Return of the 90s slip dress

When I was a teenager, there was one wardrobe item that was essential for a Saturday night out. I’m talking about the slip dress, that tiny piece of fabric with spaghetti style straps and a look that was distinctly more negligee than frock. I wore a pink short version the first time I met my husband, and used to actually buy vintage nighties to wear as dresses, sometimes grunge style with a t-shirt underneath, other times more glamorous with lots of faux pearls or diamante. Kate Moss was queen of the slip dress, and there was no-one cooler than Kate in the 90s.

And although they’ve never really gone away completely, at the moment they are definitely back with a bang. Last week, the exquisite Rosie Huntington Whiteley was photographed looking amazing in a soft baby pink slip dress, teamed with sleek Robert Palmer style hair and pink faux fur. This was following on from Sienna Miller, Amanda Seyfried and, who else, Kate Moss, who have all returned to this 1990 classic style.

There are many ways to get the look. You can trawl charity shops and jumble sales for vintage nighties and camisole tops. If you are brave, you could try actual underwear as outerwear, with chemises from Boux Avenue and long silk night gowns doubling as dresses. Or, if you prefer your dress to have a little more substance and a little less wisp, the High Street has plenty of gorgeous styles – just add some strappy sandals for the ultimate sex kitten look.

That was then