collections are offering a dress to fit every body type, every occasion and every budget.
The leading trends are coat-style dresses with a button-close front, Empire-waist dresses, sheath dresses, wrap-around dresses, floral pattern dresses, African-themed dresses and graphic prints. Plain and solid coloured dresses also are in style.
The new appreciation for dresses has something to do with the spirit of the times, said Gudrun Allstaedt, editor of a textile trade magazine.
Dresses were once thought of not only as square, but also as impractical, she said.
“A blouse and skirt were easier to combine and didn’t look as dowdy,” Allstaedt added. That’s now changed.
There also were aesthetic reasons opposing the dress, specifically, they don’t favour every shape.
“As with boots, dresses bring together several dimensions,” said style adviser Maria Hans. Some women are bigger in the shoulders and breasts, others have rounder bellies, legs and hips. Current styles help with these issues, in particular, the wrap-around dress.
Introduced 30 years ago by designer Diane von Furstenberg, the wrap-around dress was rediscovered a few years ago by models and Hollywood stars. This summer wrap-around dresses can be found again in every boutique and department store, and not just in the original version.
Fashion house Esprit, for example, has several variations. Whether the dress features a solid colour, floral pattern, vertical stripe or geometric pattern, in every case a thin, light cotton belt ties at the waist.
“The absolutely hot wrap-around dresses drape nicely around just about every shape optimally due to their cut and the soft fabric typically used,” said Hans. And women who choose a trendy pattern can cleverly conceal problem zones here and there.
New coat dresses such as the ones in designer Betty Barclay’s collection can be easily combined in multiple variations. An important feature of every dress is a belt that emphasises the waist.
The dress can be worn coat-like over another garment as well, said style adviser Andreas Rose. It can be worn open over a pair of hotpants and high heels. Women with less courage can wear it over summer trousers or even a summer skirt.
“It’s the game of length and width,” said Rose, describing the current style. Accordingly, a long-sleeved shirt may be worn under a short-sleeved dress or a wide knit jacket can be worn over it. Wide belts that sit high on the waist offer numerous variation possibilities.
“Nearly every fashion house has a dress with an Empire waist in its collection particularly for younger women,” added Rose. These styles are available at H&M, and nude tones dominate the design, although there also are some in black and white and in natural colours. The fabrics used are light and airy.
“Chiffon does a good job concealing,” said Rose. “And soft jersey fabrics sit well all day long and are comfortable.”
