Summer Dress Styles – Designer Looks At High Street Prices

Are you on the look out for some fabulous summer dress styles for the fine weather ahead? As inspiration you may also gaze at the dress styles in the glossy magazines and wish that you could afford a beautiful designer dress? With the catwalk shows for all of the main fashion weeks now  being streamed live on the internet as they happen, we are all able to get a look at what the designers have to offer but it can be really disappointing to find a piece that you really love only to discover that it is way out of your price range.

Ladies designer clothing prices will vary according to the designer and where you buy it from but you are usually likely to pay significantly more than you would of shopping on the high street or with your average online fashion retailer. But wearing designer wear is a great way to get a really fashion forward look that will set you apart from the crowd. Ladies designer wear can sometimes also be better made than its high street equivalent (although this is not always the case) and often has a more flattering cut. There are plenty of ways that you can find great summer dress styles that make the most of the designer wear trends but don’t cost nearly as much.

Shop Last Seasons Designer Wear

The Outnet is a great place to shop for last seasons designer wear at much reduced prices. If you look carefully you will be able to find plenty of last years dress styles that fit with this years designer trends. White, floral prints and bright colours are all good looks from last year that will also work for summer 2011.

This silk georgette camisole top by Tibi is perfect for SS11 with its bright pattern. It is reduced to just 50% of its original price which makes it ideal for a designer summer outfit on a budget.

Pure and simple white dress styles will be big news this summer and this white cotton shirt dress by Malene Birger fits the bill perfectly. Team with tan leather accessories to work that laidback cool that is so characteristic of the Scandinavian designers.  

Designer High Street Collaborations

One of the easiest ways to get ladies designer dresses by your favourite designer at high street prices is to opt for a designer high street collaboration. There are now so many to choose from, some only running for a limited amount of time. Debenhams have a great range of designer collections and have just launched their new Editions range which features pieces by Preen and Jonathan Saunders at the moment.

This grey snake print drop waist dress is from the Preen collection at Debenhams is a great piece of  designer wear that combines the labels signature style with a very affordable price.

High Street Equivalents

If you see designer style that you really love, you may well something very similar on the high street for a fraction of the price.

This botanical print shift dress by Oasis bears more than a passing resemblance to a dress in the Dries Van Noten spring summer 2011 collection.

This cream floral print shell top has a very similar pattern to the designer dresses at the Erdem spring summer 2011 collection.

3 Designer Dresses To Invest in Now

Over the past few years, there has been a growing trend for designer dresses that can serve more than just the one season. ‘Investment pieces’ has been the phrase on everyone’s lips and they don’t just mean investment in a financial sense. A great designer dress is not only a much wiser choice than lots of poor quality pieces that will be disgarded after a few wears but its also an investment in your personal style for both now and the future. Granted if you pick a lovely dress by the right designer, it may well be worth a bit of money if you were to sell it in years to come but if you pick the right designer dress, there is no way that you would want to part with it for love nor money in years to come.

We are talking about those pieces of clothing that are perfect for so many situations and always makes you feel amazing. The day dress that can easily be dressed up with a pair of heels for a party and manages to forgive just about anything including any number of cakes and the party dress that earns you countless compliments every time you wear it. A great designer dress doesn’t really follow the latest fashions, it sets its own style. Forget trendy dresses look for a dress that suits you and transcends the latest trends.

Stella McCartney – Shift Dress

Stella McCartney is known for her luxuriuos but wearable pieces including blazers, tailored jackets and day dresses. This simple and minimalistic dress is a perfect example of why her clothes are so popular. It is classic, beautifully made and suitable for so many ocassions. It is a true wardrobe hero. Wear with flats and a cashmere cardigan by day, a smart jacket for work and heels and statement jewellery for an evening out.

Alexander McQueen – Scarf Front Dress

Draped dresses have moved over from that transitional territory when they were considered to be merely a trend to become a classic item. They have been around with a growing army of followers to earn themselves that elite status of being a wardrobe staple. Where most people used to keep a little black dress for those parties and occasions when they just couldn’t make up their mind what to wear, the black draped dress has now become just as popular. Flattering to the extreme, it can cover just about any lumps and bumps. When choosing your draped designer dress styles you should opt for a designer or label that is known for their skilfull draping.

