The wrap dress is one of those items that almost every woman has or certainly should have in her wardrobe. It does something amazing for the figure and I am not quite sure how but it narrows the waist and gives a very slim silhouette. Perhaps something to do with the diagonal lines of the fabric wrapping around the body and tying at the narrowest part of the waist.

The wrap dress was invented by Diana Von Furstenberg and she will always be a fashion legend because of it. There are so many different versions of the wrap dress available. With prints, plain, with ruffles and a knitted version in cashmere, the wrap dress really can be worn for almost any occasion. I have always though of the wrap dress as a very grown up item of clothing but it also exudes a maturity that comes when someone starts to realise which clothes really suit their figure and look great.

For a casual look a wrap dress looks great with a vest top in a contrasting colour worn underneath.

For a more dressy occassion, this Belle and Bunty Silk Wrap dress looks amazing.

The shift dress is a great dress for any occasion. Versatile, lady like and flattering it is a classic dress that always looks stylish. The below the knee pencil style skirt or mini shift is a great look for this season and it will take you from office to bar and onwards. Wear with court shoes and a smart jacket for the office, with slouchy boots for a cool daytime look and with killer heels and lots of sparkly jewellery for a great evening out look. The shift dress is also available in all sorts of fabric for a variety of looks from check/tartan for a colourful and trendy look, satin for an slinky evening look, or even a stretchy material for a more casual/ sporty look. Florals, embellishment and leather are also great ways to wear the classic shift dress.

The shift dress has been around since the late fifties when it was just above the knee and considered very daring and short. In the sixties the mini shift dress became very popular and the empire line shift dress was also created. These styles both have a huge influence on today’s shift dress.

This simple but classic, soft baby cord shift dress is a key wardrobe basic that is suitable for so many occasions and will last for many seasons to come.

I love dresses and I often blog about them. What I love about the dress is the way it is feminine and looks like you have made a bit of an effort and yet it is amazingly versatile and you can find all sorts of  dresses for different occassions. It is easy to dress a day time dress  up for an evening out and an evening dress can be dressed down by layering it over a pair of trousers. I think the return of the dress is a rebellion against casual and scruffy dressing and an uprising against the uniform like wearing of jeans.

From vintage tea dresses to body con dresses to black lace evening dresses, there are so many types of dress to choose from, making it easy to choose something that reflects the occassion, your style, mood, colouring and body shape. Here are some of my favourite dresses. 

For casual daytime, this cotton dress is so easy to wear and looks great with a pair of coloured opaque tights.

This Boudoir by Dissaya chiffon dress is perfect for a night it is understated by elegant.