Day wear
What kind of maxi dress will suit me?
The versatile little gem also known as the maxi dress is simply a summer must if you are going on holiday, are out for the evening, or even if you’re going out shopping for the day. In short, you can wear your maxi dress to pretty much anything! So why are maxi dresses so popular? The answer is simply because they are low maintenance, comfortable, feminine, easy to accessorise and they can take you through right from day to night. For many years, I believed that my 5ft 2, petite frame would render it impossible for me to be able to pull off a maxi dress as I believed that they would swamp me and make me look even shorter. At the boutique we have dealt with many other ladies who also have the misconception that a maxi dress will only suit a lady who is tall, willowy and lean. Whilst this is true of certain styles, there is no reason why a petite lady or a fuller lady should fear the maxi dress, the trick is to just find ‘your’ maxi dress.
Maxi dresses for short women
If you have a a small, petite frame, it doesn’t mean that you have to avoid a maxi dress. It is true that maxi dresses with oodles of fabric will swamp a small frame and you do have to be a little careful if you are a petite lady and you are going out maxi dress hunting. I have found that an empire line can give the illusion of a longer leg and also a body con style maxi can look great on a petite lady as it gives the figure a bit of definition. A V-neck also elongates the figure, so small ladies should definitely opt for this style of neckline.
Maxi dresses for the fuller figure
Maxi dresses are great for slimming down the lower half of the body whilst still maintaining a much desired, curvy shape, so maxis can look fantastic on a fuller figure. As with petite women, curvy girls can go for a simple empire line dress (but make sure there is not too much embellishment on the bust line) like the one pictured on the left. An empire line has the benefit of having floaty fabrics around the waist line so it can hide any problem areas.
Maxi dresses for ladies with a big bust
If you are concerned about your bust area and/or are a bit top heavy, maxi dresses are particularly flattering for you as a loose dress hides smaller hips and balances you out. I have found that women with a fuller bust look fabulous in a dress with a v-neck, like this maxi pictured. It’s also fabulous because of the fact that you can comfortably wear a bra with it.
Maxi dresses for the pear shape
If you are a lady with fuller hips and a smaller bust, the trick is to find a maxi dress with an embellished top to draw attention to the top and keep the eyes away from the hips like the chiffon maxi pictured on the right. This particular maxi has a lot of definition around the bust, and falls gently to a softly flared skirt, which will glance over a larger hip.
Maxi dresses for ladies with a boyish figure
Ladies with a boyish figure are rather lucky when it comes to the maxi dress as the majority of styles will suit a lean, willowy frame. However, I have found that a cinch in the waist is very flattering on a boyish figure as it gives the illusion of a curvier shape.
Accessories to go with a maxi dress
Maxi dresses tend to speak for themselves, especially if they have a print on them, so don’t overload yourself with accessories. Personally, I love boho bangles, earrings and flat sandals with maxi dresses, and if you are going for a plain maxi dress, just add a necklace and you’re ready to go! If you are taking your maxi dress out on a night out, glam the look up with a few sparkly accessories.
If you have a specific question for a member of our styling team, why not tweet to us @walkinwardrobe with the hashtag #askwalkinwardrobe
Charity Cream Tea Fashion Show at The Hove Kitchen
On Wednesday 2nd April we hosted an unforgettable fashion event to launch our brand new day wear collection at the boutique. The event was held across the road from the boutique at the Hove Kitchen, and as we like to mix fashion and charity, the proceeds of this event went to Rockinghorse and the Martlets. Guests were welcomed to the event with the wonderfully smooth sounds of the Frank Sinatra style singer, David Williams and a glass of bubbles. Guests were then able to enjoy Cream Tea and sandwiches and scones made by the Hove Kitchen. Alongside the fashion show we held a charity raffle with a fabulous selection of prizes from local businesses such as the Hilton Brighton Metropole, I-bar, La Cave a Fromage, Chocoholly, Willsmer Wagg, the Naked Eye Gallery, Nadia’s Vintage, Florian and Tranquility.
