MEET YOUR NEW DRESS SILHOUETTES

Words: Leila Petersen | Images: Getty Images

Spring may not be in the air just yet, but September is within our reach, and for the fashion folks it’s the month that signals the start of prepping wardrobes for the warmer season to come. While there may be a lot of uncertainty, one thing's for sure: we are ready to bid farewell to our stash of heavy layers and chunky knitwear in favour of airy dresses that are as comfortable to wear as the stay-at-home attire we have grown used to. Once the perfect solution for packing, travelling or heading to the office, dresses have long been the perfect winter-to-spring transitional pieces. While we can’t control the weather or transport you to sun-filled days just yet, we can share the must-have styles that are inspiring us and what to rock them with.

The Dress: The Maxi

The Style: No other style of dress allows you to float around looking oh-so chic. Floor grazing and flowing, the maxi dress has the ability to emit an ethereal vibe that’s lovely for both day and night. Comfortable, stylish and flattering, you’ll want to reach for one of these billowing pieces for practically any occasion from brunch dates or days spent at the market to sunset cocktails or your next date-night at home.

The Perfect Pairings: Go bold by wearing your dress with an eye-catching pair of heels or flats and equally statement-making accessories such as chunky hoops.

The Dress: The Puffed Sleeve Dress

The Style: As the name suggests, the key feature that sets this statement-making frock apart is voluminous sleeves. An ultra-current interpretation of modern femininity, the trend made its first appearance on runways in 2018, however this year, these unmissable puffs are set to return – bigger and more exaggerated than ever. Whether you choose to go with romantic drop-shoulder puffs, pumped-up balloon sleeves or ruffled frills, they all exude maximum style with minimal effort.

The Perfect Pairing: We’re channelling the whimsical, ultra-pretty nature of this silhouette with cute headbands and sweet shoes.

The Dress: The Slip or Cami Dress

The Style: Born from the underwear-as-outerwear movement championed by Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier, the simple slip dress has become a staple for any minimalist’s wardrobe and a key layering piece. While silky, monochromatic slips with barely there spaghetti straps were the gold standard design in the 90s, this year the silhouette takes a new turn. From shorter hemlines and playful patterns to ruffle accents and interesting necklines, this slinky number is more wearable than ever.

The Perfect Pairing: While knee-high boots (or any boot that disappears under the hemline of the slip) work well, a minimalist strappy sandal can be extremely chic too.

The Dress: The Tiered Dress

The Style: Take your wardrobe to new heights with the tiered silhouette. Defined by soft, multilayered horizontal seams, this simple-but-striking dress is loose flowing, effortless and versatile. Unstructured and easy to wear, this shape works just as well in block colour as it does in print – think floral, polka dots and more. As for which hem length to choose? It’s the midi and maxi that work best with this style of dress – the longer the length, the more tier time you get.

The Perfect Pairing: Some cool chunky boots and a leather jacket

The Dress: The Wrap Dress

The Style: Thanks to iconic fashion designer Diane Von Furstenburg, the wrap dress has been in our dress rotation for the last 45 years and with good reason. The belted style that wraps around your body is a universally flattering silhouette that's still as relevant as ever. Plus, new textures, varied hemlines and bold prints give this classic a much-needed refresh.

The Perfect Pairing: We’re throwing on a belt bag and some cool dad sneakers to keep our wrap looking super stylish.