It’s a funny thing, evening wear — the crossfire of modern dress. Full-length, cocktail, strapless, one-shoulder, full-sleeve ... I could go on. The stakes are high — our confidence often less so — the problem mostly lying within our ability to transcend time and trend — which is a crying shame, for before we know it having the opportunity to dress up will be nothing more than melancholy.
Like fitting a ship into a bottle, finding the perfect evening dress is no easy feat. You see, while in print they sound like a wonderful idea — grown-up, elegant, flattering and feminine, the reality is often a crashing disappointment.
When we think of formalwear, faded memories of overzealous bolero jackets and rah-rah skirts that spring around the thighs with laughter leap to mind. How ludicrous we all looked — so young and foolish and trapped in time. Or worse still, the more recent and somewhat frantic attempt to hide from fast-approaching middle- aged spread.
Either way, there seems to be a fair amount of neurosis. So why all of the fuss? Well, for a start, for most of the last few years we have been used to slinging on the bog-standard work uniform, or the good old pair of jeans and T-shirt combination “fit for the school run only”. Now, all of a sudden here we are, having to think colour combinations, sleeve lengths and what to pair with what. In short, we are flummoxed — collectively, tribally, stuck in a cycle of less is more.
Let’s start with throwing the old price per wear equation out of the window, for a good-quality formal dress will only be worn a few times a year, meaning we should get a lot longer than normal from our purchase. Buy the absolute best that your budget allows for. Design, although important, is never as important as fit and quality.
But how do we recognise quality? Start by turning the dress inside out, checking to make sure it is nicely lined and staying well clear of synthetic fabrics with cheap finishings — they won’t hang well on the body nor will they last any length of time.
When it comes to colour, try to avoid the clichés. Navy, often dismissed as dull, can appear wonderfully unaffected and chic — making black appear like its lazy, wholly unoriginal little brother. Same goes for our fabric choices. Chiffon, silk and taffeta are in; leather or anything with a high shine are out. You want to avoid anything restrictive, demanding or ageing — and remember, nothing should appear to be struggling for freedom.
If your budget only allows for the high street, make sure to go left of centre by avoiding the main collections and head for the in-house boutique lines to avoid showing up to an event dressed the same as five others.
Scepticism should never be the driving force — so try not to allow your vision to be hampered by anything as mundane as commercialism. This is your time to shine, so celebrate an open and creative approach, as well as encouraging versatility and imagination without forgetting about faultless drapery and quality cutting techniques.
The best advice, then, is to go for a resolutely classic approach rather than dabbling with the gimmicks — something that will (quite literally) see you through thick and thin and the tumbleweeds of time.
You see, it is often in trying to be remarkable that we achieve exactly the opposite, allowing our vision to be hampered and losing a part of ourselves in the process.
weekend@thenational.ae
