Slip Dresses are Here to Stay and This is How to Get in on the Action

Want to stand out in a crowd? Wear red. It’s bright, it’s bold, it’s confident, plus it’s Rihanna-approved. A red slip dress can be easily dressed up for a night out with a block-heel mule or worn with desert boots and a denim jacket thrown over-top for day-time.

Buyer beware: a black slip dress can look ultra sexy without really trying. While slip dresses were once reserved for the bedroom, the trend is making them wearable in daytime. Still, black silk can look like lingerie, so if you’re choosing this moody shade, consider something floor-length and without much lacy detail, as Ashley Tisdale shows us here. Accessorize by layering with a motto jacket or fine gold chains, around the neck and a boot.

For some women, a slip dress might feel like a no-go because of the lack of support. The solution? A lacy undergarment worn under the dress ('90s style!), or a slip with chest cups, like this one from Silk Laundry, will let you embrace the trend while keeping your boobs in place.

For some woman, a slip dress can be worn sans bra. Silk is the most common material for a slip dress and while this material is more expensive than a synthetic, it’ll be more enjoyable to wear when the heat hits and flows better when you move.

Satin is a synthetic material, usually a polyester blend, while silk is natural. Silk breathes better and holds a better shape, but it costs more and doesn’t suit every budget. If you want to get in on the trend, but don’t want to break the bank, look for a satin slip dress.

A white slip dress is tricky to pull off. For one, white silk seems to be a natural magnet for coffee spills and dirt stains, but it can also look overwhelmingly bridal. Unless you’re actually getting married, skip white and opt for a muted pastel colour like violet, dusty blue or blush pink a la Lili Reinhart.

If you’re into the idea of a slip dress but feel like it’s too revealing, try layering. Try adding a basic tee, one that’s fitted with a crew neck, under the slip dress. It’s a simple and stylish and sweet way to punch up a solid-coloured slip with a pop of pattern like polka dot.

And on that note of polka dots: patterned slip dresses. Consider something graphic like stripes or dots, or opt for something more whimsical like a colour-blocked floral a la Aubrey Plaza.

Lace slip dresses are oh-so lovely, but balance the sweet with some edge. Try adding an ankle boot with metal hardware or throwing a jacket over the dress. This summer, find a lace slip dress with wider shoulder straps, like this one Christina Milian is rocking, if you’re not into the skimpy spaghetti ones.

Like the aforementioned white slip dress, a neutral hued slip can look like it’s meant to be hidden under an garment. But, as Zoe Kravitz shows, layering with an oversized, embellished blazer is the perfect way to take it from the bedroom to the street.