Everyone has that one overzealous relative who takes it upon themselves to choose a gift they’re sure you’ll love. While the thought really is what counts, sometimes those diamante-encrusted purple suede pantaloons just aren’t you. In which case, instead of hiding them in the depths of your cupboard or letting them clog up your wardrobe, why not exchange them for a dreamy dress you’ll really want? (Or you could send them to the Culture Trip office – we’ve been looking for a pair.)
The summer dress
Six months is a hell of a lot shorter than the rest of your life to wait to wear an item, so make like the savvy lady you vowed to be in 2016 and invest in your July wardrobe now. The January sales are a great opportunity to pillage old season stock for your own benefit.
Bridal (seriously)
Always the bridesmaid, and never the bride, am I right? With the wedding wheel in full rotation, buy a dress that says ‘The longest relationship I’ve had is with my BRITA Filter, and I’m OKAY with it.’ Depending on the cost of the pantaloons, smart brides-to-be also might think about exchanging for a tiara (so you look pretty while you’re riding on your unicorn).
Sensible dresses
For the lady who lunches and lunges, shift dresses are always a smart investment piece. This versatile piece of clothing can be transformed into a Parisian cliché (just add a polo neck and baguette) or a Roman Holiday dream (simply alter your face to look like Audrey Hepburn). For evenings, experiment with silk shirts or dark lace tops. Finish with fishnets and block heels for the complete look. There, doesn’t that sound sensible?
1. Twin-set drop-waist colour-block dress, £123, 2. Cotélac contrasting detail dress, £176, 3. Au Jour Le Jour tulle dress, £194, 4. MM6 high-low hem dress, £220
Date-night dresses
Swiped right on Tinder but now freaking out? How about freaking in (style) and treating yourself to a slinky LBD that will do all the talking, so you don’t have to? Seriously, you can train those things to sound smart, just like you :).
Fashion dresses
***Fashion month is coming***, and industry and non-industry figures alike should make the most of the whole parade while they still can. In a few years, it’s likely we’ll all be sitting at home in Juicy Couture tracksuits watching the circus unfold in VR, so dress big while there’s still a real-life person to pap you.
About the author
A contributor to titles including Vogue, the Guardian, KEIN, Rollacoaster, Wonderland and Twin magazine, India Doyle joined Culture Trip to help launch their fashion section for the EMEA region, where she focussed on giving emerging designers across the globe a platform to reach international audiences. Now based between London and Greece, she is one of Culture Trip's Greek contributors and covers cultural life in Athens.
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