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania – Monday Taffeta Dress

For those who like to make a style statement but also want to look feminine and also own a piece of fashion history, Vivienne Westwood dress styles are perfect. All of the dresses in the Anglomania range are individual but stay true to the Vivienne Westwood signature style which says ‘I am stylish’, with attitude. This dress also has a feeling of princess about it, something that will never go out of fashion.

Milan Fashion Week – Seventies Inspired Designer Wear

Bright, bold and rich colours and patterns were all key themes at Milan Fashion week but one of the biggest trends to watch out for is seventies inspired designer wear. We have been seeing quite a strong seventies influence for spring and summer 2011 and if these collections are anything to go by, this trend will be continuing well into the winter. lame and metallics, rich brocades and luxurious fabrics were all big news as were printed chiffons, velvet and flowing designer maxi dresses.  Any thing with a seventies vibe that you buy now will be a great investment and will get plenty of wear. So grab your flares, floppy hats, designer maxi dresses and pussycat bow blouses for a summer of love followed by a winter of glamorous and luxe party designer dresses and designer wear.

Roberto Cavalli

Known for his extravagant and luxurious collections, Roberto Cavalli makes good use of rich colours and prints in his collection. For Autumn Winter 2011 his show featured plenty of glitz and glamour with layers of animal print and snakeskin chiffon, devore print dresses, feather fur jackets and goat hair waist coats. One of the most noticeable features of this show was the use of gold.

Alberta Ferretti

Alberta Ferretti’s collection was perhaps more sixties than seventies but was in keeping with the overall retro vibe of Milan Fashion Week. Some very wearable day dresses in the form of  teal, purple, orange and grey were the order of the day. With the addition of elaborate block heel knee high boots in coloured velvet with brocade detail, there was definitely an air of extravagance about this collection that was a far cry from the neutral colours that dominated the catwalks in AW10. Although Alberta is well known for her designer wear for the evening, this collection proves that she can do day wear just as well.

Gucci

Frida Gianinni managed to effortlessly combine the seventies vibe with a forties silhouette for a collection  that sizzled with sex appeal. There were pussy bow blouses, plenty of coloured fur and draped chiffon. The day dresses combined lady like three quarter length hems with contrasting chunky knee high boots. The colour teal featured heavily but there were also plenty of other rich colours. For the evening extravagant designer maxi dresses in transparent fabrics slit to the thigh to reveal fifties style underwear added yet more glamour to the proceedings.  

Angelo Marani

Yet another seventies inspired collection of designer wear was Angelo Marani. This time featuring flared legs, maxi lengths, wide brimmed hats, lots of fur, belted waistcoats and platform shoes. It was a festival of hippy chick designer wear with scarves, texture and carpeted handbags and bright jewellery. There was also plenty of checked fabrics and high waists.

You can get an early start on these trends with clever use of designer wear from previous seasons. Not only will you look amazingly on trend but you will also save yourself some money in the process.

Metallic Brocade Jacket by Balmain

Roksanda Ilincic Silk Lame Maxi Skirt

Erdem Carissa Print Silk Satin Blouse

Dolce and Gabbana Silk Pussy Bow Blouse

Ladies Designer Clothing AW11 – The Trends From NYFW

If you want to stay ahead of the game with fashion and ladies designer clothing then New York Fashion Week is a great way to do so. OK you might not be able to get along to New York to go to the shows but you can now watch the whole week via live streaming on the internet, how amazing is that? But for those of us  that have to go to work or just don’t have time to spend glued to our computers for a whole week, we have put a guide to the key trends in ladies designer clothing for AW11 as seen at New York Fashion Week.

Tribal Prints

Seen at Oscar De La Renta, Proenza Schouler and ADAM, tribal prints could well be a big trend this winter. With a monochrome tribal print shift dress, long dresses in rich coloured prints and sheer fabrics at ADAM and layered tribal designs in thick woven fabrics at Proenza Schouler.