A few words from the proprietor Katherine Tanswell: ‘It was a pleasure to organise this glitzy event with celebrity stylist Carol Ives and we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who came to the event and to the generosity our guests showed that night. We would like also to extend our thanks to the local businesses who donated prizes for the raffle. As you may be aware, both myself and Carol are embarking on a sponsored walk along the Great Wall of China in aid of Rockinghorse which will be a real physical challenge to us, so it was great to be able to have a light hearted event in amongst all the training we have been doing!’
A huge thank you to our models who gave up their time to do the fashion show, and thank you to Cove Hair in Brighton for doing such a fantastic job on the models hair and thank you also to Tranquility for the glamorous makeup!
Katherine’s Just Giving China Walk page can be found here: www.justgiving.com/Katherine-chinaWall, Carol’s can be found here: www.justgiving.com/ivesstyle
Our next charity event is on Wednesday 7th May at 5.30pm at the boutique, where we will be joining forces with Janine from Sassy Style and Tranquility for a One Stop Style and Shop. At this event Janine will show you what style of outfits and which colours will suit you and Louise of Tranquility will be on hand to give you make up tips and how to keep your face looking fresh. Tickets are just £15, please contact the boutique or Janine on 07557818103 to book. We look forward to seeing you there, but for now, enjoy a few photos of our Cream Tea Event….
*all photos by Hannah of Instant Forever
Day to evening dresses at Walk in Wardrobe
Time waits for no one, and we have noticed that some of our customers always seem like they have to race against the clock in their busy lives, juggling work, special events (such as weddings) and social events. At Walk in Wardrobe we are seeking to make your lives just a little bit easier in providing dresses for the day time which will carry you on into the evening time – no more having to dash home to change after work for your evening cocktail event!
Our new day wear range contains day dresses, tops, skirts and jackets to ensure that you look tip top and stylish when you are out and about, and they are chic enough to ensure that you are looking your absolute best when you go on to your event in the evening. The trick with jam packed social days is to be prepared – pack some twinkly earrings into your bag with a glitzy bangle and add them to your ensemble once your day event is done (adding a touch of instant glamour!). Don’t forget to bring a small makeup bag to refresh your make-up and some extra Kohl for a glam evening look.
Chic slimline zip front beige dress by Dimare.
I couldn’t begin to explain my excitement when this dress (pictured left) arrived at the boutique. This Italian desk to dinner dress is a particularly streamlining dress with it’s clever panelling and fitted shape. These simple, elegant colours give you an air of sophistication whilst maintaining a modern look.
A couple of ways to wear this dress:
In the office – I simply love the idea of wearing this classic dress at the office and I would personally put a little bit of a 1960’s stamp on this dress and wear it with a few simple black accessories such as black heels, a chunky black bangle and some big black stud earrings. If you wanted to (and had the time to in the mornings), a beehive updo would really complete the whole look – voila! A classic 1960’s pencil dress ensemble with a modern twist!
In the evening – Due to the neutral colours in this clever little dress, it is easy to swap over your office jewellery for something more glamorous in the evening. After work is done simply swap your black accessories for accessories which are gold in colour and whip on some nude heels – this instantly lightens the outfit and gives you a very different look! If you want to stick with black accessories, just add a sprinkling of glitz into the accessories, such as one of our black sparkly bangles, and you’re ready to go off and enjoy a few cocktails after work.
Dimare shift dress with pink roses
This darling little shift dress from Dimare (pictured right) quickly won a place in my heart as one of my favourite dresses we have ever had at the boutique. With it’s delicate chain and rose embellishment with Swarovski crystal stones at the neckline it’s a real winner if you are going to a wedding and is especially appropriate for a spring wedding with it’s pale pink rose print. The back of this dress has a gorgeous deep V with a matching chiffon rose back panel and a beautiful little cascade of frills, after all, the back is just as important as the front!
