Posts Tagged ‘shift dresses’
Day dresses are such a great alternative to trousers. If you have ever been put off wearing a dress in the autumn or the winter because of the cold and wet weather, then consider this. When worn with a nice pair of opaque or even wooley trousers a day dress can be just as cosy as a pair of trousers. On a really wet day you can also wear high boots which will keep your feet super dry. You won’t have to suffer with those wet and soggy trousers hems all day.
Another great benefit of the day dress is that it is just so easy to wear. You can get up in the morning and just grab a dress from your wardrobe with no need to co ordinate tops and bottoms. Most day dresses for the autumn or winter will look great with a pair of black opaque tights and pair of medium heels, ballet pumps or boots, so you don’t have to put too much thought into your leg or footwear either.
Autumn and winter day dresses are likely to be really popular this year. Not only are they a really feminine choice but they are highly versatile. They can take you from work to lunch with friends to an evening out. It is really all about how you accessorise. You can add sparkly jewellery, killer heels and a clutch for the evening, more casual boots and a slouchy bag for lunch with friends and court shoes and a business like handbag for the office.
For the colder months day dresses in rich and bright colours mixed with black, grey, navy or brown work best. These colour combinations give a warm feeling for the winter and the darker colours make it easy to match them with dark winter coats and jackets or the seasons must have camel coat.
Patterned shift dresses, wrap dresses and shirt dresses all make great day dresses for the autumn and winter. They are classic styles which flatter most figures and will not go out of fashion too quickly. This autumn and winter mid calf length dresses are definitely the most on trend and this is also great news as generally for most people this is the most flattering length.
This Long Sleeved Twist Front Black And Magenta Dress is not only really comfortable, it is incredibly stylish. It is made from jersey which drapes perfectly for this style of dress and has a really eye catching pattern. The v neck, flared hem and twist detail under the bust is really flattering for most body shapes.
This Navy Rose Printed Shift Dress With Shoulder Detail is really on trend. It is also the perfect day dress to take you through to the evening. It looks amazing when teamed with either blue black tights and is so eye catching that it needs virtually no accessories.
If I have not managed to convince you of the benefits of wearing day dresses, why not browse the collection of day dresses for autumn and winter on Roman Originals?
Summer has finally arrived and we can’t wait for more of that lovely sunshine. With the weather reaching up to the thirties this weekend, keeping cool and comfortable is likely to be one of your key considerations. Have you ever noticed how, when the sun comes out, women seem to make a bit more effort about what they wear? Out come the beautiful summer dresses, the crisp white trousers and bold bright prints. Summer dresses are probably the easiest and most comfortable way to keep cool on a really hot summer day and always look really stylish.
The best summer dresses for keeping cool in are cotton or natural fabrics like linen. Synthetic fabrics will make you feel warmer and will make you sweat more. Always opt for quite loose fitting clothes as they will allow your skin to ‘breathe’. You should also opt for lighter colours if you will be out in the sun as they will not get so warm. Finally a wide brimmed hat is a great investment to keep the sun off your face neck and shoulders. If this is too much for wearing out and about, a smaller brimmed hat will also help keep you cool and give your head and face some protection. Â
Floral dresses
Floral dresses are perfect for a hot summers day. They are colourful and will make you feel really happy. For a light and airy summer dress that does not soak up too much heat from the sun, opt for a print with coloured flowers on a white background. We love this ivory and turquiose crinkle cotton dress as it is so bright but also loose and comfortable, it is ideal for days out, casual parties and sitting in the garden.
Maxi Dresses
The beauty of maxi dresses is that they allow you to keep cool without showing off too much of your body. They are perfect for covering up white legs or larger hips and thighs. Their loose fitting empire line is great for keeping cool and looking glamorous, elegant and stylish. Maxi dresses can work for all sorts of occasions including parties or more formal events, casual daytime and holidays.
Sun dresses
Sun dresses are just as the name suggests for wearing in the sun. The are usually fairly simple styles that are made of cotton and just below knee length. We love this black and white ditsy floral crinkle dress, the crinkled texture of the fabric allows it to be loose fitting and comfortable without appearing too loose and shapeless.
Shift dresses
A shift dress is a great alternative to a suit for keeping cool at work on a hot summers day. For a more conservative work place a dress with sleeves would be best. You can add a suit jacket if you work in an air conditioned building which can sometimes be much cooler than the outside temperature.
Looking stylish in the heat is all about combining style and comfort. The outfits that keep you the coolest are likely to look the most stylish as a red and shiny face is never a great look.