Maxi Skirts and Long Dresses 

A key trend from the last few seasons that looks like it will be back again for AW11 the floor skimming maxi length dress was seen at Marc Jacobs and Caroline Herrera to name but a few. The skirts were quite full and made from thick luxurious fabrics, perfect for winter parties.

Checks and Plaid

For AW11 it looks like checks will be the new stripes. At Thakoon there was an eye poppingly bright draped style shift dress in red and blue check. At Tory Burch a much more subtle, but still very eye-catching brown and cream checked suit and at Betsey Johnson a full bright yellow checked skirt worn with red and black leopard print tights.

Velvet

Rich and sumptuous velvets are perfect for ladies designer clothing and party wear for the winter. There was a selection of dresses, trousers and suits made of rich jewel coloured velvet at Carlos Miele, Marc Jacobs, Milly, Carolina Herrera.

Polka Dots

Retro Polka dots will also be back for another season with ladylike midi and long dresses featuring at LAMB, Marc Jacobs and Diane Von Furstenberg.

Red

From the red evening dress at Oscar De La Renta to the Michael Kors jumpsuit complete with red faux jacket there was plenty of festive cheer at the catwalk shows of New York Fashion Week. Grab yourself a long red evening dress if you want to really stand out from the crowd this winter.

Mustard

Another colour that will feature heavily for AW11 is mustard. The perfect rich autumnal colour and a great neutral alternative to last winters must have camel. Philip Lim and Derek Lam both featured mustard for a relaxed and understated but classic look.

So know you know what will be in fashion for AW11, you can stay ahead of the fashion pack but getting yourself some great ladies designer clothing that will still be on trend for the winter.

Milly Tribal Batik Cotton Shift Dress – Buy Now

Roksanda Ilincic Lame Skirt – Buy Now

Valentino Pleated Silk Red Evening Dress – Buy Now

3.1 Phillip Lim – Polka Dot Mini Dress – Buy Now

Aquascutum Checked Wool Blend Shift Dress- Buy Now

Keep up to date with News, Competitions & Promotions from Designer Dresses – SPAMFREE!

Harrods – A Famous Place To Buy Your Designer Dresses

Everyone has heard of the world famous Harrods, no? Not only is it a great place to buy designer dresses but also just about every luxurious item that you can think of from Laduree Macaroons to the latest perfumes and accessories. Visitors to London flock to Harrods to see what is on offer and see the shop that is the most famous place in the world to buy designer dresses. The department  store is located on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge and  plays host to a raft of celebrities and foreign visitors, it was most famously owned by business man Mohammed Al Fayed. It is the second biggest department store in the UK second only to Selfridges on Oxford street, just think about all of those amazing designer dresses that you could fit into that space!

For those who don’t get to visit Harrods quite as often as they would like or have never been there before, we have great news. You can now shop Harrods and all of its amazing designer dresses from the comfort of your own home. Harrods have their own retail website selling a wide range of  women’s wear including everything from day dresses to designer cocktail dresses plus accessories and beauty products.

Harrods stocks some of the worlds most celebrated designers, if you are looking for an amazing celebrity dress then it is definitely the place to find it. For a really special occasion Harrods also has some of the most exclusive evening gowns in the UK.

Here is a taster of just a few of the beautiful designer dresses that Harrods has to offer:

The Herve Leger Bandage Dress

The bandage dress by Herve Leger is the celebrity dress of the moment. Worn by everyone from Kate Winslet to Cheryl Cole, it is a very body con style with an amazing ability to flatter and streamline. Take your pick from of a variety of styles and colours of these  figure sculpting designer cocktail dresses. Wear with vertiginous heels for maximum impact.

Issa Dresses – Kate Middleton’s Favourite

Top marks to the buyers at Harrods for securing some of the hottest designers of the moment. Issa is one of Kate Middleton’s favourite labels and with the royal wedding just a few months away, is great for those looking to celebrate the big day with new designer cocktail dresses. The most recent Issa collection features vivid colours in softly draping chiffons and bohemian prints. This leopard print dress is a perfect example of how sophisticated and versatile Issa clothes are.

Halston Heritage – an Iconic Label

In the seventies the most sought after celebrity dresses were by the iconic brand Halston. Worn by Jackie Kennedy, Bianca Jagger and Angelica Houston Halston designs were the height of fashion. Now you can buy Halston Heritage from Harrods. The newer version of the ready to wear label that is proving to be immensely popular second time around as well. Recently the one shoulder draped cocktail dresses have been a big hit but we love this crystal embellished dress.

Going Out On The Town In Hot Pink Dresses

Despite whatever trends are out there at the moment, or predicted to be out there this coming season, one things for sure, when we get a chance us girls just love to wear Pink. This is a point not lost on our friends at Designer clothing store Van Mildert as they have recognised too when it comes to pinks, candy’s and corals that its an urge we can’t resist and the inner “Girly” just has to break free.

With the summer moving progressively nearer they’ve put together a collection of stunningly beautiful hot pink dresses that will become evermore popular over the coming months as the warmer weather draws ever closer and the big occasions of the summer start to encroach. So if you’ve got a big summer occasion to look forward to such as a birthday celebration, a wedding guest or a once in a life time holiday coming up well here’s your excuse to get hold of a belter of a designer dress.

However, its not lost on us that these designer dresses are not just a dress to wear for one occasion only, these hot pink designer dresses are investment pieces that need to work with different looks to get the most from them, to be worn time and time again regardless of the season. As and investment in your wardrobe, you should just as easily consider it in the warmth of a summer evening than in the cooler spring night or for a Christmas party for that matter, it all boils down to how you accessorise.

Accesorising is the key to any look to maintain the longevity of any wardrobe classic or capsule piece, so think not just about the dress but how to adapt the look just by adding a little garment here and there. So for example the D&G by Dolce and Gabbana Womens Stretch Satin Fuchsia Pink Dress is a classic sleeveless mini shift dress that could be worn equally well in the summer for example, if you can match with a pair of killer laboutins or Jimmy Choos, perhaps with a shawl to keep the chill off your shoulders. Alternatively in the cooler weather of spring or winter as Katie shows here in the photo, match with a D&G quilted leather jacket, Vivienne Westwood for Melissa Womens Temptation Black Shoes and a pair of black opaque tights to set the glam biker girl look off perfectly.

If you would like to see more from the Van Mildert Collections click the button below:

Designer Dresses – Neutral Vs Neon Bright

For the past few seasons there has been a growing trend for designer dresses in neutral colours. They are the sort of wardrobe staples that go with anything and are infinitely versatile offering the opportunity to just wear on their own for the minimalist look or combine with some statement accessories for a completely different look. Despite having all of this going for them, some designers have obviously had enough of all this neutrality and are going neon bright for SS11 with oranges, greens and electric blues to brighten things up a bit.

So which designer dresses will you be wearing for SS11, neutral colours or neon brights? or perhaps a bit of both depending on your mood.

Harlequin Drop Waist Dress By Love Moschino

Moschino Chic and Cheap Sleeveless Boucle Gold Button Dress

Perhaps the brightest of them all was Christopher Kane with a selection of designer cocktail dresses and designer day dresses as well as suits in neon green, pink, orange and yellow lace and leather. The smooth shiny effect of the leather which had been perforated to look like lace made the impact of these dresses even greater in a true Christopher Kane like style statement.

A t Proenza Schouler, Lime green and black and orange and pink were mixed up in a tie dye effect for a fun look. Despite the electric colour scheme, the collection managed to look polished and grown up with dresses that would equally well as designer cocktail dresses or day dresses.

At Prada thick stripes of bright oranges, yellows, pinks and greens were combined with black which served to increase their intensity for a very striking look. Prada never fails to create a highly talked about collection and this is likely to be one of he most copied looks of the season. Skirts lengths were at the knee and shapes were simple not o detract from the interest of the bright colours.

Moschino also featured some great neon bright day dresses which are perfect for standing out in a crowd (pictured above).

Finally for the neon brights (although there were lots more that I haven’t time to mention today) was Jil Sander. Designer long dresses in eye popping brights made for a brave and bold style statement. These were amongst the biggest and brightest maxi dresses that I have ever seen!

For those who prefer a slightly less attention grabbing outfit there were also plenty of neutral designer dresses.

