Dresses Are Going Seasonless

Words: Afrika Lethabo Bogatsu | Images: AFI

Believe it or not but climate change is real. We’ve denied it for the longest time but you must be living under a rock if you haven’t noticed how strange the weather’s been lately. There’s a clear change happening the world over and we’re seeing it here too, from the drought stricken cape colony to extreme storms and flooding in parts of Gauteng. Winters are now warmer than usual, the chill only settling in much later than previously expected. This has affected the fashion industry in that we no longer shop or wear clothes the same way anymore. Could this be a sign of the end of days? *dum dum dum dum*

But thankfully it’s not all doom and gloom. International fashion houses like Burberry have paid heed to these changes by introducing seasonless collections. Burberry announced last year that they would be doing away with the traditional four-show calendar and replacing it with two runway shows. They’re calling the new format “seasonless, immediate and personal,” which sounds like a good idea to those of us who can’t quite shop less frequently and/or can’t quite keep up with the ever changing trends of fashion.

And while our local designers haven’t adopted this new way of designing, there were quite a few timeless essential seasonless pieces at the the recent AFI show that got us really excited about this imminent change.

Here are 5 must-have dresses that will ensure you’re styling all day, everyday (until the actual end of days) no matter the weather.

The Shirt Dress

No working woman’s wardrobe is complete without a classically chic shirt dress. This one from designer Leigh Schubert’s most recent collection features a bold bright colour which is so on trend right now. The bright colour is sure to cheerful yet sophisticated.

The Mini

Kahindo is New York-based design house that fuses Congolese inspired vibrant prints and bold colours to create statement pieces for the modern day woman.

We love this chic mini dress. With long puffed up sleeves, a silver zip closure in the front and sharp collar, this dress has an element of playfulness while still remaining sophisticated and chic.

The Knit Dress

Taking inspiration from Xhosa aesthetic from their beadwork patterns and colours and symbolism, Laduma Ngxokolo’s MaXhosa premium knitwear brand brings us contemporary fashion that could rival Moschino. This gorgeous knit dress has an off-the-shoulder silhouette that is both sultry and sophisticated, ideal for sunny days that with a crisp chill.

The Wrap Dress

Popularised by Diane Von Furstenberg in the seventies, the wrap dress has been reinterpreted by designers all over the world. This one from Capetonian designer Nicholas Coutts is still as chic and stylish, featuring an on-trend checkered print and simple strap design, it looks great layered over right-fitting statement knit.

The Show-stopper

It’s always a good idea to have a statement dress in your arsenal. This dress by Cape Town-based W35T is glitzy and glamorous and the ideal head-turner thanks to its impressive beading.