Slowly but surely, the pleasurable prospect of dressing up again is becoming a reality. But what do you do when all we can remember is how to snuggle into our sweatpants? From cocktail dresses to wedding guest dresses, there's a host of event get-ups for diving into this summer whether you're enthused about something streamlined or keen to show off dramatic and embellished forms.
Here, we present the strongest silhouettes for summer and beyond, from brands including Balenciaga, Valentino and Fendi.
Balenciaga: the chainmail party dress
Dress, £6,650; top, £350; legging boots, £2,150, all by Balenciaga
Encouraged to embrace all out adornment? Look to the French maison's gold linked chainmail dress which will jangle as your get down on the dance floor.
Hermès and Jil Sander: the leather dress
Top, Dress, £1,340; gilet belt, £860; bag, £2,030, all by Jil Sander by Lucie and Luke Meier. Shoes, £225, by Aeyde. Bracelet, £625, by Maviada. Dining chair, £1,000, by Carlo Scarpa, for Gavina, from Béton Brut. Bottom, Dress, £9,600, by Hermès. Shoes, £705, by Prada. Earrings, £235, by Completedworks. Tights, £37, by Wolford
Embrace luxurious fabrications after months of simply wearing cotton and jersey. Hermès and Jil Sander recommend minimalist and calf and ankle grazing dress shapes, with sumptuous leather accents.
Loewe: the voluminous dress
Dress, £5,500, by Loewe. Shoes, £705, by Prada. Earrings, £1,227, by Maria Frering
Turn up the volume at your first special ocassion. Loewe's two-tone party dresses flirt with dramatic and poufed-up proportions and also features artisanally-inclined knot details.
Emporio Armani: the transparent dress
Dress, £710, by Emporio Armani. Shoes, £705, by Prada. ‘Phantom’ chair, £950, by Verner Panton, for Densa Basel, from Béton Brut
Embrace the body and opt for gauzy and featherlight fabrics. Emporio Armani's transparent dress is formed from a breezy transparent fabrics, for lighter-than-air luxury.
Fendi: the cut-out dress
Dress, £1,250, by Fendi. Shoes, £705, by Prada. Earrings, £235, by Completedworks. ‘Sleep-O-Matic’ sofa, £5,000, by Marco Zanuso, for Arflex, from Béton Brut
A cheeky cut-out detal witll turn heads. Fendi balances the coy with the classic, with this elegant knitted dress. Its alluring backless detail is scintillating for show offs.
Saint Laurent: the strapless dress
Dress, £2,600, by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Earrings, £275, by Vanda Jacintho
A strapless dress boasts a couture level of chic. Discover Saint Laurent's sophisticated style, accented with elegant draping and pleating.
Valentino: the floral dress
Dress, £5,900, by Valentino. Shoes, £225, by Aeyde. Earrings, £250, by Vanda Jacintho
Floral details always have fine form in spring. Valentino's take on bold blooms has a graphic twist. The Roman maison's party dresses feature precise petal cut-outs.
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For London Gallery Weekend 2023, the mood is hardcore
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Birkenstock celebrates its most memorable styles with colourful capsule (and matching socks)
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These sculptural Ferragamo heels tell a story about the house’s history
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Loewe’s Jonathan Anderson on exalting and reimagining the Welsh stick chair at Milan Design Week
‘Loewe Chairs’ saw the designer look towards a longtime fascination – the humble Welsh stick chair, here reimagined in a raft of colourful and inventive new ways by world artisans
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’Raw Architecture’: inside Balenciaga’s latest opening in Hamburg, Germany
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What to expect from the V&A’s blockbuster Chanel exhibition, ‘Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto’
‘Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto’ arrives at the V&A this September, spanning the French couturier’s career and enduring legacy – with the first tickets released today (23 March, 2023)
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Fendi to show next men’s collection in Tuscany as part of Pitti Uomo
Italian house Fendi will show its latest collection at the new Fendi Factory in Capannuccia, Tuscany, on 15 June as part of the historic menswear fair
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Loewe marks the Year of the Rabbit with limited-edition bunny bags and candles
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Christmas baubles for fashion fans, from Dior to Prada
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The finest fashion books for style enthusiasts
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