When it comes to going out dresses for Spring/Summer 2012, there are three main trends to watch out for: prints, shirt dresses and asymmetric hemlines. Each comes with a wide range of styling possibilities, allowing you to pick your favorite of the three trends (or, if you’re feeling flush, to invest in all three) and give it your own personal touch through the creative use of accessories.
1. Prints. This is not a trend for shrinking violets and, whilst there are prints available on the market in more demure colours and subtler styles, the real energy of this look is to be found in the biggest, boldest and brightest looks of the season. Take the Floral Printed Dress (below) from Next.co.uk, which is always a great going out dress source. It uses strong colours and shapes to create a fashion forward impression but, while you might be thinking this could be a tricky piece to style, note that the shape of the dress is simple and modest and let your accessories reflect this by going for simple black peeptoe shoes and a cute black clutch bag.
2. Shirt Dresses. This is a truly versatile dress style that can take you from the office all the way through to a night out with the girls, if you’re prepared to jazz it up with jewelry and a slick of colourful lipstick. Go for an easy to wear, flattering color like tan or navy and cinch in the waist with a narrow belt and add interest with a colourful pair of retro T bar shoes.
3. Asymmetric Hemlines. This trend refers to dresses that are longer at the back. They tend to come in floating, romantic fabrics that sit organically against the body creating a soft, feminine finish, though more structured versions are also available. Choosing a hemline that’s shorter at the front will naturally draw greater attention to your footwear so a careful choice of accessories is key to making this look work for you. To learn more about the trend, Asos’ American team have put together a quick video that encapsulates the look and gives further guidance on how to work it.
