TREND ON TRIAL: THE SLIP DRESS

Me wearing: a black lace trim slip by Intimissimi, with Kurt Geiger metallic gold trainers.

Trust me, it’s happening, and it’s all Marc Jacobs’ fault! When he sent lace trim slip dresses down the catwalk for his autumn/winter ’13 collection for Louis Vuitton back in March: presenting the idea of underwear as outerwear, it was only a matter of time before women started viewing their slips with new potential. 

I was packing for a weekend away recently and found an unworn Intimissimi silk slip, complete with lace trim in my pyjama draw. I tossed it into my suitcase, to wear in bed, but ended up throwing a sweater over it and braving it to breakfast in the hotel: “You’re going to wear your nightie in public?!” My boyfriend questioned, “It’s not a nightie” I lied, “It’s a slip dress!” He looked even more perplexed and then said “Oh... It looks nice.”

Then it was so hot last weekend, and keen to catch the sun, I wore the same Intimissimi slip as a dress (this time sans sweater, to hide behind!) with my colourful Puma runners and a pair of novelty socks- nothing less sexy than novelty socks, to meet my friend who was so unfazed she didn't even comment. So it can’t be that outrageous I thought (though a few OAPs did throw me some disapproving looks en route, paranoid much?).

I kept the slip on that evening for my sister’s boyfriend’s birthday drinks in a local pub, I didn't want to wear my Pumas, so tried changing into some wooden platform sandals but I looked like Erin Brockovich... Not in a good way. I ended up in the gold Kurt Geiger slip-ons (pictured above) which definitely looked less slutty, and made the slip more modern.

At the pub, my cousin arrived (in a transparent lace tee) “Oh good! I’m glad I’m not the only one in my underwear tonight!” she said, which invited a few too many quizzical glances for my liking. 

I asked my sister, who's very good at bringing me back down to Earth from planet fashion, what she thought: "It's my idea of hell but it looks nice on you." Mmmmm. 

I've come to the conclusion that for summer time, slips-come-frocks work well as skimpy if not borderline slutty LBDs but come autumn/winter, back in the pyjama draw mine will go, as let's face it, I'm not Courtney or Kate, and I'll just end up looking like a lady of the night... out in her nightie! 

The trend is born: Louis Vuitton A/W'13

To shop Intimissimi's nighties come slip dresses, click here.