Fashion is contamination, originality and a modern reinterpretation of the trends that have constituted the history of the style. Among these trends the choice to keep the shirt-dress at the forefront of womenswear stands out; the perfect oversized reinterpretation of the shirt, a garment that for many was the emblem of men’s clothing.
The term is used to refer to a simple dress, buttoned down the front and usually with collar, which can be long-sleeved or – for the warmer seasons – short-sleeved. Poplin and silk are the most popular materials for elegant shirt-dresses, while for more relaxed, informal occasions linen and denim are often used.
But shirt-dresses have a long history, the origins of which take us back in time to the sumptuous rooms of the Palace of Versailles.
In fact, the French queen Marie Antoinette was the first to wear the tunic at home, a long white garment in cotton with a decidedly masculine cut for the fashion of the time.
However, the moment of greatest splendour for the tunic was in the Forties, thanks to the great names of cinema such as Audrey and Katherine Hepburn, who rendered it iconic.
The Eighties saw the return of the shirt-dress, worn with a belt and wide shoulder straps, highlighting a soft, well-defined silhouette.
Today it is an extremely versatile, almost chameleonic garment, thanks to its ability to convey a sense of sober elegance with the right amount of sensuality for the career woman. Worn with the right accessories, it can be transformed into a Sixties holiday look.
The different lengths and many models popular today make the shirt-dress perfect both worn alone or over capri pants or jeans. The most common colours are all shades of blue, safari colours such as khaki, beige and brown, but also blue and white stripes in perfect sailor style or wide multicolour bands.
Sneakers for a sporty-chic approach, shoes with a heel for a more sophisticated look. All you have to do is choose!
