Latest news with #NeverFullyDressed
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Taking solstice: nine ways to wear day dresses on the summer's longest day
It's the longest day of the year on Saturday. No better time to make the most of the daylight and, while you're at it, your favourite day dress. You know the one. The go-to gúna that spends more time on your body than on its hanger. The one with a cost-per-wear ratio so — you owe it money. Soon the long nights and chilly temperatures will return, and you'll be brainstorming ways to layer a tea dress that don't involve Grey Gardens cosplay. Embrace the height of summer and while we're here, let's find you a new wardrobe hero. The message here is one-and-done. With sunshine at a premium, time is not to be wasted. Add a pair of flat or heeled sandals, sunglasses, and a raffia bag to any of these looks and you're good to go. Similarly, look to colour and shape to do the heavy lifting. Penneys clearly understood the assignment with puff sleeves and ruffled V-neck maxi dresses in bright green and red. Whether pointelle or cotton, the result is easy and breezy. Ditto for & Other Stories and COS; their t-shirt and flounced iterations make laid-back look lovely. Dressed to impress? You will be in Clare O'Connor's silk shift with its painterly print and - wait for it - pockets. Equally, Sinead Keary's linen mini (a.k.a. The Marykate) wins big with its detachable shoulder bow ties for days of quiet luxury. As for me? Since visiting RIXO at Kildare Village, I've acquired a life-size crush on their 'Raven' midi dress. Can I take this into winter? No better time to test my theory. GET THE LOOK: 100% silk shift dress, Clare O'Connor, €420 1. 100% silk shift dress, Clare O'Connor, €420 'Raven' midi dress, RIXO, €490 2. 'Raven' midi dress, RIXO, €490 M&S Collection polka dot maxi dress, M&S, €115 3. M&S Collection polka dot maxi dress, M&S, €115 Puff sleeve maxi dress, Penneys, €30 4. Puff sleeve maxi dress, Penneys, €30 Cotton midi t-shirt dress, COS, €69 5. Cotton midi t-shirt dress, COS, €69 Flounced mini-dress, & Other Stories, € 6. Flounced mini dress, & Other Stories, €119 The Marykate linen detachable bow tie dress, Sinead Keary, €135 7. 'The Marykate' linen detachable bow tie mini dress, Sinead Keary, €135 Ombré 'Alba' midi dress, Never Fully Dressed, €235 8. Ombré 'Alba' midi dress, Never Fully Dressed, €235 Paula Echevarria 'Lola' V-neck maxi dress, Penneys, €28 9. Paula Echevarria 'Lola' V-neck maxi dress, Penneys, €28
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
£35 red stripe summer dress looks just like Never Fully Dressed's sold-out maxi
Missed your chance to shop Never Fully Dressed's red and white stripe midaxi before it sold out? We have a £35 solution... There are few greater highs in fashion than spotting a lookalike of a cult designer piece at a fraction of the price, especially when it hits the season's biggest trends perfectly. Right now, New Look has come through with a summer dress that could easily be mistaken for a much pricier Never Fully Dressed design. If you missed out on Never Fully Dressed's now-sold-out stripe cotton midaxi dress, you're not alone. It was everywhere one minute and gone the next. With its playful mix of pastel stripes, embroidered detailing and that flattering midaxi cut, it had summer holiday written all over it. But now, New Look is offering a strong alternative that's not only just as eye-catching, but also comes in at £35.99 instead of NFD's £169. At first glance, the similarities are striking. New Look's red striped woven puff sleeve milkmaid midi dress shares many of the same standout details as the designer version. The vertical stripes are fun and summery, the puff sleeves give a little vintage charm and the milkmaid neckline is a universally flattering shape that suits all bust sizes. Where the original NFD version leaned into its signature eclectic look with beachy embroidery and a slightly more bohemian feel, New Look's version takes a cleaner approach. The simpler red and white stripe has a timeless, slightly nautical feel that nods to vintage summer holidays. Both dresses also feature a fitted bodice that nips in at the waist before flaring gently into a breezy skirt. New Look's dress lands at a midi length, just below the knee, which makes it slightly shorter than the NFD version. For many, that slightly shorter hemline makes it easier to wear day to day, especially with trainers, flat sandals or even a chunky espadrille. New Look's dress is also made from a cotton-rich blend, so it's light and breathable without feeling flimsy or looking see-through. For a £35.99 dress, the quality is surprisingly strong. Perhaps most importantly, New Look's dress is still in stock across most sizes. That is likely to change once the word spreads, especially among those who missed out on the designer version. If you're shopping around for other similar striped dresses, we also love Nobody's Child's Pink And Red Striped Starlight Midi Dress, £89 – cheaper than NFD but pricier than New Look.
