We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
The best slip dresses of spring
Whether for work or a wedding, these versatile pieces will see you through the warmer months with ease
The slip dress is one of few fashion pieces that has managed to achieve true staple status. File it alongside the black blazer, the trench coat, and that elusive perfect pair of jeans: a satiny slip dress is forever. The mark of a true capsule hero is not just in the timeless appeal, but its ability to be dressed up and down effortlessly: versatility is everything.
Back in the Nineties, when designers like Calvin Klein and Narciso Rodriguez first introduced us to the 'underwear-as-outerwear' trend, it was seen as a risqué evening look – and most definitely not daywear. When Princess Diana attended the 1996 Met Gala in a lace-edged navy satin maxi, a tabloid furore ensured. Similarly scandalous was a young Kate Moss' first dalliance with the dress back in 1993 (although to be fair, the flash of the camera did turn her silvery slip completely see-through).
Of course, we've come a long way in recent years: in our increasingly informal society, the boundaries between eveningwear and casualwear are blurring, and a slip is now not just acceptable for almost any event, but makes a seriously chic impression.
By ridding your wardrobe of its 'day' and 'night' limitations, you can get so much more mileage from the pieces you invest in. The slip dress epitomes this kind of fluid styling: cut from lustrous bias-cut fabric and strung from slender spaghetti straps, it has a louche elegance that's can skew either sexy and ladylike or rebellious and grungy, depending on what you wear it with.
Worn solo, a slip is strikingly minimalist (just add a sleek bun and strappy sandals), while chunky black boots bring a more youthful slant. Throw a blazer over the top to create structure and coverage, layer a white T-shirt or black turtleneck underneath, or shrug a sweater over the top to create an on-trend slip skirt.
Naturally, we'd recommend starting with a simple black satin maxi for maximum versatility, but more playful designs from the likes of Oséree, J. Crew and Sleeper are hard to resist. We can assure you, whichever you opt to buy, it will never date: that's the beauty of a true staple.
Here, see the best satin slip dresses to complete the chicest capsule wardrobe.
The slip dresses team Bazaar will be wearing all spring
Watch Next
London Fashion Week front row
The Fashion Week Cheat Sheet: Tove SS25
Everything you need to see from LFW
The Emmys: The 10 best dressed