5 dresses every woman should own: it’s a wrap

Oh, it’s been so long since I posted my last “5 dresses” post! I really didn’t meant to take such a long pause, but it turned out that the timing actually worked better than I would have ever imagined.

The dress I wanted to talk about as a part of the series was, of course, the wrap dress that. Dreamed up and created by Diane von Furstenberg 40 years ago, the wrap has already been featured on the blog back in 2011 when I wrote my DvF stories an talked about Camilla Morton’s book, The Tale of the Empress’s New Clothes in 2013, so instead of producing a several paragraphs long monologue all over again, I would like to invite you to follow the links and discover the history of this iconic piece.

Where to buy: 1. Printed silk jersey wrap dress, DvF (£330), 2. Amelia python printed silk jersey wrap dress, DvF (£385), 4. Blue silk printed wrap dress, DvF (£264), 5. New Julian Two silk-jersey wrap dress, DvF (£330), 6. White & black silk New Julian Two wrap dress, DvF (£330). 

I truly believe that every woman should have a wrap dress in her wardrobe and, ideally, it must be a DvF dress because the real thing is so much better than any wrap-inspired substitutions! You feel it in the fabric, the unique prints or the finishing touches of the plain versions, the way it’s cut and follows the lines of the body moulding itself to your DNA, giving you the comfort, making you feel beautiful and free.

Where to buy: 7. Kira silk jersey wrap dress, DvF (£194), 8. New Jeanne animal print silk jersey wrap dress, DvF (£184), 9. New Julian Two chain link vintage print silk jersey wrap dress, DvF (£174), also in black & white, 10. Banded Julian wrap dress, DvF (£183), 11. New Jeanne Two crepe jersey wrap dress, DvF (£281), 12. Julian Two zebra print jersey wrap dress, DvF (£220).

It takes time to find the most perfect version of the wrap among all the available options, but as soon as you “meet” the one, it remains in your wardrobe forever.

Where to buy: 13. Faith wrap dress, DvF (£313), 14. Amelia wrap dress, DvF (£438), 15. Judith chain mail print dress, DvF (£204), 16. Julian Two feline pattern wrap dress, DvF (£157), 17. Connie tobacco suede dress, DvF (£527)

A few days ago, as I watched the live stream from the opening of “The journey of a dress” exhibition celebrating its 40th anniversary, I realised, yet again, how timeless and precious a simple dress can be and what an incredibly impact it had on the way we perceive fashion, style and lets be honest, ourselves, whenever we get a chance to wear the wrap.

Photo source: Diane von Furstenberg wearing the shirt wrap dress in navy and white geometric print, pearls, Bulgari snake watch and heels photographed by Roger Prigent, 1974 for Women Wear Daily ad campaign via Diane: A Signature Life

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5 dresses every woman should own: the white dress

The white dress. An epitome of summer elegance.

You just cannot be without it whether you find yourself in a city, planning a holiday or dancing till dawn under the starlit sky. Whatever the situation, the little white dress is definitely one of the wardrobe must-haves.

This little darling isn’t just the light reflector on a hot summer day, but a statement of femininity, romance, purity, freshness and luxury.

Choosing the one may be a challenge, but fortunately for us, designers got it all covered. Sporty and athletic, prim and proper, bohemian and lady-like. Mini and maxi. Lace and jacquard. Silks, organza, cottons and linens.

You pick the dress that tells your story. And then start your summer journey in style. Best accessory to compliment your LWD? A touch of tan, of course.

Where to buy: 1. Cotton peplum dress by Karen Millen (£175 – use promo code SS13DRESSES50 at checkout to get £50 off selected styles), 2. Sleeveless cotton dress by Stella McCartney (£465), 3. Cotton blend twill dress by Zac Posen (£440), 4. Dalia jacquard dress by Whistles (£225), 5. Crocheted cotton dress by See by Chloe (£243), 6. Wool-flannel dress by Issa (£208), 7. Belted dress by Chloe (£1415), 8. Fitted lace & frill dress by Reiss (£169)

Where to buy: 9. Crochet cotton dress by Mango (£55), 10. Cotton & lace dress by Nina Ricci (£1154), 11. Lace trimmed cotton dress by Vanessa Bruno (£172), 12. Cotton embroidered dress by Mango (£43), 13. Relais dress by Sportmax (£668), 14. Voile & silk dress by See by Chloe (£230), 15. Silk patchwork dress by Dosa (£895), 16. Tank dress by Jean Paul Knott (£580)

Where to buy: 17. Tailored bubble dress by Karen Millen (£140), 18. Cotton bonded dress by Oasis (£50), 19. Daisy dress by Warehouse (£40), 20. Speed flare dress by Chalayan (£710), 21. Niade dress by Azzedine Alaia (£2468), 22. Pleat skirt dress by Paul&Joe Sister (£228), 23. Floral embroidered dress by Reiss (£225), 24. A-line dress by Vicedomini (£772)

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P.S. There is still time left to vote for Fashioned by Love in the Company’s Style Blog Awards competition. If you haven’t done it yet (and do like my blog), please follow the link, keep pressing the “next page” button until you get to “best fashion blog” category, then choose Fashioned by Love, and continue pressing the “next page” button until you find yourself on the last page to enter your name and email address. Press “submit” and you are done. THANK YOU!

