Upon first reading the subject of shopbop’s e-mail, I was reminded of the skin-tight corsets that women such as Mary Antoinette would have worn. Luckily for us, today’s corset dress is a huge step-up from the ones that left women breathless and faint in the sixteenth century. Profiling corset dresses from Nanette Lepore, Derek Lam, and Brian Reyes’ Spring 2010 Runway collections, shopbop takes a look at the season’s most coveted prints.
Below I have featured a variety of corset styled dresses that I think would be a perfect addition to any girl’s wardrobe. Fun, flirty, and fabulous is exactly what I had in mind when making my selections.
Both by Rebecca Taylor, these two corset dresses are exactly what I am looking for. Sophisticated, feminine, and youthful….need I say more! The Quilted Tea Dress contains just the right splash of color to bring to life the dress’s sweet floral print. With pockets and a full skirt, it provides for an effortlessly chic look. Created in the pinkest of pinks, Taylor’s Blush Corset Dress captures a girly-girl at her best. With another fun floral print, it is the perfect dress for spring and summer. I absolutely love how structured the bodice is in contrast to the flouncy skirt. When paired with an embroidered white cardigan, you really cannot go wrong with either of these.
The quilted detail in the corsets is what attracted me to these dresses. Always a great source for dresses, Anthropologie presents the perfect option for a casual outing. With a quilted bodice and intricate paisley design, this Silken Pathways dress is nice and understated. While the dress does contain a festive pattern, its simple silhouette downplays the vibrant colors. This Twelfth St. by Cynthia Vincent corset dress in cerulean is equally pleasing. The dress’ solid top nicely complements its patterned skirt. The palette of pale and dark blues mixed in with hints of gold and white is what makes this dress so special.
I found this Floral Strapless Flounce dress by Parker to be simply irresistible. With a structured sweetheart bodice and lightweight silk skirt, it contains all the characteristics that I hoped to find in a corset-like dress: fun, flirty, and fabulous all in one! Containing a muted palette of pinks, yellows, greens, and white, this dress is ladylike chic at its best. Whether worn alone or with a black boyfriend blazer, I know that it would make a statement.
One reason to love this corset dress: You can never go wrong with black. This Raya dress by Guess is a great alternative to the traditional LBD. With a fun plaid corset and short length, it is both youthful and unexpected. Not too formal or too casual, this dress could definitely work to your advantage.
While this is not exactly a corset dress, it does share similar characteristics. With a sweetheart neckline, this body hugging knit sweater dress by Twelve by Twelve (exclusively sold at Forever 21) is bargain priced just under $30.00. The pearls embedded within the black mesh material at the dress’ neckline are reminiscent of the lingerie-inspired details prevalent in runway shows this season.
Minimalism is always fashionable in my book. While this Alice and Olivia bustier dress is plain – I really like it. The pastel pink bustier paired with the rosy pink skirt evoke a nostalgic feeling of romance and innocence. With a dress like this, you will never come across as trying too hard to impress. As some would say, “less is more.”
Priced over $2,500, this Baroque corset dress by Versace is stunning. With structured details and folds, I find the silhouette of the dress itself intriguing. While yellow dresses can often come across as tacky or too audacious, Versace manages to keep it from becoming overwhelming. My favorite part about this dress is how the dot-print panels are naturally worked in with the organic, floral print.
