Dress to meet the occasion: we’re favouring striking maxi gowns from Alémais, ribbon details from Aje and effortless silk-satin styles from Dôen …
Apparently, it was Audrey Hepburn who said, “Life’s a party. Dress for it.” No matter what kind of summer occasion calls – an intimate city ceremony, a destination wedding a jaunt to the races, or a garden shindig – there’s nothing like a memorable dress to mark the moment. What’s new now? We’re letting the Riviera inform not just our beach clothes but also our cocktail attire: Alémais’ scarf-print handkerchief dress has an undercurrent of St Tropez.
Meanwhile, two brands that you’ll never go wrong with include Australian fashion brand Aje (get it at Brown Thomas) and US label Dôen (get it at Seagreen). The former’s blue pin-tuck dress comes replete with black ribbons which swing from the shoulder, while the latter’s silk-satin dresses are often imitated but rarely duplicated.
On the high street, brands like Never Fully Dressed and Nobody’s Child do striking prints and colours that offer value for money (both are available at Marks & Spencer). Lastly, minimalists will embrace Massimo Dutti‘s two-tone fluid dress below which, for €120, reads more like a mid-range piece that would fetch a higher price. Shop an edit of the best summer occasion dresses below.
Multi-colour Tangible silk-twill dress, Alémais, €990; www.net-a-porter.com.
Light blue patterned dress with black ribbons, €49.99, at H&M.
Blue Mathilde pin-tuck dress, Aje, €560, at Brown Thomas.
Tan star-print cowl-neck maxi dress, Never Fully Dressed, €99, at Marks & Spencer.
Black and white cotton-blend halterneck dress, €120, at Massimo Dutti.
Dulac green Fiona silk dress, €638; www.shopdoen.com.
SEE MORE: 8 One-And-Done Dresses For Easy Summer Dressing
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