Picture yourself in front of a mirror with a gaggle of dresses to try on, a crushingly limited window of time and a vista of scenarios that might lie ahead with you in that dress. There’s a retro-disco style with a flippy hem, a princess number with the prettiest layer of tulle, a side-slit whip-stitched black sheath that promises artful encounters, a retro-chic French house dress (a la Betty Blue) and a camp froth of organza ruffles and a prairie style that requires wistful eyes and plaits. This is what the best fashion is offering up right now.
But only in the act of zipping and buttoning, like a first date ‘meeting’, will you know if it’s kismet. That dress needs to offer itself up, charm you on the shoulders, the waist, legs and poitrine (a lovely French word for ‘chest’). Once those basic criteria are ticked off, the dress passes the test. Now you’ve got to talk to it — and expose vulnerabilities and strengths. Short- and long-term prospects come into play, price versus pocket too, not to mention that prickly landscape of peer-group assessment when you ‘dress out’ of your normal zone. The dress that delivers joy (the 360 twirl) and promises to stand by you whatever the metaphorical weather is the one for you. So in that room, ask questions — wear it, squeeze it and above all address the dress. You are about to enter a partnership.
That dress needs to offer itself up, charm you on the shoulders, the waist, legs and poitrine (a lovely French word for ‘chest’)
Hair: Sam Pan at Muse
Makeup: Karen Choi
Model: Zilin at Style
Fashion Assistant: Nicholas Lok Chan