So here enter the shirt dress. (or shirt-waister) My grandmother wore shirt dresses. Mid-calf length tubes of polyester with some elastic at the back of the waist and a fabric tie belt. Perfect on an 80 year old granny, pretty heinous on the rest of us as demonstrated by thousands of thrift store clad hipsters who are, unbeknownst to them, wearing something that someone's granny died in.
I had always considered the shirt dress as a glorified maid's overall or nurse's uniform since that is the most common version of them, and as a result, the mere thought of a shirt dress caused granny and uniform resultant nausea.
So. Many years later I decided to do something about the problem by designing a shirt dress that was not only comfortable and wearable, but also interesting and flattering. After nearly a year in designing and prototyping, I think that I succeeded!
Our Ramshorn and Pussy-bow shirt-dresses are lightly fitted at the waist and sculpted over the bust and hips, so that they make the most of a woman's body. Not a scrawny teenager, someone with boobs and hips and thighs! The biggest complaint that I and most other women that I had spoken to about shirt-dresses had, is that they are just two rectangles with a bunch of (plastic) buttons down the front . Ours are also, in trademark Arwen Garmentry style, subtly paneled and gored for fit and shape. Not a rectangle in sight! Not surprisingly, they have become instant best sellers in a variety of colours and fabrics from psychedelic island botanicals to painterly modern florals, from leopard print to liberty prints or, if you're feeling more subdued, even in basic grey, chocolate or black.I love a dress wardrobe and shirt dresses are so adaptable. A change of sleeve or collar makes an entirely new item, so you can have a whole wardrobe of them without ever feeling like you are wearing the same thing.
We have made day, work and eveningwear versions in a huge variety of fabrics including cotton voiles, peachskin, grosgrain and wool with mother of pearl, Czech glass, bone and Swarovski crystal buttons.
And, the best thing is that there are so many ways to wear them - layer them up over a floaty skirt,slim fitting pants or as a light coat. Change the look completely from day to night with the addition of a pair of fascinating heels and bright lipstick, Super short and cute, sophisticated knee-length or even a striking floor length with a train for an unusual wedding-dress. A shirt dress is an item that knows it's own practicality and so doesn't take itself too seriously, which means that you certainly should.