Mint
30-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Indian women's power dressing awaits a makeover
A few months back, an assignment to interview the CEO of a multinational company sent me spiralling with the question of what to wear. The outfit had to look sharp but also be comfortable enough to see me through the day. I scoured through the 'seemingly formal" shirts and trousers I owned and did some last-minute mixing and matching. All that effort ended with me falling back on an extremely safe combination of a semi-formal black top with fitted jeggings. That tiny exercise, however, got me thinking about how shopping for smart corporate wear is not as easy as it seems. Career women in their 30s and 40s who I spoke to had the same refrain: find me good formal western wear that fits and doesn't cost a bomb. Also read: Why nude dressing is trending on the red carpet For Nidhi Agarwal, founder and CEO of Ebony & Ivory PR, Bengaluru, finding stylish workwear has been a problem since the pandemic years when she gained some weight. A size M through most of her adult life, the 40-year-old now wears XL. This change, she reveals, has translated into 'not finding clothes my size when I walk into a store to shop." Being in a job that entails organising events and brand launches and meeting a range of people from C Suite executives to content creators, Agarwal needs to powerdress for the most part but based on the choices available off the rack, she bluntly states, 'Power dressing is not inclusive in India." To be clear, there is good formal wear available in India but whether it's Allen Solly, Van Heusen or Zara, there are fewer good designs available in bigger sizes compared to casual or desi wear. The only alternative is to spend big bucks on plus-size international labels like Never Fully Dressed. Size is a major pain point for Anjali Pathak, 41, an economics professor at Delhi University, as well. A size 9, Pathak often has to settle for a size 8 or 10 when it comes to formal western wear. 'Never mind that this means that the fit rarely sits right," she shrugs. Getting clothes tailored seems like a feasible option but in reality the idea is laughable. 'Where are the tailors?" is the retort. Pathak calls it a time-consuming affair and finds most men's tailors don't have the flair to 'craft bespoke outfits for women". 'I have a tailor in Chennai but since he mostly does menswear, I need to take the help of a male friend to communicate what I want," laughs Ramaa Iyer, 40, an HR and people culture entrepreneur in Bengaluru. For Iyer, shopping for formal wear entails checking off a list of criteria: Is the top too transparent to wear to the office? Does it sit right on the bust? Are the buttons on the shirt gaping? Are the pants tight at the crotch? These may seem like minor details but for a career woman in India, it's these nuances that play loudly in her mind while searching for a pair of trousers, a crisp shirt or a chic dress. While the conversations on one end of the spectrum have women wringing their hands, on the other hand are brands that are attempting to address these issues by designing clothes more thoughtfully and at prices that won't break the bank for women in the 25-60 age bracket. Also read: Neo-punk jewellery gets a touch of Indian grandeur 'The biggest complaints that Indian women have with their workwear often come down to comfort and versatility. Indian women need workwear that breathes, moves and transitions effortlessly from boardroom to beyond," says Shweta Kapur, founder and creative director at luxury ready-to-wear label 431-88, Delhi. Since launching in 2012, the label has created a design language that melds the strict structure of formal wear with fluidity. The label's latest collection, 9-6, for instance, serves up an insouciant mix of shirts in relaxed fits, draped skirts, tailored shorts and knotted pants, among others. And that, Kapur explains, is because office wear in the post-pandemic world has transformed. 'It's now all about fluidity, comfort, and just having fun with your style. Women want pieces that move with them, seamlessly transitioning from work to life," notes Kapur. It is this shifting mentality of her customer that pushes her to weave a touch of glamour into her designs. 'It's about pushing the boundaries, showing that power dressing can be truly expressive and experimental," she says. IN THE DETAILS When siblings Rupanshi, Divya and Bharat Aggarwal set about to launch their premium ready-to-wear brand Qua, they were clear about the idea of power dressing they would be serving their core customer. 'The power dressing that legacy fashion brands seem to promote is a replica of menswear—it's masculine and boring. Our design philosophy was about showing women that wearing powerful clothes didn't mean they had to lose their femininity," says Rupanshi. Launched in 2019, the Gurugram-headquartered brand creates modern tailored outfits that include suits, blazers, waistcoats, dresses, jumpsuits, shirts and skirts at prices ranging from ₹750- ₹14,990. When it comes to getting the fits right across collections, Rupanshi says, 'We invested in deep R&D and experimented with our early collections to understand every facet of the garment-making process, including the ideal silhouettes for the Indian body, fabric selection, and price points too. The fact that we get fewer requests for returns means we've got something right." At Rareism, the women's clothing brand that's part of The House of Rare umbrella brand in Bengaluru, size inclusivity is a given. 