New season dresses – Are you a Grace or a Marilyn?

In my view, the 1950s were the golden era of the dress. In those days, before jeans became a major part of the wardrobe, dresses were worn for every occasion, from neat shirtwaisters in cotton that were the form of most day dresses, to the full on glamour of the evening gowns worn for all post cocktail hour events. No adding a glittering top to a pair of jeans for our grandmother’s generation – these ladies fully understood the art of dressing up.

This spring, Phase Eight have produced their usual range of beautiful dresses and I have noticed a definite 1950s Hollywood slant to the designs. In fact, I am reminded of the distinct styles of two of the most beautiful and iconic screen goddesses of all time. There are some wonderful, full skirted designs that recall the elegance and icy beauty of Grace Kelly, the Hitchcock blonde who was the epitome of a real lady, white gloves and all. But there are also some super slinky styles that recall that goddess of sex Marilyn Monroe, real wriggle dresses made to be poured over every curve. So – who is your 1950s style icon – are you a Grace or a Marilyn?

Grace