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At this point of time, it’s 32 degrees Celsius as I’m writing this story. The plants I’ve procured for my living room look like they’re on their last legs. My dog has drunk a hefty amount of water proportionate to her size, and that is a really huge one. There’s a random smattering of acne on my face that I’m getting quite concerned with too. Anyway, back to the tent dress. Or as some people call it, the smock or the A-line dress.
Why? Well, some people like to make their lives complicated, I guess. So why am I so obsessed with them? Firstly, they’re comfortable with a capital C. Slip your head over one and let its huge volume drift away from your body while instantly cooling it down. Secondly, they’re usually made of cotton or linen – a far-cry from heat-trapping polyesters or synthetics. And thirdly, you can – and are going to – wear a tent dress for the rest of your life. Once the piece you’ve bought is filled with holes or stretched out, I highly recommend you wear it as a nightie. Not super sexy per se, but you do you. I know I did.
What we’re banking on:
1. Celine’s Victorian Dress in Silk Georgette
When done wrong, this tent dress will make you look like an unfortunate calefare on Bridgerton: the kind who gets killed off in episode one before all the drama unfolds. But when done right – like worn with casual items such as sneakers or a canvas tote bag –you’ll instantly become the best dressed person in any room or situation!
2. Chloé’s Tiered Long Summer Dress
Did you think that we’d do a tent dress story without featuring the brand that quite literally popularised it? Clearly not, eh. This tiered Chloé dress in light cotton poplin with zigzag embroidery is the #HolyGrail of tent dresses: it’s flattering at the bust before unfurling down to your ankles and best paired with flip-flops if you’re running errands!
3. Coach’s Mini Tiered Dress
When worn with riding boots, this tent dress becomes very Little House on the Prairie. When worn with flip-flops, it becomes like “didn’t Kaia Gerber wear something like this?”. But when worn with white sneakers, it looks the best in our opinion: formal without the stuffiness and the simplest solution to beat the heat at anytime of the year!
4. Fendi’s White Silk Dress
Pintucks make this tiered tent dress oh-so pretty and a sweetheart neckline makes it adorable.What that really means is that you’re going to want to wear it with dirtier looking items just so your overall look isn’t too perfect. Like your comfiest pair of sneakers that you’ve not bothered to clean – ever, or a banged-up leather purse. Whatever it is, think attitude.
5. Gucci’s Floral Print Silk Dress
The prettiest version of the tent dress here is a not-so-subtle reference to Creative Director, Alessandro Michele’s love for botanical gardens, but that doesn’t mean that it should just be worn on a sunny day because its ivory-coloured base means that you can wear anything over it. We recommend a dark-wash denim jacket for cool points!
6. Miu Miu’s Gingham Check Dress
Miuccia Prada’s take on the tent dress is less Little House on the Prairie and more UpperEast Side lady with a retro allure. While the fit and flou are still there, what makes this dress oh-so flattering is its practical use of shirring along the waistline that flatters any figure. And yes, any bust size ranging from an A-cup to a mid-C, too!
7. Saint Laurent’s Embroidered Ruffle Dress in Silk Crepe Muslin
Technically speaking, this tent dress can be worn on its own if you stand at a height of 1.7 metres and below. But if you’re genetically blessed, it looks even better when worn with denim shorts or trousers and your hair up in a messy bun; a more stylish take on the Y2K trend that plagued celebrities like Hilary Duff, if you will.
8. Stella McCartney’s Alyssa Silk Dress
Thanks to the vibrant sea life-inspired print, not only will you not find someone wearing the same dress as you (they’re probably going to be print-shy), but you’re also going to love the silk fabric that this tent dress is made of as the material has the ability to adjust to your body temperature – which means that the hotter you get, the cooler the material feels. Perfect for our weather, don’t you think?
Text: Stacie Cai
Featured image: @valentinaferragni, @chrisellelim, @anazsiantar, @rclayton/Instagram
Compiled by: Lester Liang
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