What is it:
A loose-fitting dress doesn’t hug the contours of the wearer’s body. Instead, it follows a flowing, open silhouette. The look combines the casual with the upscale, creating a comfortable piece of clothing that is also fashionable. For the Fall/Winter 2022 season, the creatives have adopted the look with long, flowing sleeves in particular, creating a dress that better suits the season. Thanks to the open silhouette, this dress is completely independent of the season. The relaxed cut is also attractive in warmer weather as it allows the skin room to breathe. This stylish, comfortable outfit therefore transcends both seasons and occasions, staying fashionable, effortless yet chic all year round and to any event.
Why you want to order it:
While many designers have adopted the look for FW22, the roomy fit is a cut that can be worn almost every season. The flowy shape makes it a breezy addition to summer wardrobes, while its relaxed silhouette opens up the possibility of wearing it in the colder months as well. Thanks to this non-seasonal wearability, roomy dresses remain relevant to female shoppers all year round. While the loose-fitting cut is characteristic, these dresses can vary quite drastically in shape, color, and aesthetics. As many brands embrace the relaxed dress look, each presents its own interpretation of the cut, changing everything from the collar to the print to the waist, while strictly maintaining the airy and open shape. That means there’s almost always a loose-fitting dress that works for every customer and retailer, even if it’s a shape that some might see as daring and a little out of their comfort zone .
Where we saw it:
Roomy dresses were a popular FW22 style statement at this year’s Copenhagen Fashion Week, with a handful of designers incorporating the breezy silhouette into their collections for the season. Malene Birger, Lovechild 1979 and Day Birger Mikkelsen embraced the trend, offering easy-to-wear looks that all had a quick throw-on look. The same applies to designers who presented their F/W22 collections at New York Fashion Week. Khaite presented a selection of calf-length dresses that featured a relaxed silhouette, proving that high-end looks can also be casual. Maisie Wilen, on the other hand, offered an alternative, relaxed fit in the form of an intricate cami dress in contrasting technical fabrics. The American fashion house Coach also picked up on the trend in its own way and presented short babydoll dresses reminiscent of models from the 1960s. The loose cuts were complemented by elaborate collar details such as lace cutouts and bow embellishments.
How to style it:
Although it’s often misconstrued as an unflattering silhouette, a loose-fitting dress can be styled in a variety of ways to avoid this. The dress itself can act as a simple piece of clothing that is a quick fix to your outfit for both everyday and formal occasions. Simply combine the look with heeled boots to visually lengthen the leg. A belt at the waist can also achieve this, although this basically negates the relaxed cut. When pairing the look with outerwear, consider choosing either a fitted jacket or a calf-length coat. The former helps accentuate the waist giving it the appearance of a flared fit, while the latter is a flattering layered look to wear to keep you warm in colder weather. Another way to wear the look is to add a simple underlayer, such as a pair of jeans or tailored trousers, to create a tunic-like look that balances the cut with body-hugging pieces.
The main charm of the relaxed-fitting dress is that it is easy to wear and can be thrown on without accentuating the wearer’s body. Its effortless yet chic look translates to any season, while its ability to take different shapes makes it the perfect garment to embody a brand’s personality.
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This article was previously published on FashionUnited.uk. Translation and editing: Barbara Russ