Our Top Five Picks – The Black Lace Dress

The black lace dress has been on trend for a season or two since it appeared at the Prada catwalk shows. Ever since then it has been reappearing in various guises which make a great alternative to the traditional little black dress for a Christmas party or one of the most stunning choices of short prom dresses in the UK . The black lace dress is incredibly versatile though and can also work really well as a day dress. The beauty of it lies in its ability to flatter but also its intricate detail, texture and seductive look which make it  our favourite of  all the black dresses for women.

Lace has also been a popular fabric throughout history and it adds a great retro or vintage look to many modern styles of dress inspired by the fifties, sixties and seventies. For winter 2010, there are a variety of styles of black lace dress from the long sleeved mini dress to a more formal party dress with a flared and full skirt. Here are our top five picks.

This vintage inspired Fair trade lace dress is perfect for Christmas parties with its fifties style ballerina skirt and off the shoulder top. For a really on trend look throw on a leather jacket to keep you warm when travelling to and from the party. The dress is by Nomad a company which make Fair trade certified clothing which benefits communities in their own countries.

Another great Fairtrade choice is this Ruby rocks lace dress. It has a flattering empire line and cross over bust style with ruffles and subtle sequin embellishment. It would look great with a pair of wedge heels for any party this Christmas.

This one shoulder lace dress by Oasis is incredibly elegant. When it comes to accessorising it, our advice is too keep it simple. Perhaps a pair of chandelier earrings to compliment your elaborate hair do or a very simple pendant necklace that will not interfere with the neckline. A great pair of heels and a clutch bag are also a must for a great evening outfit.

If you want to channel seventies disco glamour that has become so popular since the recent Halston revival, this lace one shoulder dress by Warehouse  is just what you need. Super stylish but with a loose fitting swing skirt and bell sleeve, which allows for an extra mince pie or two if you wish.

If you are looking for a longer style of lace dress which work well for a formal evening event, we would recommend this http://tidd.ly/8c051bd3. It has a beautiful chiffon overlay and tie at the back. It also has intricate lace detail around the neckline.

The great detail in a piece of lace means that very little in the way of accessories are needed to complete your party outfit when wearing a lace dress. Just a pair of sheer tights and one or to simple pieces or jewellery and you will be good to go.

Fair Trade Ethical Dresses For Guilt Free Shopping

Do you ever feel slightly guilty about buying yourself a new dress? By buying ethical dresses which have been made with respect for the workers and the environment you needn’t feel too bad. There are plenty of ways that women’s dresses can be ethical including the materials that they are made from which could include organic cotton, grown without the use of environmentally damaging pesticides to Fairtrade cotton which ensures that farmers can make a reasonable living from the cotton they grow, to recycled materials which have minimal impact on the environment and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and other sustainable materials like bamboo and hemp which are highly sustainable.

The way that clothing is made also an important part of how ethical a piece of clothing is. There are various standards and certifications that ensure that clothing has been manufactured in a factory that treats it workers with respect, pays a fair wage, does not use child labour and does not expose workers to environments that are dangerous or damaging to their health.

In the past ethical and eco friendly clothing has been considered as expensive, lacking in choice or just a little bit hippyish. Thankfully this has now changed and there is plenty of choice of affordable and stylish organic and fairtrade cotton dresses as well as more innovative ethical dresses made from recycled materials.

With new ethical clothing websites like Fashion Conscience appearing all of the time and offering a range of ethical fashion by innovative up and fashion forward designers, it is not only easy to find on trend ethical clothing but also find out about exactly where  it has been made and be sure that those involved in the manufacture have been treated fairly and humanely. Fashion Conscience has symbols which indicate why each of the products is ethical and also further information on how each brand manufactures its clothes.

This  Fair trade black lace dress by Ruby Rocks is just about as far as you could get from ethical fashions old and boring image. It is a flattering and on trend style which could work well as a day dress or party dress. Clothes by the label Ruby Rocks are made in a small ethical factory in Bali where workers are provided with recreation areas, health care and health care for family members as well.

This Fair trade paisley print sundress by Gringo will definitely challenge any preconceptions that you may have about ethical clothing being expensive. Costing less than most dresses you could buy on the high street, it combines great prints with simple styles which are perfect for summer holidays and covering up on the beach. Clothes by Gringo work with fairtrade groups across India, South America and Africa ensuring that they are paid a fair wage.

This Black Tulla Two sustainable dress skirt by Go Green M by M is incredibly versatile and fashionable. It can be worn on its own as an on trend bodycon dress or layered with other pieces for the seasons layering trend. It is made from a sustainable material called modal which is also biodegradable and chemical free.