 

Photo source: Vogue US February 2008, elle.com

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5 dresses every woman should own: the lace dress

The very first lace dress I ever bought was the one I wore on my wedding day. Being true to myself, I didn’t want an expensive meringue, but a dress that I could wear for more than one, although very special, occasion. The blue shift with a silvery blue lace overlay came from a small boutique in a nearby town. I found it just before the big day, fell in love and took home with me.

Lace dress is the one with the magic factor – the secret is in the cut, colour and the type of lace you choose. A beautiful dark blue, rich burgundy, gorgeous emerald, gold or black dress can look glamorous at night while whites and pastel ones in floaty light and breezy fabrics will feel like a wearable fairy-tale on a hot summer day.

The perfect dress, as I see it, is the one made from good quality lace – the one that creates the second skin effect, doesn’t scratch or cause itching and is made of natural material, soft, smooth, with beautiful fine details, thick, but delicate. In addition, I feel that it’s important that the lace matches or compliments the colour of the fabric the body of the dress is made from (exception – Christian Dior Spring 2006) because the perfect lace dress is all about harmony and dreaming, not dissonance and visual nightmare.

Where to buy: 1. Lara lace dress by Bastyan (£275), 2. Gold lace Luck dress by Issa (£495), 3. Bronze lace dress at Dorothy Perkins (£45), 4. Millie lace dress by Lover (£259), 5. Lace overlay gold dress by Carven (£567), 6. Sandra Dee by Collette / Collette Dinnigan (£355), 7. Nerissa dress in apricot at Reiss (£132), 8. Raspberry lace dress by Nina Ricci (£1331)

Where to buy: 9. Black lace dress by Mango (£39.99), 10. Emerald green lace dress by Dolce&Gabbana (£722), 11. Bonded drop waist dress at Oasis (£20), 12. Ruffle sleeve lace dress by Red Valentino (£348), 13. Crochet lace dress at TopShop (£25), 14. Corine lace dress by Joseph (£329), 15. Scallop lace dress at Miss Selfridge £39), 16. Zarita lace dress by Diane von Furstenberg (£282)

While I was looking for beautiful budget-friendly options, I stumbled upon a company called CityGoddess, a UK-based manufacturer that works with the high street brands. I did a bit of browsing looking for a lace dress and found an adorable crochet dress and a white scalloped number that I really liked. I then got in touch with the company and asked if it would be possible to buy any of their dresses. Turned out, they have an on-line shop Goddiva where you can place your order.

Photo source: Christian Dior Spring 2006 campaign, elle.com

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5 dresses every woman should own: the sweater dress

The sweater dress, a cosy, body and soul warming cocoon of pure (cashmere) bliss, it is definitely a must-have for every woman. Mine was a spontaneous buy. I was in a post-accident depressive mood worsened by winter blues and in need of some retail therapy when I saw the deep sea blue Patrizia Pepe dress - shaped to flatter the figure, caress the skin with its delicate cashmere strands, and on sale. It was mine within minutes. Needless to say we became best friends. I think I have worn this dress more than any other item in my wardrobe – for nights in and dinners out, work and walks in a country, whenever I needed a bit of colour or warmth, an imaginary hug or extra coverage.

It made me realise that impulse shopping is good and having a sweater dress in a wardrobe is essential.

They, of course, come in many shapes and materials and you need to pick the one that speaks to you just like the LBD. My only tip would be to buy cashmere or wool designs (a dose of added silk is good, too) – if you see any acrylics or polyester on a label, put the dress back. It may cost less, but it will be scratchy, itchy and suffocating for your body. With appropriate care, the real yarns, on the other hand, will last you a lifetime, the CPW (cost per wear) will be next to nothing and wearing the dress will make you feel feminine, sensual, beautiful and loved.

Where to buy: 1. Silk scarf front cashmere dress by Ralph Lauren (£884), 2. Char cashmere jumper dress by AllSaints (£165) 3. Luan merino wool sweater dress by Calvin Klein Collection (£81 Was £180), 4. Polka dot cashmere dress by Chinti & Parker (£380), 5. Striped cashmere sweater dress by Chinti & Parker (£350), 6. Maggie cashmere dress by Crumpet (£136 Was £340), 7. Olive belted cashmere and silk dress by Ralph Lauren Black Label (£326), 8. Merino wool dress by DKNY (£81 Was £180)

Where to buy: 9. Roma M cashmere dress by Zadig & Voltaire (£175), 10. Cable sweater dress by Jigsaw (£109), 11. Extra fine bi-colour dress by McQ Alexander McQueen (£299 Was £995), 12. Wool & alpaca sweater dress FARHI by Nicole Farhi (£87.75 Was £195), 13. Branitta wool and cashmere dress by Diane von Furstenberg (£309), 14. Embellished cashmere dress by L’Wren Scott (£430 Was £1435), 15. Hella jeans blue dress by Humanoid (£270), 16. Charlot merino knit lace overlay dress by Malene Birger (£255)

