The slinky slip dress!

The trending slip dress on the runway reminds us of the timeless elegance of the 90’s, which is effortlessly chic and cool. This one trend, you can tell, has elevated from the bedroom staple into daytime territory. Well, it’s easy to tell why! It closely resembles an underslip and hence the name, but obviously, made from satins, chiffon and silk, these are often trimmed with lace and sheers. Designers associated with slip dresses include John Galliano who’s debut design for Dior was a lace trimmed slip dress worn by Princess Diana in 1996.

This extremely tight, figure-hugging, sheath-like,  sensuous and  seductive, yet, very luxurious kinda feel fabric makes any dress – “slip dress” extremely desirable, just like the woman who wears it!

You know what’s extremely fascinating about this piece of garment is that it is super light and feels like a light breeze on your skin.

You can wear it short, you can wear it long, strappy or strapless, with sleeves-without, with a slit or with out or any which way... there is absolutely no escaping the sensuous look this adds to any style. Make sure you go easy on the accessories and the footwear with these.

Rosie Huntington, a model very recently was spotted in a diamanté pink and black slip dress with high slits. Everything about this dress was just so perfect. Accessorised subtly, finishing it with a pair of simple strapy stilettos!

Not far from home, we spotted the gorgeous Deepika Padukone posing for a magazine shoot wearing a slip dress, and this Mastani of Bollywood, our own Bengaluru girl looked absolutely stunning in it.

How to wear the slip dress trend with confidence:
The slip dress isn’t an easy one to pull off. With its silky figure hugging design, it can be quite daunting trying to wear a dress which quite frankly looks like lingerie. But, have no fear, because we have some fabulous tips so that you can wear this definitive dress with a new found confidence.

There are many ways you can wear it. Some of the best tips we can give you come straight from the celebrity inspired looks.

Discover your inner Kate Moss and team up your slinky number with a warm knitted jumper for those chilly winter days.

One celebrity whose style has had the most mesmerising effect on many of us of late, Selena Gomez has been seen slaying it in a slip dress over and over again.

You can combine a short slip dress with an oversized shirt or blazer and set yourself apart from the crowd. Or, wear it long. For an evening out, nothing speaks glamour more than a floor length dress with a glitzy clutch.

What Shoes To Wear With A Slip Dress
This can be a tricky decision. If you’re opting for a short to midi length slip dress then we’d recommend a pretty pair of flat pumps to complement your glamourous dress perfectly. A pair of comfy sneakers go well with this trending outfit.

If you’re after something a little more dramatic, try a pair of ankle boots completed with a denim jacket; you’ll certainly turn heads with this number. And if your willing to go a little beyond that, teaming your slip  dress with a pair of knee length boots is bold yet super elegant!

Let’s take a look at the history of the slip dress.  The slip dress goes back much further than the 1990’s. In the 1910, the slip began to replace the cumbersome corsets and girdles and became a companion to the flapper dress which was an early iteration of the slip dress.

In the 1940’s and 50’s, slips became more glamorous with designers adding embellishments details such as lace. These were just as beautiful as the clothes they hid beneath. They faded out of popularity soon after, till after the 90’s when designers began to cash into its seductive look that had made an impact on society. The early version was short but the look soon transitioned into longer evening wear as well. The slip dress can be worn any way. Designers such as Prada and Marc Jacobs have also included slip dresses in their collection and today you can find a version of these in many stores!

When we asked Malini Agarwal AKA  Miss Malini, the famous and very fashionable Bollywood blogger what she thought about the slip dress, this is what she had to say, “I would generally wear a slip dress with a leather jacket and knee high boots, maybe hoops and some rings to finish off my look!”

Model/Actress, Diandra Sores from Mumbai says “I’ve always had a thing for slip dresses! So sexy, so cool and incredibly comfortable and most of all can be dressed up or down ...perfect for any occasion.”

Shivani Jain, a popular designer from Delhi who’s designs have walked the New York fashion week says, “The slip dress trend is slowly taking place in people’s wardrobes over the years. It’s an absolute must have this season due to its sexy appeal and comfort. There are many ways to play with this dress the best thing about this dress is to easily convert it into a casual or formal look by just adding some accessories. Designers like Alexander wang and Salvatore Ferragamo have it on their collections this year definitely making it even more desirable.”

On the other hand the gorgeous Riddhima Kapoor Sahni, daughter of the Bollywood power couple Neetu & Rishi Kapoor says, “Personally I’m not a huge fan of the slip dress. The clinging silhouette is just not too flattering to me. Perhaps for the super skinny!”

So, though the slip dress may seem like a daring addition to the wardrobe, it really can be worn in many, many ways making it a fashion must have. What is your favourite way to wear a slip dress?

— The writer helms a  fashion brand with international elements, and walks the talk when it comes to runway rousing!