TheWorldJournal.com - Fashion & Style

Frock Shock
By Julia Gabriel, TheWorldJournal.com

Dresses are back, and stronger than ever. This simple piece of clothing with centuries of history offers no-brainer ways to create a outstanding winning look, without the tricky job of combining separates.

In general there is a very girly feeling to dresses this summer. Soft chiffon dresses with ruffles and floral prints just say romance. Also contributing to the feminine movement are necklines that show a little skin. This creates a flattering silhouette at the shoulder line that works on a variety of figure types - it can take the emphasis off your arms while instantly highlighting your face.

The halter style also is a key player in the retro flavour that consumed many designers, including Donna Karan, who turned out a '50s-inspired print halter dresses in her spring-summer collection. Fashion's vintage visionary Marc Jacobs also went for full skirts reminiscent of past decades.

Another blast from the past, the shirtdress, is also making noise. Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera favour the classic shape. A shirtdress can be ideal for the office in the summer, offering a great versatility - you can wear it open as a jacket with a neutral top underneath. It can also work well as a cover-up for a beach. Hemlines for this type of dresses are everywhere - short, super-short, at-the-knee, even ankle-grazing.

For an evening, designers look towards bedroom. Dresses that took the shapes of slips and nightgowns seduced Marc Jacobs and Narciso Rodriguez. To add a little bit of cover-up, employ a short jacket or long coat. But if you go for bare-arm option, think of getting some tan - real, with great caution, or fake, with the help of self-tan or a bronzer. Since bare backs can be so brilliantly, unsluttishly sexy, it seems a shame to consign them to two post-holiday weekends a year. So don't. A tan does wonders for a bare back - in the same way that a touch of sun can give you cheekbones, it also emphasises shoulder blades.

© July 9, 2003

<![if lt IE 4]> <script src="http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=132676;size=120x600;setID=49329;type=js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://servedbyadbutler.com/go2/;ID=132676;size=120x600;setID=49329"> <img src="http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve.ibs/;ID=132676;size=120x600;setID=49329;type=img" border="0" height="600" width="120" alt=""></a> </noscript><![endif]>

<![if lt IE 4]> <script src="http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve/;ID=132676;size=468x60;setID=56367;type=js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <noscript> <a href="http://servedbyadbutler.com/go2/;ID=132676;size=468x60;setID=56367"> <img src="http://servedbyadbutler.com/adserve.ibs/;ID=132676;size=468x60;setID=56367;type=img" border="0" height="60" width="468" alt=""></a> </noscript><![endif]>

<![if lt IE 4]> <SCRIPT SRC="http://imgserv.adbutler.com/adserve/;ID=132676;size=120x60;setID=50664;type=js" LANGUAGE="JAVASCRIPT"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <a href="http://imgserv.adbutler.com/go2/;ID=132676;size=120x60;setID=50664"> <img src="http://imgserv.adbutler.com/adserve.ibs/;ID=132676;size=120x60;setID=50664;type=img" border="0" height="60" width="120"></a> </NOSCRIPT><![endif]>

Since 1999 © TheWorldJournal.com, All rights reserved. Student Media Network For the best advertising rates at TheWorldJournal.com (120x600 - new banner format by the Interactive Advertising Bureau), click here. Back to top	e-mail: info@theworldjournal.com sales: sales@theworldjournal.com