The 1990s fashion revival continues to make a significant impact, with the slip dress emerging as the latest nostalgic item to re-enter contemporary wardrobes. This season, the slip dress—or negligee—has been boldly reimagined as an outerwear staple, shedding its traditional role as undergarment to become a spotlight piece in its own right.
Designers have embraced this trend in varied and creative ways. At Chloé’s spring/summer 2025 show, designer Chemena Kamali showcased delicate, lace-trimmed nightdress-inspired slips in tea-stained hues, paired with jelly platform shoes and gold necklaces. For the autumn/winter 2025 collection, these were styled with ballet flats and cosy faux-fur jackets, enhancing the mix of vintage romance and modern practicality. Similarly, Miuccia Prada, known for championing underwear as outerwear, presented a Sixties-style peach satin slip dress in the recent Miu Miu show. Stylist Lotta Volkova complemented this with semi-sheer knee socks and striking jewellery, further merging nostalgic elements with contemporary edge.
Other designers offered different approaches to the slip dress’s versatility. Dries Van Noten’s caramel-toned liquid silk slip was paired with glossy wedge shoes and a generous tote bag, while Fendi layered a taupe slip dress over white trousers, demonstrating the garment's adaptability beyond traditional dressing.
Practical styling ideas abound for those looking to wear slips in everyday settings. Dressing down the chiffon slip with trainers and an oversized leather jacket provides a relaxed, daytime look. The Row added its own twist with a lace-edged slip worn beneath a fine-knit jumper alongside straight-leg cords and flip flops, highlighting how colour and texture can create unexpected but stylish contrasts.
For those seeking a cosy, vintage-inspired ensemble, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley illustrates the effectiveness of pairing an oversized cardigan with a coordinating slip dress, finished with ballet flats and statement cuffs. The office-ready slip dress styling by J.Crew’s creative director Olympia Gayot demonstrates how to blend professional chic with feminine allure by combining slips with crisp white T-shirts or shirts, block-heel pumps, slingsbacks, and layered knotted belts.
The slip dress also lends itself well to bohemian layering, with options including vintage patchwork jackets, silk kimonos, and bootcut jeans accessorised with multiple necklaces of varying lengths, reminiscent of the Chloé aesthetic.
For streamlined elegance, the slip can be belted simply with minimal accessories, or paired with a floor-length trench coat for transitional urban wear, combining functionality with understated sophistication. Minimalist accessories such as oval sunglasses, east-west bags, and sleek heels complement this look, underscoring the slip dress’s place as a versatile wardrobe essential.
The Harper’s BAZAAR is reporting that the slip dress is reshaping how fashion interprets nostalgia, blending historic styles with contemporary approaches to create a garment that is equally suited for casual daywear, office environments, or night-time elegance.
Source: Noah Wire Services