I’m a little bit in love with this look – it’s simple, slinky, and oh so perfect for these hot summer nights. I’ve even taken this look on holiday with me, as the wrap dress is perfect for slipping into after a day at the beach. Pair with tanned, oiled-up legs, and it’s ready for date night!
After posting my summer wardrobe staples, and my festival style favourites (as well as what I wore to Latitude), I wanted to share a slightly more elevated look with you all – and show that I can scrub up when I want to!
As per my usual minimal style, I’ve gone all in for structure with this outfit, and in this case, pieces that show off just a hint of my body. This outfit does just that – the gold necklace draws the eye, the dress finishes at a flirty length, and the shoes elongate my legs just a little bit more…
So here’s everything you need to know about the look, the ethics behind each piece, and
The Little Black Dress
It’s been just over 12 months since I wrote my guide to buying a little black dress (LBD), and I’ll be honest, even though it’s only been a year, I feel like I’ve grown out of the LBD I featured there.
(This isn’t the easiest thing to admit, especially when ethical fashion is all about making loved clothes last, but there does come a time when styles evolve, and I’ve definitely changed from floaty, floral pieces into sharper, bolder designs. I still have that sweet People Tree dress, so I’ll let you know what happens to it – a clothes swap, perhaps?)
The black kimono mini-dress by Coco Veve that I’m wearing here really fits my new style, and hits the spot as a date night dress too. It’s sharp, tailored, and made to hug your frame – the two intertwining belts hold my hips tight, and give it a perfect, body-hugging fit.
The dress was kindly gifted by Brooks & Sharp, the luxury online destination for independent designer labels, many of whom are ethically-made and use sustainable materials. Coco Veve caught my eye, as their styles are gorgeous, and all made in the UK. This dress is my favourite of their line, and it fits my frame incredibly well – I have an inverted triangle body shape, so this style covers my shoulders and highlights my slim waist, ending at my thighs to show off my favourite feature; my legs.
Date nights for my boyfriend and I vary, and this dress caters to them all: I feel comfortable wearing it to a three-course dinner, a night out at a jazz bar, or a trip to see an independent film. It can be dressed up or down, and even paired with tights come autumn or winter.
The Gold Drop Necklace
To add a little sparkle, I accessorised my dress with a gold drop necklace* gifted from Anuka Jewellery*. This is one of the most playful necklaces in my collection, as the adjustable neckline and dangling gold ‘stones’ can be changed to fit a simple white top, a backless dress, or in this case, a wrap-style v-neck.
Handmade using recycled silver and 18k fairmined gold vermeil, it’s made with the high level of care and values that I look for in all good ethical jewellery.
And Anuka Jewellery goes one step further – they provide complete transparency across their range*, so you can trace your jewellery back to its source and maker.
The Statement Shoes
And finally, the statement shoes. I’ve wanted a pair of mules for a long time, but I tend to shop online, and it’s so hard to gauge the fit of a shoe from size and look.
Well, a recent shopping trip with my sister changed that. I tend to find it difficult to shop ethically on the high street, so our shopping trips usually consist of me looking at pretty styles and taking notes for what I want to wear before researching ethical options, while she goes all in. During our trip, we popped into Marks & Spencers, the high-street institution that my grandma, mum, and now my sister love. I can see why – styles are practical, with a little flair, and I’ve been intrigued by M&S’s recent forays into more sustainable practices too.
So, with a little hesitance, I ended up trying these pretty black mule sandals on. And they fit like a glove! Made from plastic and vegan glue, they’re not the most sustainable materials, but it makes me wonder how much different they are to the ‘ethical’ accessories that Matt & Nat make – they also use plastic, vegan glue, and make their styles in China.
The shoes came at the right time, and have made for a perfect summer shoe. Sustainable style is also about how much you wear something, so I’m going to make the most of these, and I’m tempted to do a little more research around how ethical M&S is too. What do you think?
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This post contains gifted products (denoted with 'gifted') and affiliate links (denoted with '*').