The key to look stylish for any sort of occasion is partly about choosing the right clothes to suit your body shape. If you are getting dressed up for an important occasion it will probably be really important to you to look your best. You should consider carefully which occasion dresses will look best for your body shape.
Apple Shape – people who tend to put on weight around their tummies are generally described as apple shapes. They tend to have slimmer arms and legs, so occasion wear that makes the most of these features will look amazing. An empire line dress looks really good on apple shapes as it skims over the tummy hiding it. This floral patterned dress has a beautifully draping material. The black band under the bust highlights the slimmest part of the torso for a flattering effect.
Pear shape – the pear shape is probably the most common body shape as most of us tend to put on weight around our hips and thighs. The key to finding a great dress for this shape is avoiding anything that clings around this are and look for detail on the top half or a wide neckline which balance out the wide hips. Look for occasion dresses with a line or straight cut skirts and ruffles or embellishment on the top half. This floral print dress is ideal as the sleeves make the top half appear wider balancing out the hips. The dress also skims over the hips which is much more flattering than a dress which clings.
Athletic Shape -some one with a smaller hips and bust can be defined as athletic. Athletic shaped ladies tend to be quite slim with good body tone. The key to dressing this body shape is usually to try and accentuate curves for a feminine look. Ruffles, belts or colour blocking at the waist will help to create the illusion of curves. This ivory print dress does just the trick with a contrasting colour belt.
Hourglass Shape -larger hips and bust with a small waist define the hourglass shape. Many curvy or hourglass shape girls are self conscious of their curves but they shouldn’t be as this is the most feminine of all the body shapes. The key to dressing this body shape is to add definition and ensure that the waist is defined, otherwise clothes can look shapeless. The contrast of the white belt against the black dress is a great way to define the waist. Black is also a very slimming colour for those who are a little self conscious of their curves. Add some brightly coloured accessories for a bold and fun look.
A bolero or shrug is the perfect cover up for any body shape if the weather is not quite warm enough for bare arms. It is also good for those who prefer to cover their arms up. High heels are also a great way to add height for all body shapes and can also have a slimming effect.
The shift dress is a truly versatile and classic piece which every woman needs at least one of in her wardrobe. Perfect as day dresses or occasion dresses they can take you from work to evening effortlessly and the timeless style never goes out of fashion. The shift dress is the name given to a simple style of dress that has no seams or shaping at the waist. It became popular in the sixties and ever since has been an important part of so many womens wardrobes. A sheath dress is another similar version of dress that became popular at the same time but is usually slightly more fitted than the shift dress.
The shift dress evolved from the flapper dresses of the 1920′s, which were often embellished and fringed. They became popular because of there comfort and practiality for dancing, these benefits are still a key attraction in the modern shift dress. The closest relation to the shift was probably the sack dress which featured in Hubert de Givenchy and Cristobal Balenciaga’s 1957 Paris collections. It was similar to the flapper dress but without the embellishments. Â
Throughout history famous style icons have worn the shift dress. Lilly Pulitzer wore and sold brightly coloured and patterned dresses from her juice bar on palm beach. Huge popularity of the ‘Lilly’ dress ensued after her friend Jackie Kennedy was pictured wearing one in Life Magazine.  The shift (mostly designed by Givenchy) was also a favourite of actress Audrey Hepburn and most memorably worn in Breakfast at Tiffanys. Princess Grace of Monaco also wore shift dresses by Givenchy. More recently, America’s first lady Michelle Obama is often seen in a shift dress with a cardigan and even pictured wearing a black sleeveless shift for her first official White House portrait.
Shift dresses can have a variety of sleeves, necklines and lengths but the most popular is probaby the knee length, sleeveless style with a scooped or slashed neckline. They can also have patterns and embellishment making a statement dress. A simple shift is really popular though as it can be accesorised in so many different ways to create so many different looks. Here are just a few ideas for how you can accessories a plain shift dress:
- Coloured or patterned tights – this is the perfect way to brighten up a black or neutral coloured shift dress and draw attention to your legs. The simple style of the dress allows for complicated and busy patterns. For a fun and bright outfit try teaming a coloured shift dress with coloured opaque tights – a turquoise or purple dress with mustard tights would make a really eye catching outfit.
- Scarfs – there are so many ways to wear a scarf and to add colour to a plain shift dress. Try tying a small scarf around your neck with a knot at the side or folding a large square scarf diagionally to form a triangle and draping over your shoulders.
- Belts – If you have an hourglass figure, you may want to add a bit of shape to your shift dress and waist definition. You can do this by cinching in at the waist with a belt. Choose an interesting or brightly coloured belt and make it the feature of your outfit.
- Jacket – Add a simple tailored jacket to make your shift dress into a smart outfit for work.