Friday Finds: The ‘forever’ occasion dress

I was so excited to write this piece for my Friday Finds series because ‘forever’ occasion dresses, is a concept that I have always really believed in! Although the dresses that I am photographed in are very very old, I think they make for a great example of what I mean by forever occasion wear. Dresses that you can love for years on end, style in a magnitude of ways and still find ways to show up to an event feeling brand new and fresh every time. The reason for purchasing a ‘forever dress’ is not just for sustainability purposes, but also to help add another item to your collection that feels completely authentic to you and that you know you can pull and style up with confidence every single time.

This Friday, I have put together dresses which I have spotted while searching around online and have picked these dresses as I feel that they truly hold the title of a forever dress. Also, I have chosen these dresses because I feel as though they have the stand out appeal, elements of timelessness and the ability to evoke inspiration when finding new ways to restyle.

White dress, Black tulle dress, White dress with bow, Red dress, Black one sleeved dress

Style tip: When going for a white dress, opt for something that is very simple as this can easily be dressed up for any season and with any accessory colours. Tulle can sometimes feel a little bit too exclusive to the holidays so to avoid feeling this way, go for something that is a clear cross between classic tulle design with a hint of modernism. This gives you the option to style it easily for all occasions, all year round.

Gold dress, Navy dress, Burgundy dress, Black dress

Style tip: When going for silk dresses, never compromise on quality. A high quality dress that can withstand the test of time and wear would be a purchase that you will not regret investing in. Also, look for classic neck lines such as v neck, boat neck, and scoop necked as well as looking for classic accents such as bows, lace inserts, halter necks and cross body fastenings. These are styles that do not go out of fashion and can be made to look fresh with careful styling.

Cream mini dress, Black midi dress, Pink chiffon dress, Black off shoulder dress

Style tip: Find ways to have fun with simple design by opting for mini dresses in classic colours, modest dresses with interesting detailing and necklines, timeless dresses in eye catching colours or jersey dresses that look luxe and have alluring design details like a dropped shoulder or thigh to ankle slit.

Embroided dress, Black sateen dress, Baby blue sateen dress, Black sleeveless dress, Lace and silk dress

Style tip: When I think of heavy sateen dresses, I think elevated Jackie K or Princess Di. Classic meets modern, classy but risqué in its own right. Have fun with these classic fabrics by making sure that a dress you purchase in these styles has an element of sexy to them. You can easily create an even more modest look by pairing stockings, closed toe shoes and even throwing over a shawl if that meets the brief for your event that you are planning to attend.

Black dress with embellished bow, Gold sequinned dress, Black mini dress, Black strappy dress

Style tip: If you choose to buy something with sequins, then steer away from holiday related colours as this could limit when it may feel appropriate to wear this kind of dress. Opt for something a little more out of the box similar to the example above as it could carry you through wedding season, summer holiday season and the winter holiday season by styling it up with different accessories each time.