source : the age
How do you do black-tie when it’s really hot?
“Less is more” is the tried-and-true advice of most fashion experts, but when it comes to evening wear in a steamy hotel ballroom or hothouse marquee, more can be, well, more. I’m not suggesting reaching for full-length faux fur and sweating it out on the dance floor like a jockey in a sauna when the DJ plays Uptown Funk, but there are more options than the ubiquitous strappy minidress in butter-yellow.
Karl Lagerfeld’s successor as creative director at Chanel, Matthieu Blazy, understands that summer evening-wear can actually feature a sleeve. His spring 2026 runway debut show in Paris last October concluded with model Awar Odhiang in a stunning, floor-sweeping skirt and roomy, T-shirt-style blouse. A full skirt offers all the drama of a ballgown while allowing for air circulation on the dance floor. Unlike with minidresses, there are no concerns about modesty when seated, while the sheer volume of fabric allows you to tap into a flotilla of trends (add lace, fringing sequins or a floral print and you’re set).
Wearing a T-shirt with a skirt also channels the sexy ease of Sharon Stone, who famously wore a lavender Vera Wang satin skirt with a man’s white shirt from Gap to the Oscars in 1998. An added bonus? You don’t need to worry about bra straps or tan-lines.
Some Australian brands, such as Matteau and Oroton, have taken the next step, with tank-top-style dresses that flow into a longer skirt; with the right accessories, these look so ready to party come cocktail hour. It’s all a matter of looking cool to stay cool.
Got a style conundrum? Email damien.woolnough@nine.com.au
To read more from Good Weekend magazine, visit our page at The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and Brisbane Times.