'Our clothes come in sizes from xs to xxl. We've also just launched a line called Curvism for bigger bodies," says Akshika Poddar, founder and director of the brand. Also read: Why global luxury houses are looking beyond Bollywood for brand ambassadors Keenly aware of how fits in the workwear category can underwhelm or overwhelm the wearer, Poddar shares that a lot of care is taken to ensure that their collections fit different body types. We do fit tests on three different body types for each size, Poddar says. 'For instance, if there's an xs-sized top, we test it on models with the three main body types: apple, pear and rectangle, and then grade it. There are times when I test an outfit on myself. This is because sizes can vary with silhouettes," she explains. As a professor who spends long hours in non-air-conditioned classrooms, Pathak's grouse with Indian brands is that they make clothes from fabrics that are unsuitable for the Indian weather. 'Most Indian brands I know use fabric that's ideal for air-conditioned surroundings but since my workplace doesn't have ACs, I find them uncomfortable." The brands Lounge spoke to mainly work with cottons, polyester, viscose, silk, crepe and modal fabrics. The choice is mainly determined by customer demand, quality and easy availability, they say. 'When we launched in 2019, we did a lot of cotton and linens but we soon had customers asking us for clothes in flowy fabrics. That's why we've slowly shifted to recycled polyester, viscose and modal cottons. We spend time finding new fabrics, materials every season," says Poddar. Qua largely works with cottons, viscose, chiffons and satin. Kapur works with fabrics like silk, crepe, jersey and suiting fabric—materials that she sources globally, from Varanasi to Italy. It's clear that there are brands doing their homework but there's a yawning gap between what the working woman wants and what she actually gets. While customers like Agarwal and Iyer find small consolation in brands like Marks & Spencer and Mango, they admit that there's a void for a homegrown brand that straddles comfort along with sophistication. With more women entering India's workforce and the overall women's wear market for India projected to grow to $121.60 billion by 2030, according to a report by management consulting firm IMARC, we may be a few years away from power dressing getting a cool rejig. Also read: Why labubu dolls, Disney cartoons have entered the adult wardrobe
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Best lightweight and creaseproof dresses to wear to a destination wedding
If you're jetting off to a wedding abroad and need some styling inspiration, we've rounded up the best destination wedding guest dresses from £80 Packing for a destination wedding can be tricky, trying to balance style, comfort, and all while keeping to your suitcase allowance is no small feat. You'll need outfits that travel well, keep you cool in warmer climates, and stay looking just as good from early morning ceremonies to sunset receptions. Whether you're jetting off to a tropical beach or a sunny Tuscan vineyard, the key is finding dresses that look effortlessly chic while withstanding travel. To help you out, we've rounded up the best lightweight, breathable, and crease-proof pieces from Never Fully Dressed, Karen Millen, Phase Eight and Next to keep you looking polished from the plane to the party. Never Fully Dressed Pink Abstract Tilly Dress Available for £129 here This metallic fleck dress from Never Fully Dressed is a dreamy choice for a destination wedding. With its lightweight fabric and shimmering gold details that will be able to catch the sunlight beautifully, you'll be standing out from the crowd (in the best way possible!). Its airy silhouette and elasticated waist offer ultimate comfort (making this dress especially great for bump dressing), while the pull-on design means zero fuss after a long journey. And of course, thanks to the plisse-like material, there will be no dreaded creasing. Phase Eight Hannah Linen Dress Available for £169 here If you're heading to a destination wedding abroad or a more casual wedding, a linen dress could be your best bet. Of course, this material immediately makes your outfit look more relaxed. However, linen clothing is always a good idea in the summertime. It will keep you cool and breezy throughout the warmer months, and not only is this Phase Eight linen dress functional, it's so stylish. Next Availabe for £80 here Bandeau dresses are a big wedding guest trend this year, and this sweet floral maxi from Next ticks all the boxes. Made from 100% cotton, this will be a lifesaver in warmer climates as cotton offers breathability, as well a moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool and dry. The tiered design adds a playful pop of movement and style, while also being a practical feature that will divert attention away from any possible creases. Karen Millen Available for £159 here This pleated maxi a real showstopper that not only looks amazing, but travels really well. If you're not a fan of showing your arms, this dress is perfect and the kaftan-like vibe makes this ideal for beachy, tropical weddings. Thanks to its crease-concealing pleats and breezy cape sleeves that add a touch of drama without much extra weight, you'll be best dressed in this floral number.
