Frock Stars

We’re all about the frocks this season, but they’re not the saccharine sweet styles we’re used to. Why not add some edge to your wardrobe with some of our favourite Frock Stars?

Sizzling on the international fashion scene, dresses are getting eclectically edgy – the designers are jazzing things up big time, as 2019’s dazzling knockouts are set to surprise the sartorial world – and even shock a little. Add flare to your wardrobe in fire-singed colours from burnished yellows to rusted tangerines. And on a brighter side, neon-coloured dresses are standing out like beautiful beacons. Blocks of vivid colour, as seen by Christian Cowen, are in bold geometrically spaced blocking – the polar opposite from former fussy florals.

Oscar de la Renta introduces black and white checks, on an off-the-shoulder dress. And just to balance out the colour wheel, pale powder blue has also made the high-fashion stakes. Tie-dyed has jived straight from hippy to high-brow as Prada showcased a pretty pink mini-dress sporting those unmistakable spider webs and Jasper Coran created a tie-dye-over-floral technique and flared-sleeved crocheted frocks are futuristic versions of their former ’60s selves. This year’s neo boho is behaving more floaty, fluid and sensuous – and a real showcase of exotic travel adventures. Fringing has now gone to the frocks too.

Sequin-smothered dresses are also still very much super stars of the frock fraternity. Pleating is still in, but it’s finer, slinkier pleats and the new metallic plaid is a juxtaposition of effects. Daring dress shapes are ballooning out in all proportions in tulip to bubble skirting, from a frilly tulle frock by Valentino, to mounds of tussled taffeta. Clashing patterns all the better. Puffed shoulders and sleeves are now even puffier – as puffy as you can possibly get – with feminine necklines to make this look work.

Animal prints, which are roaring on the runways yet again, are less cheetah cub and more raging tiger – just to add more bite. Meanwhile, big oversized butterflies are the new bows, according to designers like Zang Toi. Feathers also feature on bright downy dresses.

More neutral tones, there’s everything from creams to khakis – for those with a pared-back preference. All in all, this year the fashion frontier is certainly proving it does not have to run with repeats.