Co-ords vs Slip Dresses

Kate Moss rocks a classic slip

This summer it looks like the standard warm-weather dress has been turned on its head and split into two very different camps, neither of them overtly girly and both of them a strong reference to the 90’s days of Clueless.

On one hand, slip dresses are having their first major revival since we saw Kate Moss rocking them on nights out with Naomi Campbell, with Zara and other high street stores rushing to recreate the look ever since Victoria Beckham was spotted in a lacy version at Wimbledon last year. Now that summer’s come around again the trend has reached fever pitch, even if VB is totally over it already.

But the two-piece co-ord is still providing slip dresses with some fierce competition, especially after being spotted all over Coachella last month. The go-to outfit for Beyonce and Solange, it’s won a huge high street following over the last year and now it’s been reimagined in vintage Hawaiian prints and beachy, overblown florals.

We’ve cherry-picked four favourites from each camp, but which will you go for?

Laser cut satin jacket, £68, and skirt, £42, Topshop

Printed crop top, £25.99, and asymmetric skirt, £29.99, Zara

Blue tropical print crop top, £9.99, and pencil skirt, £14.99, New Look

MOTO denim stripe crop top, £25, and skirt, £32, Topshop

Go casual with denim stripes and an off-the-shoulder crop top, or sharpen up with laser cut satin – whichever way you go, Topshop is all over the co-ord scene. Our favourite, though, would have to be Zara’s asymmetric skirt and matching top, which taps into this season’s arty trend too. And New Look’s pencil skirt is wallet-friendly but still promises to steal the scene wherever you are – just add a boxy leather jacket for instant cool.

Silk slip dress, £296, T by Alexander Wang

Gingham strappy slip dress, £65, Topshop Boutique

Nell shoestring slip dress, £125, Whistles

Silk-chiffon slip dress, £250, Theyskens’ Theory

This nude silk dress from T by Alexander Wang is the ultimate throwback slip: it reminds us of something that Carrie would wear in the early seasons of Sex and The City. And similarly, this two-tone version from Theyskens’ Theory would be our ultimate summer party dress if we could justify the price tag. On the more affordable end of the sartorial spectrum, Whistles have come up with a beautiful coral dress in a slightly longer length. And Topshop Boutique’s gingham style nails two trends in one, with gingham having a moment of revival right now.