From little black dresses to glittering gold top-and-skirt sets, short hemlines are making a statement for Christmas and New Year’s parties. After a year dominated by activewear, the rise of the short hemline reflected our rise out of lockdown. “As a reaction to a year of wearing sweatpants and rarely any occasion wear, we’ll be dressing up to celebrate socialisation again,” global trend forecaster Lyst’s 2020 Year In Review report revealed. “Think modern-day roaring 20s style – short hems, bright colours, and embellishments” Bec and Bridge’s party season looks include low-back knitted dresses to disco minis, while SIR has gone sleek and strapess, and Aje has perfected breezy, puff-sleeved short dresses for summer.

For Atoir, bestsellers of the moment include a $219.95 black mini dress, and knitted gold crop top ($229.95) and matching skirt ($229.95) set from Rozalia Russian’s latest Rozalia x Atoir collection. The brand “heavily” ordered extra units of the items to cope with strong demand, after her previous range – worn by Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner and Sofia Richie – sold out. Wearing the black mini dress from her collection and two pairs of Spanx underneath, Russian – who is one of Australia’s most influential style stars with 255,000 Instagram followers – said minis could be styled from “day to night” this party season.

“This is a thick fabric, and it’s lined, and it sucks you in and you feel secure,” Melbourne-based Russian said.“I’ve got two pairs of Spanx on right now, they smooth everything out so if you’re worried about underwear showing or a bra strap, it gives you a really clean line.“I feel that it holds you in – especially if you’re drinking or having a big meal. Everything feels secure and tight under shapewear.” Among her picks for Christmas drinks is a gold knit crop top and mini skirt set that she would love to see on Kendall Jenner or Kim Kardashian.

“I designed it to simplify getting dressed – they’re staple items that you’ll wear time and time again.“This gold knit fabric has been a real hero. The top has a cross at the back, paired with the knit skirt and cardigan, or I’ll wear the cardigan and the top with a pair of jeans,” Russian said. “Cardigans are huge, I feel like a night cardigan is a staple item now as opposed to a jacket. Russian’s previous collection for Atoir – of unisex activewear released during the peak of COVID lockdown – was worn by Hollywood “it” girls.

“Their stylists purchased it, it wasn’t gifting,” she said, of the line stocked via Atoir in Australia and in overseas retailers including Harvey Nichols and online store Revolve. “This collection is being shown in America, with orders being placed by the end of next week, then we’ll start sending out the look book to stylists.“I’d love to see it on Kendall Jenner or Kim. I’d put her in the gold knit top and the gold knit skirt, I’d love to see her in that with strappy sandals.”

In a year when activewear has dominated our wardrobes, how can we adapt to party season dressing? “Fashion can often be an indicator of the times and while fashion is often associated with the fantastical and frivolous,” said Aje creative director Edwina Forest.“I feel the transition has been a seamless one into dressing with feeling – we’re all too ready to emerge with a desire to feel more positive, brighter and joyful.

“Our customers are embracing this through a refreshing palette of colour or all-whites, for a refreshing outlook.”Forest counts splashes of colour – from “soothing shades to confident pops of colour” – as a key trend for Aje’s current resort ’21 “Chroma” collection. “Wearing a vibrant hue or pastel shade can wholly transform the way you feel … each tone and shade reflects a new mood,” she said. Mini dresses done in all-white “with ethereal silhouettes” pointed to hope through fashion as Australia emerges from a COVID-dominated 2020.“A dose of all white conveys a total sense of ease and relaxed elegance, exactly how you want to feel in saying farewell to the current year and moving into a fresh new one,” Forest said.



Source link