Dresses serve many purposes besides the obvious ones of keeping us comfortably clothed. Most of them have to do with communicating our identity, personal style and preferences to others. So without further hesitation, here are the 6 vital dresses every woman should consider!
1. Little Black Dress
The LBD is without a doubt the most famous and useful dress of all time. This dress, made famous by Coco Chanel, can go from a business meeting to a ball with just a few simple changes. There are a few things to keep in mind as you look for the right one. First of all, don't skimp on the fabric quality. Second, think of the dress as a "blank canvas" that you will later add accessories to or keep simple, depending on the day and occasion!
2. Slip Dress
Slip dresses are dresses for women that like how underslips or petticoats look and feel, and this is perhaps the second most important wardrobe piece after the LBD in the category of must-have woman's dress. Usually, this feminine and very attractive style of dress is long, following the curve of your body and has spaghetti straps. In the last 10 years of the 20th century, slip dresses became popular as part of the underwear-as-outerwear trend. At that time, they were often made of layered chiffon, polyester satins, and charmeuse, and their edges were often finished with lace.
The slip dress became especially popular with supermodels of the '90s, especially Kate Moss, who wore a sheer version in 1993 that got a lot of attention. Because Courtney Love liked the look, it gave slip dresses grunge credibility. As part of a larger revival of 1990s fashion trends, the style became popular again in the late 2010s and kept going strong into the 2020s.
3. Little White Dress
Not quite as renowned as the LBD, but nevertheless equally as flexible and timeless, the little white dress is a great way to show off your Hollywood tan. The same rules apply though: Choose a high-quality fabric and keep the style fairly simple. Wear with gold, silver, or beige heels and some bold, edgy accessories, or keep it simple and classy for a "day look" with a scarf, sunglasses and a hat.
4. Wrap Dress
A wrap dress is any kind of dress that closes in front by wrapping one side over the other and tying it in the back or on the side. This makes the neckline look like a V. A "fake" wrap dress looks like this and is found among the many dresses online, but it comes already put together and has no opening in the front. Instead, it is put on by slipping it over the head. A wrap top is a top that is cut and put together like a wrap dress but doesn't have a skirt. In the 19th century, Orientalism had a big impact on European fashion, which is why many European clothes had wrap-style closures.
In the 1970s, Diane Von Furstenberg made the wrap dress popular, and with good reason. Just as the little back dress is perfect for petite women, if you're taller or curvier this is likely one of the dresses that will look best on you. Buy it in muted colours and wear it with boots or stilettos. But also don't shy away from a wrap dress in a bold pattern if that's what you prefer best!
5. A-line dress
"A-line" can also mean a woman's dress with a hem that is much wider than its shoulders, even if the waist is cinched or the top is like a corset or an A-line skirt that sits just above the hips and flares out. Sheath dresses, shift dresses, empire waist dresses, and ball gown dresses are some other types of dress shapes.
This style of dress looks good on everyone and hides what we think are our flaws. This dress can be worn in the winter with knee-high boots or opaque tights and ballet flats. You can wear it with flats or heels in the summer (the rule of thumb is if the hem is above the knee – wear flats and if it's below the knee – wear heels).
6. Evening Gown
Evening wear for women, which is sometimes called "court dress" because it was made for royal courts, began in the 15th century with the rise of the Burgundian court and its fashion-conscious leader Philip the Good. Most dresses were made of wool, which was woven in different ways.
Slowly, the start of the Renaissance broke up the rigid social order, letting wealthy Patricians and merchants show off their success. Around 1400, people in the Mediterranean were very good at weaving silk, so silk weaves became popular among those who could afford them. Dresses for court balls and other high-society events were often made of silk that was intricately woven and trimmed with expensive furs.
When choosing an evening dress, it can be tempting to go for something sparkly that we never get to wear in our "everyday" lives. Choose instead a simple but classic design in a neutral colour that won't be easy to forget. You'll be able to use it a lot more. Use boleros, different shoes, and jewellery to change your look. Material-wise, silk or crepe is a good choice because it can be worn all year round.