Where to buy: 17. Cashmere midi dress by Pure (£199), 18. Cashmere and silk blend dress by Pringle of Scotland (£150.50 Was £430), 19. Wool blend sweater dress by Maison Martin Margiela (£490), 20. Fair Isle mohair blend sweater dress by Vanessa Bruno Athe (£87.50 Was £250), 21. Silk & wool blend sweater dress by Stella McCartney (£535), 22. A-line sweater dress by Stella McCartney (£610), 23. Shetland wool dress by Bouchra Jarrar (£702), 24, Intarsia wool blend dress by Sonia by Sonia Rykiel (£360)

P.S. Just in case you love the dress the model is wearing on the photo, you can buy it on-line here and here.

Related posts: 5 dresses every woman should own: the little black dress

Photo source: Marie Claire France October 2012

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5 dresses every woman should own: the little black dress

I am thinking about writing a few posts on wardrobe basics covering pretty much every item from head to toe, but instead of sticking with the usual list of wardrobe essentials, I am planning to divide everything into groups, i.e. dresses, tops, bottoms (still marinating this one), footwear etc. etc. etc. I’ve already written about the bags and lingerie in the past, so those two categories may not be included this time unless I change my mind or you tell me that you would want to read about those in addition to everything else.

Dresses we should all have. Why start with those? Because we are women and, as Diane von Furstenberg said, if you want to “feel like a woman – wear a dress”. I’ll get back to Diane later, but right now we are focusing on the holy grail of all dresses – the little black dress.

The LBD was introduced to us by the only and only Coco Chanel in the 1920s when, after tragically losing Boy Capel, she vowed to put the entire world in mourning for him and make every woman wear a black dress whatever the occasion. As always, she succeeded – in 1926 Vogue published a picture of a simple black dress designed by Chanel naming it “Chanel’s Ford”.

Although the story may not be totally familiar to everyone, we seem to be born with an idée fixe that we must, simply must, have an LBD.

Why? Because we secretly want to look like a Parisienne or channel our inner Audrey in one of her Givenchy designs. And because the LBD works on so many levels. The dress can be worn day to night, particularly when you have nothing to wear. The right cut gives comfort. It makes you look chic and gives people the right impression. Unlike many other styles, men find it easy to understand the LBD and subsequently dream about a woman who wears it.

The little black dress is a keeper, thus the only rule that applies for getting one is that you are in love with it – otherwise, just like an unhappy marriage, the story will be tragic.

Ideally, look for classic shapes and natural fibers – the fabric adds a touch of luxury and must caress the skin, not prick, scratch or irritate. And remember that black comes in several shades (it can have warm or cool undertones and grey, brown or blue’ish shades), so if one doesn’t suit you, move on and try another one until the puzzle comes together.

I found my LBD (the only black dress I own) back in 2003 and still wear it – admittedly, I am not a huge fan of black colour, but I do adore the dress because its classic hourglass shape and boat neckline that shows off the collarbones makes me feel beautiful and, after all, who am I to argue with Coco?

Below are some of my favourite finds and if you are a real admirer of the style, why not treat yourself to The Little Black Dress book or La Petite Robe Noire perfume?

Where to buy: 1. Yarra dress by Diane von Furstenberg (£535), 2. Sleeveless Inverted Pleat dress by T by Alexander Wang (£263), 3. Black mesh insert skater dress by Dorothy Perkins (£36), 4. Organsa Prom dress by Miss Selfridge (£55), 5. Satin trimmed dress by Givenchy (£1368), 6. Wool and mesh dress by Azzedine Alaia (£2760), 7. Leather detail dress by Proenza Schouler (£1152), Fluted hem ribbed dress by Yves Saint Laurent (£1525)

Where to buy: 9. Draped satin dress by Carven (£244), 10. Shift dress by Cacharel (£329), 11. Pixel leather detail dress by Helmut Lang (£415), 12. Christa Embellished dress by Bastyan (£175 Was £295), 13. Structured pencil dress by Warehouse (£75) STYLE STEAL, 14. Ruffled dress by Lanvin (£584), 15. Kent stretch silk dress by Azzaro (£414 Was £920), 16. Belted stretch crepe dress by Marni (£482 Was £965)

Where to buy: 17. Mae Black Shift dress by Great Plains (£85), 18. Jesse dress by Roland Mouret (£1229), 19. Wool & silk dress by Alberta Ferretti (£325.50 Was £1085), 20. Bow dress by Vivienne Westwood Red Label (£700), 21. Origami dress by TopShop (£150), 22. Applique dress by Moschino Cheap & Chic (£325), 23. Origami dress by Plein Sud (£849), 24. Parigi dress by MaxMara ‘S Max (£260)

Photo source: Vogue China April 2006, Vogue UK September 2010

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