If you are looking for designer long dresses or day dresses, this Dust Extreme Gradient Full Length Dress by Acne is just what you need. With a hint of modern grunge, it can be accesorised in a number of different ways and also works well for layering.

3.1 Phillip Lim featured a range of grey and white cotton shirt dresses which look great worn on their own as casual day dresses or can be worn with jeans for a more casual look.

At See By Chloe more designer long dresses with this beautiful full length sleeveless tiered dress. Another example of modern grunge which looks like it might be a key trend for SS11.

BFC Vogue Award Guarantees Lots More Christopher Kane Designer Cocktail Dresses

If you love designer cocktail dresses by Christopher Kane, then the news that he has just won the British Fashion Council/ Vogue Designer Fashion Fund will be music to your ears.

The BFC / Vogue Award is now in its second year and was established to give a boost to British design talent in a similar way to Anna Wintour’s very successful CFDA / Vogue Fashion has done in the US. Christopher Kane will not only recieve  £200,000 but also access to industry mentors to help grow his business and develop his design talent further.

Christopher Kane  has already made a name for himself as an innovative young designer with his creative collections featuring some of the most desirable cocktail dresses in the UK. After graduating from Central St Martin’s college in 2006, he was invited by Donnatello Versace to work for her labels diffusion line Versus. He also already has a good following of celebrities including Kate Moss and Chloe Sevigny who love his unusual and beautiful designer cocktail dresses.

Christopher Kane won the award against some other big up and coming names in UK fashion including Johnathan Saunders, Nicholas Kirkwood, Peter Pilotto and Richard Nicoll. It was his business plan and presentation to the judges panels which was chaired by Alexandra Shulman, Editor in Chief of British Vogue  that secured the prize for him.

He plans to use the funds to implement his strategic vision for the company which includes broadening the collections without sacrificing his love of details and embellishments. We can definitely look forward to lots more beautiful Christopher Kane designer cocktail dresses and perhaps even some beaded cocktail dresses. Kane believes that it is good to move out of your comfort zone each season to allow you to learn new things and challenge your senses. This is perhaps why each one of his collections is so unique and different but always causes a stir at the catwalk shows. His Autumn collection will be shown at London Fashion Week on February 21st and we can’t wait!

His current Spring 2011 features lady like styles with a twist. Neon bright, perforated leather pieces give the effect of lace but a very different look to the traditional lace styles that have been popular over the last year or two. His Galaxy print silk dresses have also proved incredibly popular. From previous collections there has also been the crazy stripes formed by overlapping strips of silk and gingham dresses with bra like contouring.

This Crazy Stripe Silk dress is an excellent example of Christopher creative and experimental way with embellishment and fabrics. If you are looking for a cocktail dresses in the UK, it would be a great pick and is available at 65% off its original price on The Outnet. 

Current collection or not, Christopher Kane’s designer cocktail dresses will always make a big statement and are a great investment. This mesh stam silk dress with a boned corset and peplum waist is a really flattering and versatile black cocktail dress that you will wear and wear. It is 60% less than the original price at the Outnet.

Michelle Obama Loves Red Evening Gowns By UK Designers

The fact that Michelle Obama loves evening gowns by UK designers is significant not just because she is something of  a style icon but also because she is America’s first lady. Her wardrobe is not just filled with a selection of dresses for a night out or occasional party like most of us, she has a selection of elaborate formal evening gowns for official state occasions and visits. Her clothing choices reflect not just her own personal taste but her role as an ambassador for the US.

Michelle has an elegant and sophisticated style as would be expected from this much scrutinised lady who is regularly photographed and pictured on television. She is often described as the ‘first lady of style’  and has championed a number of American designers. She has her pick of beautiful clothes from any of the international fashion designers which is why we are so pleased that she has recently chosen from some of the most beautiful of formal evening gowns by UK label Alexander McQueen.

When she accompanied her husband Barrack Obama to greet Hu Jintao, his Chinese counterpart on a state visit to the US, she wore not one but two dresses by UK designers. For the day time she wore an embroidered navy dress on designer Roksanda Ilinic. In the evening she changed into the most beautiful of formal red evening dresses, a modified version of a piece from the Alexander McQueen resort 2011 collection for an elaborate state dinner at the presidents official residence. The beautiful red evening gown featured a black feather like print. It was stunning and the perfect choice for such an occasion.

