Style counsel: Draw your own conclusions
Style counsel:
This Spring and Summer the ultimate fashion look will not be sharp, slick, and edgy, nor will it be frilly, girlie and high-heelie. Drawstrings are back, and with them a whole arena of casual-as-smart dressing opens up, which is not a slobbing-around-at-home look, but the same basic principles of dress apply: the fabric is simply upgraded to take away the slob factor.
There are three basic ingredients. A drawstring wide-leg trouser, long skirt, or dress in white, navy, khaki, or black; made from linen, cotton, muslin or fluid jersey. See Nicole Farhi - whose double-drawstring white linen dress, (above), is selling like hot-cakes - Betty Jackson, Gap and Jigsaw who all have drawstring trousers in stock.
Flat, slim shoes such as cream, colonial style lace-ups from Clarks, about pounds 35, Yohji Yamamoto kung-fu slippers, pounds 155, (or a cheaper version), flat sequined sandals with a one-inch thick sole, or the must-have D for DKNY slip-on aqua pumps, pounds 59, (there's already a waiting list). The third element is the top half - a classic shirt, a boy's style vest (cotton, tulle or organza, plain or sequined) or a simple colourful knit, which are easy to spot in the high street. As a look it is best summed up as laid-back, slightly androgynous chic, and it will please the legions of women who failed to cope with body-enhancing mini-skirts, tight tops and dresses.
This style is not about elongating the leg, accentuating the bust, or showing the curve of a derriere. Instead it is about the art of clever concealment, which can be very sexy. Drawstrings are versatile. Want to wear the skirt/trouser low on the hips? Expose a shoulder? Simply adjust the drawstring. Women with athletic shoulders will like this, as will women who don't want to emphasise their hips. But for those with a penchant for showing off, drawstrings have also been put into unlikely spots as decoration. Try Jigsaw's cotton vest with a drawstring neck, in black, white or pink, pounds 36, or their lace-edged cotton skirt, in lilac, yellow and pale blue, pounds 33, and pull to fit.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies