Wear The Dress

January and February is a quiet time in the personal styling world, so I was fortunate that my first client of the year had been booked in since last November. I was really looking forward to it, albeit hoping very much for her sake that the weather improved since she was flying in from her home in Brooklyn to get on a ship the day following our appointment, to sail from Southampton back to New York.

March arrived and suddenly it was spring, like in a film. At the weekend, here in London, people in my neighbourhood ventured out dressed in vest tops and shorts and were sipping Aperol Spritzes at 11.30am - never let it be said that we don't fully embrace a sunny day with a joyous, if slightly crazed all-in approach in the UK. There was a much-needed feel-good atmosphere everywhere you looked and far less black and grey to be seen.

Since my client had arranged her travel plans around our shopping trip, time was of the essence. Spring is the trickiest season to be looking for a dressy dress and she had a specific idea of the kind of style she was hoping to find; the pressure was on. Luckily I was able to plan ahead and ordered in a selection in the style she'd described - above all else, I wanted her to find The Dress, something she'd be excited to put on, a dress she'd feel like a million dollars in, you know the feeling I'm sure.

I think perhaps, those dresses you put on and fall instantly in love with, find you only a handful of times. I still remember the feeling I had when I tried and then bought my first proper party dress, a black velvet and net number from Warehouse that cost £29.99 (a lot of money for a teenager in the '80s!). I still have it to this day because the memories of the fun, the era and the fabulousness are all right there in this little black dress - I've also reworn it, to an '80s themed party and it still felt really good.

Another personal stylist recently described the moment she put on an outfit and felt immediately transformed as, "when you see yourself in the mirror and find yourself doing a little dance". I love this because although it doesn't happen very often, I definitely do it - even if I'm in one of those pokey badly lit shop fitting rooms. This is the feeling we should strive for with our clothes, we all deserve that.

Spring Summer 2025

This spring summer season, there's a sea of beautiful dresses for every occasion. I've always believed you don't need an occasion to "wear the dress" and regardless of whether you have any weddings, christenings or big birthdays to attend in the next few months, I hope you find one (or two, or three) that make you do a happy dance in front of the mirror. Firstly, ignore whichever generation it is that's hating on floral midi dresses and trainers; the catwalks were full of statement florals and more importantly, this is a look we can all do really easily and comfortably on a warm day.

Secondly, embrace the colour, the ruffles or the print, whatever your age or size and if you're moved to have an Aperol at 11.30 on a Saturday morning, so be it. You are, after all, the main character in your story.

Oh and yes, my client and I found her The Dress. As is so often the way, it was the very first dress she tried and it made us both smile. It'll now be hanging in a wardrobe in New York imbued with the memories of a day in London and a once in a lifetime trip across the ocean.

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