A couple of ways to wear this dress
For a day event – there is quite a lot going on with this dress, so if you are wearing this dress as a wedding guest, stick to minimal accessories. Don’t worry about wearing a necklace with this embellished neckline as there is a danger that the neckline will look too busy, feel free to opt for a gold coloured, delicate chain bracelet to match the chain on the neck and go for some gold earring studs. Naturally, add a hat or a fascinator in a neutral tone or in a pale, shell pink to compliment the rose print. As this dress is so delicate in colour we suggest that you opt for pale beige heels, or if you are going to be walking on grass, some beige wedges (wedges have the dual advantage of being modern and also practical as they are brilliant if you want to avoid that ‘sinking’ feeling!).
For an evening event – in the evening, take the accessories up a slight notch, stick with the nude heels or wedges and add some delicate gold dangly earrings with some sparkly Swarovski crystals to match the stones on the neckline and add a sparkle bracelet. I would recommend mixing our rose crystal mini bangle with a gold band.
These examples are a mere snippet of the day wear dresses we currently have at the boutique, and we are always adding more! To shop the full collection visit our website here.
The backless dress at Walk in Wardrobe
Stunning celebrity backless dress, available at the boutique in Royal Blue.
The most popular look at The Oscars 2013 was definitely the backless dress. Top celebrities such as Renee Zellweger wowed the crowds with a subtle, elegant-yet-sexy flash of skin, bringing the backless to the forefront of style. The backless dress is a perfect prom dress, party dress, black tie event dress, and of course, the perfect red carpet dress. Walk in Wardrobe are thrilled to be able to bring back one of our bestselling backless dresses, giving you the chance to get that red carpet look for yes, you’ve guessed it, a fraction of the cost!
Our customers who have been looking for backless dresses have many questions with regards to underwear, accessories, etc. We would like to share some of our tips with you to ensure that you can bring the sexy back when wearing your glamorous backless dress.
Accessories to go with a backless dress.
With a statement dress like a backless dress, you don’t need to many accessories as the dress will do most of the talking for you! Opt for a sparkly hair tiara or hair band, some simple dangly earrings and a nice glitzy bangle to offset the look. As many backless dresses do not have a plunging neckline, you can also wear a necklace in reverse with a single long dangle and a bit of sparkle so it trails elegantly down your back.
How should I wear my hair with a backless dress?
I am a firm believer that if you are wearing a backless dress you should be showing off your back! If you want to show off your back fully, wear your hair totally up in a tight bun for a high end, elegant look, or in a messy bun with a few bits of hair trailing down at the front for a sassy, flirty and fun look. If you really like having your hair down, wear your hair in a half up, half down style, so you can still have your back on show, but have a trickle of gorgeous locks going down your back. Another favourite of mine if you want to show off your back fully but want to have your whole head of hair down is to have your hair swept over one shoulder and coming down the front of your dress. I particularly love this look if you have your hair cascading down your shoulder in big, glamorous waves.
The million dollar question: What bra can I wear with a backless dress?
You have to be ever so careful when selecting what underwear to wear with your backless dress. Seeing your usual bra band across your exposed back or wearing a bra with a plastic band is a big no-no. But fear not! You still have several options from here:
- If you are small busted you can go completely bra-less with a backless dress. If you are feeling a little exposed, you can carefully apply some adhesive dress tape which is specifically designed to stick to skin and fabric to make you feel a bit more secure. If you are going bra-less, try to avoid the Anne Hathaway ‘nipple issue’ she had at the Academy Awards by applying plasters, or, if you want a less painful option on removal, you can purchase some silicone gel petals to go over the relevant areas!
- If you have a medium sized bust you can opt for an adhesive bra which sticks to your bust.
- If you are a busty lady and/or want or need a bit more support, go for a fabulous multiway bra which has a band which will wrap around your tummy with the band sitting low enough so it doesn’t peep over the back of your dress. Another option is to try Maidenform’s truly revolutionary strapless and backless bra, specifically designed to give you support whilst giving you the ability to wear your backless dress with confidence.