Consider velvet as the answer to your party dress problems

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10 April 2012

Back in February, when the collections for this winter first hit the catwalk, the season promised to be a fruitful one in terms of trend variety.

From digital prints to equestrian-inspired jackets and body-hugging drapery, a whole wealth of shopping possibilities lay before us and our credit cards.

But 10 months on, it seems that what has actually filtered down onto the high street - despite the suggestions from Lagerfeld, Louis Vuitton et al - is anything but varied.

One distinct and all-encompassing trend is in fact dominating almost every rail, rack and shelf: sequins; on shoes, bags, dresses, skirts and jackets. The little buggers are everywhere.

But what if sequins aren't your thing? What if you don't want to prance around the office party looking as if you've gone 10 rounds with a Pussycat Doll in the Christmas decoration aisle at Tesco? Then consider velvet, this season's unsung hero and answer to all your party-dress problems.

Despite being eclipsed by dazzling little discs, a browse in Topshop proves that velvet is back in favour this season.

Championed on the catwalk - especially at Prada and Fendi, where velvet was used to create luxurious shift dresses and brocade detailed coats - velvet is a far from inferior alternative.

Originally a fabric considered fit for a king, velvet is said to have originated from Kashmir at the turn of the 14th century. Subsequently it was the only cloth Richard II would allow to touch his body.

But it was during the Eighties that the majority of us first got acquainted with the fabric, from tube dresses to itsy-bitsy minis worn with oversized T-shirts and fishnets - velvet was the material of choice for every bubble-permed Bananarama fan worth her salt.

Thankfully, today's velvet is far more refined - a softer, better-quality fabric which features on structured body-con dresses, tulip-shaped tailored skirts and gazar dresses decorated with strips of the fabric, as seen at Christopher Kane.

As far as adopting this trend goes, it's worth remembering that this is a look best saved for evening.

Bright young things should try Topshop for its stunning teal-blue velvet playsuit or Mango for a three-quarter-sleeve dress in vibrant red, while grown-up girls can head to Reiss for something more demure but, importantly, still sexy.

Those unsure of doing head-to-toe velvet can always opt for a neatly fitted jacket, which will add a luxury to a simple shift dress.

And for the really adventurous? It's got to be ASOS, which has a bejewelled velvet jumpsuit that is such a show-stopper it's certain to set you miles ahead of sequin-covered Sue from accounts.

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