Cool White Summer Dresses

What could be more summery than a cool white summer dress. The colour white works amazingly well to show off a golden summer tan whilst  on holiday and when you get back. White also reflects the sun helping you keep cool, calm and collected on even the hottest of days. This year white summer dresses are huge trend and  they can be adapted for all sorts of situations from casual daytime to smarter work outfits and stunning party outfits. Wear your white dress on its own for  a simple minimalist look or combine with brightly coloured accessories for a boho festival chic style. Just be carefully which underwear you wear with your white summer dresses, bright or dark colours may show underneath, for invisible undies with a white dress always choose either white or flesh coloured.

The White Maxi Dress

A crisp white maxi dress is the perfect addition to your summer holiday wardrobe. This white maxi dress by Dorothy Perkins is incredibly easy and comfortable to wear, you can even throw it on over your bikini.  Add  chunky beads and strappy sandals or an elegant pair of flip flops for an outfit that is perfect for strolls along the beach or a night out.

The Pleated White Dress

This Prunella pleated white dress by Coast is  a really sophisticated version of the little white dress. It would work well for parties and summer occasions and would look good  with a structured or tailored jacket.  

The White Lace Dress

This lace double layer dress by Oli the perfect way to work the summers romantic trend. It has a feeling of innocence about it but is also really sexy and great for parties. You could also wear with pumps or over jeans as a tunic for a cute daytime look.

The White Shift Dress

White shift dresses are perfect for special occasions in the summer. We love this white corsage shift dress by Planet which would look stunning when teamed with a brightly coloured wrap or shrug. How about also adding contrasting colour shoes and a clutch. .The classic style is reminiscent of Jackie O and the detachable corsage gives it a sense of occasion

The White Party Dress

Who says that white dresses need to be be plain? This stunning bead and mesh halter neck dress by Goddiva is from plain with its beautiful embellishment around the neckline and flattering empire line shape.

The White Body Con Dress

For those that are really daring, this studded bodycon dress by Little Mistress turns any assumptions that white has to look pure and innocent on their head. The figure hugging shape and stud details make it a great alternative to the traditional rock chic dark colour scheme.

White summer dresses are bright and incredibly eye catching but need to kept spotlessly clean for maximum effect. Avoid sitting anywear that might mark your dress and avoid  brightly coloured food or drink when wearing a  white dress. If the unthinkable happens when wearing your white dress or it starts to lose its clean white glow, you can find specialist products to wash it and make it look as good as new again.

Dresses With Lace To Take You Into The Next Season

Lace is  a massive trend for the summer and if you haven’t invested in any dresses with lace yet, it is still well worth doing as the trend is set to go on until the winter at least. The autumn winter catwalks saw lace used in so many ways from smaller amounts used as trim for lingerie inspired pieces to maxi length dresses made entirely of lace which featured on the catwalks of Valentino, Erdem, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Antonio Berardi and Roberto Cavalli. Whilst black lace was the most popular colour as would be expected there was a surprising selection of other colours including grey at Erdem, navy at Burberry Prorsum, cream at Roberto Cavalli and Lilac at Miu Miu. With just a few notable exceptions the intricate detail of the lace was balanced by fairly simple styles of dress. Much of the lace was unlined and left see through in some cases with underwear clearly showing and others without. The dresses with lace that were shown on the catwalks were suitable for both day and evening from the luxurious floor sweeping gowns to shorter knee length dresses.

The popularity of dresses with lace for this season is perhaps due to the variety of looks that can be achieved from dark romance to pretty and girly, vintage and sophisticated. One of the most desirable styles of lace dresses for the season will no doubt be similar to Dolce & Gabbana’s simple knee length a line dress with long sleeves worn over a fifties style body suit and socks with heels. If you are looking for a pretty alternative to a full lace dress, look for dresses with lace panels or smaller amounts of lace trim.

The Motel Jean Dress Lace is the perfect lace day dress with a simple and flattering sleeveless lace top and jersey skirt.

This Karen Millen Lace Dress is a simple but very eye catching design which makes the most of the contrasting colours of white French lace with a scalloped edge over laid on a black fabric.

The lace panel in the centre of  this Debenhams Debut Black Lace Shift Dress is not only a great way to feature lace but is also very slimming as it creates the illusion of a slimmer torso.

We love the bright colour of this Marks and Spencers Slash Neck Short Sleeve Dress. It has some unsual lace detail down the front, a really on trend way to wear lace.

For a really feminine dress with lace, we love this Marks and Spencers Paisley Print Lace Dress. It features an unusual multi coloured lace and works really well for the day time.

This Jesire Mosaic Lace  Sleeveless Dress at John Lewis is probably one of  the simplest but most wearable lace dresses available. It is a basic high necked shift dress with an interesting and unusual lace design.

This seasons lace dresses need very few accessories as they are already offer plenty of detail to look at. Why not try teaming your black or nude coloured lace dress with just a slick of bright red lipstick for a seductive look.