Fashion: Simple treasures

No ruffles, no frills and no fuss. The evening dress of the moment is all about silhouette: sheath bodices, overblown skirts, billowing smocks and sheets of sequins

Right: black strapless dress, pounds 365, silk skirt pounds 1,060, with inflatable underskirt, pounds 495, black velvet hat, pounds 220, all by Yohji Yamamoto, 14-15 Conduit Street, London W1, enquiries 0171 491 4129. Cover photograph: black strapless top, to order, by Yohji Yamamoto, as before; black tulle ball skirt, pounds 554, by Bellville Sassoon Lorcan Mullany, 18 Culford Gardens, London SW3, enquiries 0171 581 3500

White shirt with cape and black tulle skirt, both, to order, by Sonja Nuttal, enquiries 0171 323 3801

Backless sequin print dress, pounds 200, by Martin Margiela, from Liberty, Regent Street, London W1, enquiries 0171 734 1234, Koh Samui, 65 Momouth Street, London WC2, enquiries 0171 240 4280, Browns, 23-27 South Molton Street, London W1, enquiries 0171 491 7833, Pollyanna, 14 Market Hill, Barnsley, enquiries 01226 291 665

HAIR: JENNIE ROBERTS USING AVEDA AT PUBLIC

MAKE-UP: MICHELLE MARSH FOR BOUJOIS AT PUBLIC

MODEL: VANESSA AT TAKE TWO