The Model and Me: Verily Spring-Summer 2011

Ever looked at a model wearing an item of clothing that appeals to you and dismissed the purchase out of hand?  Yep, me too.  Well, I’m here to tell you that you SHOULD get into that change room and give the object of your desire a try.  You may not look like the model (I don’t, I’m a size 14), but you never know, it just may look right for you.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of the dress as a busy woman’s go-to wardrobe item.

Nothing beats it. It’s one garment. One thing to have to worry about in the morning … well except for your shoes, bag and other accessories … but you get the picture.

With a dress as your core outfit piece, you don’t need to worry about coordinating say a skirt and top or pants and top. It’s done for you.

Yet, it amazes me that when I work with clients, more often than not they will tell me they don’t wear dresses. The main reason they cite is the inability to find dresses to suit them.

Now, I’ll admit, it can take a bit more work. Most of us are a different size on top than around our hips and tummy. This makes some tailored and structured styles unsuitable. For example, your hips may be the widest part of your body, so you buy a dress to fit them, only to discover that there’s a whole lot of hot air where your boobies should be.

The way around this is to look for shape in a dress’ design, shape without structure. This is something that Queensland label, Verily, does so well.

I’ve posted before about designer Leonie MacLeod’s skill in creating great lifestyle clothes that not only look great but also make you feel incredibly good when you wear them.

This season is no exception.

I’m obsessed about all things nautical (yes, I know, AGAIN!) this spring-summer and when I spied these two dresses I immediately imagined myself sipping champagne on the French Riviera. I haven’t quite made it to the Mediterranean to show them off as yet but I have worn by the water here on the Sunshine Coast. While drinking sauv blanc. That counts, doesn’t it?

Here is the model and the mannequin:

Left: Verily Shift dress $140 | Right: Verily striped maxi dress $149

And here is me:

Left: Verily shift dress worn with Witchery necklace, Adorne cuffe and Zizi by Florsheim shoes. | Right: Verily maxi dress worn with Uberkate necklace, Dinosaur Designs bangle, Mimco sunglasses, Country Road platforms and Portmans hat. Location: Hilton Surfers Paradise

Each dress is made from a stretch fabric – a mix of viscose and spandex in the maxi and viscose, spandex and polyester in the shift. The cut on each works so that the designs drape without clinging.

The red shift dress is a lighter fabric and I’m wearing a Nearly Nude slip underneath to minimise lumps and bumps. The fabric in the striped maxi is a heavier viscose mix and I only need to wear seamless undies. Win.

Let’s talk about the red dress. It’s a more relaxed take on a shift dress. I’m wearing it with heels here but it works just as well with flat sandals for dress down or kitten heels for work. It comes with a thin fabric belt or the wide belt I’m wearing. I love that there are no belt loops and you can wear either belt to suit where it works best for you.  For me that’s on the hips. As, I mentioned before, I have a short waist and if I put a wide belt on my waist it makes me look like a squeezed sausage.

Not to be out-done, the navy and white maxi dress has already been on high wardrobe rotation. I’ve worn it with flats, platform shoes and espadrille wedges. Maxis have a style edge that can’t be matched for relaxed, summer elegance. And if I want to dress it up, it’s as simple as adding a white jacket. The cut of this one and the clever use of stripes create the illusion of a slimmer shape.  Proof that horizontal stripes are not necessarily a wardrobe no-no.

Oh, I nearly forgot … both dresses don’t require ironing. Simply put in a lingerie bag in the wash, hang to dry and you’re good to go.

Are you are dress girl in summer? Have you got on board the maxi dress train yet? Love a nautical look? Want to join me on the Riviera?

News just in:  Designer Leonie MacLeod has taken $20 off the price of each of these dresses for readers buying through her online store.

* These dresses were gifted to me for editorial consideration in accordance with my disclosure policy.