Following the sad death of Lee (Alexander) McQueen last year, the label has continued with Sarah Burton, who was at Alexander McQueens side for the past 16 years taking the helm. Whilst it is clear that no one could ever take Alexander McQueen’s place, Sarah has certainly risen to the challenge of taking the label into a new stage of its life. She has proven her ability with not only this dress but countless other formal evening gowns. She has managed to keep the signature style of the label but with a softer edge.

If you have an important event or occasion this year, why not follow Michelle Obama’s lead by choosing from some of these beautiful red designer dresses.

Valentino Pleated Red Evening Gown - this beautiful silk dress is in Valentino’s signature red has a flattering v neck and pleated bodice and wrap style waist.

Red Strapless by Bottega Veneta - for a slightly less formal occasion, this simple but very stylish red designer dress has  a concealed boned bodice.

Anoushka G Chiffon Wrap over Grecian Dress - another beautiful choice of formal evening gown this beautiful dress makes full use of draping with folds of extravagant silk chiffon.

Notte By Marchesa One Shoulder Organza Dress – this stunning red cocktail dress with dramatic ruffles is the perfect way to stand out from the crowd at a party.

Celebrity Designer Dresses – Who’s Wearing What?

Celebrity designer dresses are a great way of working out which styles and designers will be hot for the season ahead. Celebrities often get an early start on the rest of us as in the form of samples, gifts and previews from the designer collections. They will be spotted in a designer dress well before it is available to the public. They also have a huge influence on which styles will popular, take for example that Kate Middleton dress that everyone wants.  So which celebrity designer dresses are going to hot for SS11?

Kate Middleton

Of course Kate Middleton is the celebrity of the moment, with the Royal wedding set for the spring. All eyes are on what Kate is wearing and she has shown that even Royals can mix designer and high street and look amazingly stylish. Most  notably she has recently been pictured wearing an elegant Issa dress to announce her engagement to Prince William and a dress by Reiss for her official engagement photographs. The question that everyone is still desperate to know is who will designer the royal wedding dress and what will it look like, easily the most more influential celebrity designer dress of the year and one that is likely to be copied for many years to come.

Kate’s favourite label Issa is likely to be big news this summer.

Silk Jersey Dress by Issa

Rhihanna

Currently enjoying huge  global success in the music industry, Rhihanna also keeps us all captivated with her bold dress sense. Recently she has been spotted in lots of floral dresses and all over floral prints including a Stella McCartney outfit, a stunning ankle length Jean Paul Gaultier ankle length 50′s style dress and a red poppy playsuit. Other good places to look for pretty floral designer dresses for the summer are D& G and Mulberry.

D & G Mimosa Shift Dress

Emma Bunton

Emma Bunton has recently announced that she is pregnant and due to give birth in May. As with so many other celebrities she is likely to continue to work throughout her pregnancy presenting the hit TV show Dancing on Ice. She has already decided that she will be wearing dresses from the label Project D by Danni Minogue, presumably those that will allow for a little expansion.

Snow Drop Dress by Project D by Danni and Tabitha

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman star of the latest blockbuster film black swan is another star that has recently announced that she is pregnant. She is also making the most of celebrity designer dresses that conceal that baby bump in style. For the recent Palm Springs film festival in California she wore an elegant dress from the Vionnet SS11 collection with white chiffon shirt style top and black ruffle hem. The collar and cuffs were both embellished with gold studs.

Silk Crepe V Neck Dress by Vionnet

Finally, there is nothing like an awards ceremony for checking out the latest celebrity designer dresses. At the recent Golden Globes Awards some of the most notable outfits were Jennifer Anniston in a simple but stunning one shouldered Versace dress, Mariah Carey in a full length Herve Leger bandage dress, Drew Barrymore in a nude  coloured Versace gown with crystal embellishments at the shoulder and hip and Sandra Bullock in a deep purple Bottega Veneta chiffon gown.

« Previous Page — Next Page »