Daily Mirror
15-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
When Marks & Spencer will be back online as the outage nears the month mark
As the online outage nears the month-long mark, is M&S ready to take orders via its website yet? If you've been trying to place an online order with Marks & Spencer recently and found yourself out of luck, you're definitely not alone. M&S has been battling with the fallout from a major cyberattack that hit over the Easter weekend, forcing them to pull the plug on their UK online orders since April 25. It's been newly revealed that the hack, carried out by a group known as DragonForce (also sometimes called Scattered Spider), exposed customer data like names, addresses and order histories, though thankfully, card details and passwords stayed safe. Still, it's been a bit of a digital disaster, with even in-store services like contactless payments and click-and-collect being affected. Jayne Wall, operations director for M&S, wrote earlier this week: "To proactively manage the incident, we immediately took steps to protect our systems and engaged leading cyber security experts. We also reported the incident to relevant government authorities and law enforcement, who we continue to work closely with. Unfortunately, the nature of the incident means that some personal customer data has been taken, but there is no evidence that it has been shared." It's said that the retailer's been losing around £4 million a day in online sales, and while their physical stores are still open, there's no confirmed date yet for when the website will be back in action. M&S is working closely with cybersecurity experts and has already asked customers to reset their passwords as a precaution. It's clear they're taking the situation seriously, but for now, all we can do is wait patiently. Missing your M&S fashion buys? Not to worry, there are plenty of buys from other online retailers promising equal quality and pricing. Here are some of our favourites of the week... River Island Square Neck Mini Dress River Island shoppers are impressed with a "classy" dress that's similar to one by a luxury brand. The retailer is well known for it's on-trend fashion and accessories - and now there may be a new fan favourite on the shelves. The high street retailer is selling the Long Sleeve Square Neck Mini Dress, priced at £42, in several colours; brown, black, cream polka dot, green, pink and red. It is available in sizes six to 22. Never Fully Dressed Palma Island Dress Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt seems to debut a new frock every week, and her latest one is the ideal purchase for this mini-heatwave we're experiencing in the UK. Sharing a photo of herself donning the dress on her Instagram stories, Scarlett reveals that the exact item is Never Fully Dressed's Palma Island Dress, available in sizes XS through to XXXL. At present, it's in stock in all sizes, but given how stunning the star looks in it, we don't anticipate it'll stay that way for long. Next Black V-Neck Ruffle Sleeve Mini Dress with Linen Next shoppers are heaping praise on a "perfect" dress that's proving popular online. The retailer is well known for its on-trend clothing and accessories, and one dress is becoming a fan favourite. The V-Neck Ruffle Sleeve Mini Dress with Linen is priced at £28 and is available in a range of colours and patterns, including white, animal leopard print, blue floral print, monofloral, navy vintage floral, and more. It comes in regular or petite fit, in sizes six to 26. Uniqlo Linen Blend V-Neck Dress Uniqlo shoppers are praising a "divine" dress they've been quickly snapping up online. The Japanese retailer is well known for its affordable and on-trend fashion - and one dress in particular is proving a huge hit with fans. The Gingham Linen Blend V Neck Dress, which is priced at £39.90, is available in black and white and comes in sizes XXS to XL. According to the product description, the dress "gathers at the shoulders and waist, creating flattering lines." Next Pink and Orange Midi Slip Summer Dress Next shoppers are heaping praise on a "lovely" summer dress they've been snapping up online. The retailer is well known for it's on-trend clothing and accessories - and there may be a new favourite in stock. The fashion retailer is selling the Midi Slip Summer Dress, which is available in a range of designs, including a bright pink and orange pattern, blue tie dye, black/green, and black/animal. It is priced at £28. If you're still desperate for an M&S fix while the brand gets back up and running, you can still get your Percy Pigs and ready meals through Ocado, which stocks a good range of their food products. But for things like flowers, hampers, or those seasonal treats you'd usually order directly, you'll need to hang tight a bit longer. M&S has thanked customers for bearing with them, and fingers crossed, it won't be too long before everything's back online and running smoothly again.
