Theresa May's love of fashion has been well-documented, but she still managed to surprise when she stepped out in Lake Garda this week in a perennial summer favourite: the shirt dress. She favoured a linen version from Next , and managed to strike a balance between off-duty politico smart and holiday casual.
The shirt dress offers a solution to just about every style dilemma, from last-minute gatherings to events with ill-defined dress codes, or even a board meeting where you need to impress.
It became popular in the 1950s, when Christian Dior devised an early version as part of his post-war New Look. Once glamorous stars like Grace Kelly were spotted wearing the collared dresses with nipped-in waists and full skirts, it was only a matter of time before ordinary women followed suit, and the shirt dress became embedded as a symbol for the suburban American housewife and her seemingly idyllic life.
That ultra-feminine look is still popular - Reese Witherspoon has long been a fan and many of the designs in her Draper James fashion line (available on netaporter.com) are perfect for breezy summer daywear. Embrace the look with a pair of espadrilles and a straw tote, or add a street-style edge with box-fresh white trainers and an embellished cross-body bag.
If prim and proper isn't your style, the summer staple has been reimagined for 2017 by buzzy brands Jacquemus and Monse, who championed the deconstructed shirting trend for spring-summer. Their modern take on the shirt dress avoids looking too delicate by opting for bold prints, masculine fabrics and contemporary details like a wrap tie at the waist or asymmetric hem.
The versatility of the shirt dress knows no bounds and it works just as well in the office, on a lazy weekend or on the red carpet, as Kirsten Dunst and Julianne Moore (far left) can attest. You can wear it on its own with a pair of smart kitten heels and a tote for the office or elevate for evening with statement earrings and platform heels.
It also has value as a layering piece - see Michelle Obama in a Palmer Harding dress over black slacks at a summit in Washington last May for a fresh take on tailoring, or follow Emily Ratajkowski's lead and leave it unbuttoned over jeans and a t-shirt for a laid-back look.
There's a shirt dress for every woman and every occasion - all you need to do is throw one on and dress it up (or down) as desired.Read more at:prom dresses 2017 | graduation gowns