Why every woman should have an SBD (that’s a summer black dress) – How to dress like a grown up with SHANE WATSON
- The secret of this summer’s black dress boils down to femininity plus simplicity
- READ MORE: Hurrah for summer heels you can walk in!
There is a rule in fashion we’re all familiar with, and that is ‘don’t fall back on black over 50’. But the rule comes with a big ‘unless . . .’
I’d say avoid black suiting, but not black corduroy or velvet. I’d say steer clear of black stretchy jersey and silk, but a black velvet dress can work in winter, and now I’d strongly recommend a black (or very dark blue) summer dress (SBD) — with a few caveats, of course.
No one is more surprised than me by this turn of events. I used to wear light silk black dresses all the time, and then, suddenly — maybe not on the day of my 50th birthday but thereabouts — they made me look washed out and funereal.
I did buy a black velvet dress last year for my father’s funeral, but it never occurred to me to keep an open mind about the colour in summer.
There’s no doubt you have to try 100 per cent harder with black than you would have done in the past. Pictured: Myleene Klass
For black to work, it must be lustrous, textured not plain lightweight cotton (draining! Dull!) Or so I thought.
Then, a couple of weeks ago, I was persuaded to try on a nearly black cotton dress — it was in that dark, dark blue that’s a fraction more forgiving — partly because the one in white looked like a dress I would have snapped up 25 years ago.
And it turns out that, unlike pretty summery white dresses, the black or navy dress is top of the Yes You Still Can pile.
It may even — I hope you’re sitting down — look rather better with age and effort.
By effort I mean red lipstick, a string of coral beads or turquoise earrings, glossy hair and nice sandals.
Summer black is always cool and particularly this summer, when it’s like a fresh breeze in a tropical hothouse. Pictured: Hailey Bieber
There’s no doubt you have to try 100 per cent harder with black than you would have done in the past.
Even if you’re wearing it in a casual way, the aim is to look polished and glossy — but it’s so worth it.
Summer black is always cool and particularly this summer, when it’s like a fresh breeze in a tropical hothouse.
We love colour but if we can also look chic in perfectly plain black, we’ll take that, too.
The secret of this summer’s black/almost black dress boils down to femininity plus simplicity. It needs to be softer now with pretty touches or it will look too severe and boring.
My dark blue midi dress (£175, meandem.com) has a shirred waist (not to panic; it functions like gentle gathering), a tiered skirt (the tiers don’t add flounce, just flare and movement), elbow-length slightly puffed sleeves (some volume is more flattering), a slight ruffle on the round neck and sleeve cuffs (see extra femininity), and the fabric is key.
The secret of this summer’s black/almost black dress boils down to femininity plus simplicity. Pictured: Ashley Roberts
A black dress looks good with black footwear, but it goes with any colour. Pictured: Lady Gaga
In this case it’s a cheesecloth cotton, so it’s soft, hides creases, doesn’t need ironing and will be my wear-everyday dress when it’s hot — not to mention perfect on holiday.
It’s lightweight, but the skirt is lined so it’s not transparent. If you wanted to smarten it up you could add a cropped jacket in either black or a bright colour and high-heeled slingbacks, but I intend to wear mine with chunky two-strap black sandals, a cropped colourful cardigan, or a red and pink wrap.
Just follow these rules
- Look for feminine details
- Dress up with black or gold heels
- Keep the hem mid-calf or longer
- Try an elasticated waist
These are the details that count and there are plenty of dresses out there that fit the bill. M&S’s midaxi, tiered cotton dress (£49.50, marks andspencer.com) with broderie details, puff sleeves and elasticated waist has a similar feel and can be dressed up with a block-heel sandal or worn with flatform flipflops.
Arket does a black cotton A-line midi with a boat neck, full elbow-length sleeves and side slits in the skirt (£89, arket.com) that would look smart for work with a belt and mid-heel sandals. And Boden’s linen midi (£120, boden.co.uk) has office potential, too.
A black dress looks good with black footwear, but it goes with any colour. To bump it into party territory, add gold or silver sandals and earrings.
If you want to make the look smarter, try Wyse’s short-sleeved dress, which comes with an elegant neck tie (£195, wyselondon.com) or Baujken’s dark navy, midi, belted shirt dress (£101, johnlewis.com). Long sleeves can look heavy in summer, but this style is made to be worn sleeves rolled up and makes for a good work, then going out option.
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