When the mercury tips over 25C in London, it can feel as though everything grinds to a halt. The Underground stops working because the trains get heatstroke, or something, AC-free Victorian flats start to parboil their inhabitants and any sense of urgency, motivation or mental aptitude goes out of the window the minute a beer garden and a cold drink is in the offing. And that’s before we even get to the dressing situation.
Of course, some people relish these spikes in temperature – those people who grab any opportunity to transform into their wafty, Ibizan alter-ego. Spoiler: I am not that person. I huff and I puff and I announce that I have “nothing to wear!” to my husband, as he warily eyes the busting-at-the-seams wardrobe behind me. But this year I have found a solution to my heatwave woes: the minimalist black dress. In fact, anything minimalist seems to fit the bill – plain white shirts, A-line minidresses, simple cotton midi-skirts – but there’s something about the black dress in particular that confers instant polish, even when all you really want to be wearing is a bikini and Crocs.
And if the outfits in the Vogue office this (extremely warm) week are anything to go by, I am not alone in reaching this conclusion. Not one, not two, but six members of the team turned up on Tuesday in variations on a black summer dress: from Olivia’s simple tank dress to Simone’s silken style and my second-hand A-line maxi by The Row. It seems even the most die-hard denim fans among us can’t resist the throw-on-and-go appeal of a dress when the heat hits – and black is the perfect option if you can’t quite face the prospect of a colourful floral or gingham.
Scroll down to see and shop our minimalist black dress round-up.
