by Camilla Ridley
This season it is all about the dress. But it isn’t enough for that dress to flatter the décolletage, enhance the waist and not to mention shape our behinds. It also now has to work from sunrise to sunset.
The dress needs to take you from the workplace to your most fabulous dinner parties. On the catwalks there were dresses for the romantic, the goth, the professional and the creative. The dress is having a big renaissance. It should be the staple of every girl and woman’s wardrobe for autumn/winter. At Ridley London we have a dress for everyone because of the variety of styles and exquisite fabrics we offer, which can be tailored to your unique individuality.
One of our latest dresses is the Lauren, which is the kind of dress dreams were made of. It whisks you away (perhaps quite literally) from the stresses of work to the dizzying heights of where ever you want to be. We make this style in a full length maxi or midi version, combine this with a nipped in waist, 3/4 length frilled sleeves and a hoist of liberty silks to choose from to create your dream dress.
If you’re not so much the romantic, there is the Margot, which is a full length, long sleeved maxi. The shape has been engineered to create a soft and elegant silhouette and echoes back to the heady bohemian days of the 70s. You could quite imagine yourself sipping tea in Marrakech to heading up a meeting. The Margot has been made long, so it is perfect for teaming up with your biggest wedges, giving those legs that extra boost of length, which in turn makes the waist look wasp-like. But in Ridley style we tailor everything especially for you, so if you are a flats type of girl, then we will adjust the length so you can wear your dress for all occasions.
What makes a dress more transitional than others? Important factors to consider are the type of material. Light chiffons and transparent fabrics are acceptable when one is invited to a party, but not when trying to secure that crucial deal. The colour/print of the fabric will also need to be taken into consideration. Some colour palettes scream summer or daytime. Neons on a white background are more summer and daywear than darker, richer colours which work just as well in the boardroom as they do at the dinner table. Longer hem-lines and midis are also more flexible for when choosing your transitional dress.
At Ridley we use the finest silks from Liberty of London, from crepe de chine to satins as well as chiffons. Silks are a natural fibre and are so wonderful to wear due to the fact that it reflects light from all angles, as well as letting the body breathe. Team this with Ridley’s intelligent design and clever tailoring, we create pieces that are not only timeless and a dream to wear, but they fit better and will last a lifetime.
Team your luxury silk dress with little boots or smart trainers in the day to rocking heels, a clutch purse and red lips for the evening. Throw on a smart cropped jacket or toughen it up with a little leather one and off you go, ready to take on the world.
Book an appointment with our stylist Laura Parkes on 0208 8787863 who will create a completely exceptional look for you in our new shop at 82 Church Road, Barnes, London, SW13 0DQ.
