Fancy Dress

I don’t know about you, but seeing Celebrities posing in their finery whilst poolside at home wasn't a good substitution for seeing them on the Red Carpet, Virtual awards ceremonies just didn’t wet my whistle, so much so i lost all interest, this was probably the first year i haven't been able to list my most favourite (and least favourite) frock by 9am the day after the event. I’m not the only one, stylists friends said they have had to muster up the interest to sit and go through the slides of dress after dress. Even though most of us will never walk a red carpet, pre-pandemic spending an hour admiring A-listers in couture was a form of escapism, but 12 months of feeling utterly disconnected from a world of parties and party dresses was bound to take its toll, but the Month of May brings with it green shoots of promise, indoor dining, gatherings of 30, parties, proms and nuptials are being planned, and with that in mind fashion lovers are like Butterflies ready to transform, hunting for the perfect outfit. My inbox is suddenly all a flutter with queries and suddenly it felt like the right time to check out the fashion at last months Oscars, way back when (pre 2020) the Oscars used to give a good indication of trends for occasion dressing, if thats still the case then cut-outs are going to be a thing, Zendaya led the way in a daring sunshine yellow Valentino Gown that was more bikini than dress, Viola Davis was a little more subtle but no less stunning in a white Alexander McQueen dress with laser cut out detail on the bust, while Carey Mullinghan wearing gold Valentino, had her cut-out in one of the most flattering places, under the bra line, finishing just before the stomach. If your style is less skin-baring more whimsical then take your party dress inspiration from Designer Molly Goddard, her dresses with layers of hand sewn tulle are a big-girls dream, but her craftsmanship comes at a price and her dresses retail in the thousands, luckily, the Northern Queen of tulle, Designer Kirsty Doyle has been beavering away in lock-down creating more affordable but no less special dresses with big frothy sleeves studded with tiny pearls, Cinderella you shall go to the ball, just don't forget your mask for the Pumpkin ride home.