Time to Get Dressed!

While out shopping with a male friend recently, I was asked, “What is it with women and dresses? They seem to be falling in and out of love with each other so instantly.”


For a moment I was stumped, hit by a sudden pang of guilt seeing the two new dresses I have in my hands. As I walked to the changing room, the question rang louder. Really, what is it with women and dresses that we are willing to spend so much on those pretty pieces?

Classic, intricate, mutually dependent

The relationship between women and dresses is classic, intricate and mutually dependent. Classic because women have been dress worshippers since god-knows-when; from the elaborate afternoon dresses of the 1800s to the less complicated but equally romantic tea gowns of the early 20th century to Coco Chanel’s little black dress mantra, of which many women are still swearing by today. As of many other timeless fashion items, dresses have gone through countless periods of transformation, each one defining the needs, taste and personality of women in that era. All these while maintaining the femininity that remains a consistent trait of dresses. It is in fact difficult to dispute the fact that a certain amount of grace and elegance is added to a woman when she slips on a beautiful dress.

Does a woman make a dress or does a dress make a woman?

Just like the relationship between many couples, the relationship between a woman and dresses are mutually dependent. A woman makes a dress and vice versa. A beautiful dress lends its charms to a woman and a beautiful woman brings out the beauty of a dress. If a bride was to wear a white pant suit instead of a majestic wedding dress, the beauty that resides within her femininity may unlikely shine. Similarly, a grand Marc Jacobs silk dress would not come alive if it merely stands hanging on the wall. Therefore, a woman does make a dress, and especially so when the dress compliments her physical attributes. The birth of couture fashion was a signal to dressmakers’ understanding of the importance of creating dresses that flatter women’s different body structure. A dress, no matter how carefully cut, designed and adorned fails to make an impression if it does not suit the wearer.

Dressed to kill?

Needless to say, the power of a dress is one which ought not be underestimated. Dresses have served as a form of escapism, as testified by women who claim ‘I feel like a princess’ when putting on a beautiful evening dress. In the fashion industry, dresses are one of the benchmarks through which a designer’s talents, ability and certainly future, are evaluated. Have a celebrity parading one of your dresses and you are on your way up the A list. You can have your fabulous shirts and jackets but if your dresses fail to reach a similar level of fabulous-ness, your name drowns.

The recent Spring/Summer fashion show saw designers whispering the charms of the forties into their dresses. Full skirts and well defined waists were once again brought onto the runaway. The allure of dresses have become so inviting Style has reported that even behind the spotlights, high profile models are donning pretty frocks (see Model's Own)

What better reason to get that new dress?

Some of my recent purchases;












(Left-right, top-down)
White Audrey dress (maroon chiffon ribbon bought separately) from GothicGirl(NZ)
Batik-inspired wrap dress from Tightrope(AUS)
Brown babydoll dress with smock details (behind) from Phenomenal(MidValley)
Red summer dress from Sacha Drake(AUS)
Floral printed halter neck dress from Lolli(NZ)
Halter neck dress with black lace details and diamond brooch from SomersetBay (SOGO)

Photo credits:
Greg Kessler from Style