I love wearing dresses.

There’s something about a well-made dress that has the power to make you feel comfortable, pretty and pulled together, all at the same time. If I could wear nothing but dresses for the rest of my life, I would be very content (when I mentioned this to the husband, he said that was fine, so long as I promised never to wear anything paisley or resembling a kaftan).

Having said that, I haven’t been too impressed with this season’s dress offering. Everything in the shops is too tightly wound; all severe lines, structured bodices and garish colour blocking in manner of an 80s video clip. Although I appreciate a well-fitted dress, it just doesn’t seem to suit spring.

So I’ve put together some dreamy dresses that are far more appropriate to the season (plus a few I’ve bookmarked for myself!). Don’t they just make you want to race outside for an afternoon picnic?

From left to right:

1. For when that southerly hits. Asos.
2. Versatile stripes (this dress would be perfect with a thin brown belt). J. Crew.
3. Simple yet fun (and ethically made). Eternal Creations.
4. Thanks Louisa for posting this gorgeous dress. Lazybones.
5. Summer weddings, here I come. Elise.
6. Vintage glamour. Elise.

Are you a dress person? If you could wear one type of clothing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Bootleg? Skinny? Boyfriend? Slouchy? Straight leg?

I’m partial to flared jeans, which is fortunate as flares are back in fashion. Personally, I couldn’t be happier to see the end of the skinny jeans craze. I don’t have any issues with the way they look, though I’ve yet to see a man look comfortable in a pair. Skinny jeans have an issue with me. They look fine if you have a figure like Cameron Diaz or Kate Moss, i.e. slim and lean with not a saddle bag to be seen. If you’re short and have a pear shaped figure like mine, then skinny jeans make you look like a shrink-wrapped leg of ham.

Flares, on the other hand, are an extremely flattering item of clothing. They make your legs look longer, your body leaner and balance your overall silhouette. However, I would advise against teaming flares with a baggy peasant top, cork wedges and a floppy hat like Just Jeans model, unless you want to look like a cast member from Hair. Instead, this spring I plan on wearing flare jeans Rachel Bilson style.

Comfortable yet chic.

Will you still be clinging faithfully to your skinny jeans this spring? What kind of jeans do you wear?

When was the first time you realised you were no longer young?

For me it was earlier this week, while standing in front of my wardrobe deciding what to wear. We all know how fashion mimics different eras, like acid wash jeans from the 80s or waist-cinching dresses that belong at a 50s tea party. Well, that morning I found myself putting on what I thought was an ‘on trend’ outfit: black leggings, oversized T-shirt, coloured bangles, navy canvas sneakers. At the back of my mind was the niggling thought, “I feel like I’ve seen this outfit somewhere before.” Then I realised I had. On me, when I was eleven in 1993. It’s finally happened; fashion is parodying me. Hipsters are riding bikes and playing on their Macs in clothes I used to wear as a child.

 

And it’s not just the wardrobe. Mainstream culture is conspiring against me; archiving my childhood memories as icons from a bygone era. Bands I remember from my teenage years like The Backstreet Boys are doing reunion tours. My favourite music is now on Mix 106.5. Shows I used to watch as a kid – Care Bears, Strawberry Shortcake, Astroboy – are now considered kitsch. Meanwhile, I’m increasingly finding myself watching ABC Kids and being bewildered. Why is Katy Perry on Sesame Street? When did Thomas the Tank Engine evolve from quaint model train to a CGI character? And why on earth are we watching animals do yoga beneath a giant mandala??

There’s no point mourning the fact that I’m no longer young. Instead, I’m going to embrace my more mature status. You know how you used to raid your mum’s wardrobe as a kid, enamoured by her vintage glomesh handbags, gloves and pearls? Well I look forward to being that mother, floral print leggings and denim shirts in tow (but not Hypercolour T-shirts. They were never cool).

What do you miss about the 90s?