Midsummer party glamour is perhaps the hardest to pull off with aplomb. How do you do glamour when temperatures sizzle? In winter, at least you have the LBD to fall back on. In scorching July, black just feels wrong.
Ask any lady who has been lucky enough to attend one of the spectacularly dressy events that have dominated paparazzi pages recently – the Serpentine Gallery summer bash or Net-a-Porter’s 10th anniversary party, for instance – and she will tell you that dressing for a Big Night Out makes finding the perfect Ascot ensemble child’s play by comparison.
By now, it’s far too late to look in the summer sales for evening-wear bargains and too early to start experimenting with new season fashions. Hot marquees make special occasion stalwarts – such as stiff skirt-suits – torturous, but are wafting maxi-dresses the only answer?
Glancing around at the Net-a-Porter party last week (dress code: summer cocktail chic), I began to see a pattern emerging. Many party girls wore clothes that shone, literally. Belle of the ball was Natalie Massenet, founder of Net-a-Porter, in a black sequinned, knee-length Valentino shift. Victoria Beckham wore a flippy silver Miu Miu dress.
Outfits here were far more quirky than classic – Alice Temperley wore harem pants and a quirky hat, Tammy Kane a snakeskin skirt designed by her brother, Christopher Kane – and so were the accessories. Bold, eye-catching necklaces and rings were piled on, and one dazzling handbag even came in the shape of a stegosaurus (“Darling, it’s from Giles!”). Meanwhile, boyish blazers – part of autumn’s androgynous trend – teamed with shorts or beat-the-heat harems – also made a splash.
So, don’t let the heat cramp your style – follow our guide on how to do summer soirées with flair.
East meets West
There are plenty of East meets West “fusion” brands that help you stay cool in the blistering heat. Long, loose-cut pants that taper at the cuff are figure-flattering. Elizabeth Hurley and Juliet Dunn kaftans look great with white trousers. Labels such as Antik Batik, Dosa, By Walis, Taj and Pleats Please are timelessly trendy.
”Ethnicise” outfits with African, Arabian or Indian jewels and a pashmina shawl.
Luxe-tux tailoring
Kate Moss has been wearing a white, mannish blazer recently that adds a punch to everything she wears. For women who don’t “do” dresses, the tux-and-trouser combo – or shorts-and-tux one – is a great alternative, if you have lithe pins.
Stella McCartney has steered tailored, mannish jackets back into fashion. These look sleek on women who might feel uncomfortable in a body-con dress.
Other good sources include Oasis, Ted Baker, Jaeger and Halston Heritage. Wear with sporty silk or jersey racer-back T-shirts by James Perse.
The knock ‘em dead dress
It’s no longer as simple as long versus short. This is, however, the summer of the maxi, so if ever you fancied a heart-stoppingly beautiful, long gown, now is your chance.
“Summer’s trend for evening maxi-dresses has been a godsend for glamorous evening events – everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Jessica Alba is wearing them,” says Jane Bruton, editor-in-chief of Grazia. “What’s great about maxis is they deftly walk the line between dressy and relaxed. I wear mine with flat, jewelled sandals, oversized earrings and a simple clutch.”
Ralph & Russo, Roberto Cavalli, Kinder Aggugini, Max Azria, BodyAmr, Halston Heritage, Stella McCartney and Temperley are favourites on the red carpet because they are sexy yet classy.
Amplified accessories
What better excuse than a lavish summer evening occasion to fetch the family jewels out of the vault? Women executives and bankers invest in this rather than property or art because they can wear their investment.
Buying real diamonds is considered the ultimate statement of girl power in the City – especially rare pink diamonds. American Vogue editor Anna Wintour wears a citrine necklace by H Stern throughout The September Issue and Amanda Holden also wore H Stern baubles during Britain’s Got Talent. For less expensive, but equally eye-catching pieces try jewellers Solange Azagury-Partridge, Cox & Power, Shaun Leane, Alex Monroe, Tous and fashion brands such as Tatty Devine, Mawi and Lanvin. E-boutique atelier-mayer.com has vintage Chanel and Dior pieces starting from £150.
Bijou boutiques
By mid-July, most sales are drawing to a close in swish department stores. Much better to explore niche boutiques, especially online. These offer the sort of mid-priced, modern occasionwear that is so elusive on the high street. The trouble with buying that Marks & Spencer frock is that hundreds of women will have done the same. Several e-boutiques, such as Fee G (feeg.ie) and Dia (dia-boutique.com), specialise in occasionwear. Also try net-a-porter.com, mywardrobe.com, austique.co.uk and lotuslondon.com. Meanwhile, nothing comes close to the original “babe” boutiques such as The Cross, Anna, Matches and Browns for investment evening wear.
Niche labels to love
If you look hard, you can find brands that don’t slavishly follow fashion, but offer couture-like details. Check out Odd Molly, By Malene Birger, Tory Burch, Milly, Nanette Lepore, Anglomania by Vivienne Westwood and Ports 1961, a favourite with jet-setters because it packs light.
On the high street, Coast, Oasis, Mint Velvet, Karen Millen, Designers at Debenhams and Ted Baker offer special-occasion frocks and well-cut affordable tailoring.
Source:telegraph.co.uk
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