You may have heard someone, most likely and extremely fashion forward person, mention wearing a “sack” or a “sack dress“. It may confuse those who are just hearing about this trend for the first time, but it won’t be for long. Sack dresses, shift dresses and shirt dresses are hitting the fashion scene in a big way. The one thing all these dresses have in common is that they’re loose, rather shapeless and lack a defined waist. However their silhouettes differ.
The shift dress of today hangs straight to the ground, usually with a slight a line. Shirt dresses are basically a longer version of a button front, woven shirt, and are usually the most fitted of the three. The sack dress is much looser and often rounded throughout the bodice and skirt. And to tell the truth, this trend isn’t entirely new. Top designers such as Balenciaga and Chloe sent these looks down the runway early last year, as a part of their Spring/Summer 2006 collection, and celebrities such as Nicki Hilton were seen wearing these dresses earlier this year. Slowly, these garments are making their way into the mainstream, but it takes a bit of hunting to find them online.
ShopBop.com is always a safe bet for fashion forward pieces, and when it comes to the sack dress they do not disappoint. This online retailer has a wide selection of designers to begin with, and their choices for a sack dress is quite impressive. They have a Catharine Malandrino pointelle sweater sack dress, which embodies what a sack dress should perfectly with it’s rounded hips. It comes in ivory and gray, and rings up at a steep $325. For those not quite as daring in their fashion choices, Daryl K makes a great black dress which is a cross between a sack and a tunic. It is belted at the waist, which makes it more flattering on a broader range of figures, but it’s gathered at the bottom to emphasize the look of a sack. Don’t expect to save any money with this one, it sells for $375. ShopBop.com also has a jumper style sack dress, as seen recently on model and actress Molly Sims. This one will save you a pretty penny at $75.
ShopBop.com is easily the leader of the pack for the sack dress. And although they do have a few shift dresses, no one at the moment can outdo BeBe’s collection of this style. At the moment they have three stunning styles of shift dresses . The most basic of which is red with a satin panel at the bottom and puff sleeves. Their black shift dress is quite similar, except with a key hole in the front. But it’s their white and turquoise patterned shift dress that really takes the cake. All three of these dresses are currently priced at $129, and even though they are all listed under day dresses, they can easily transition into the evening.
Who has the best selection of shirt dresses online? The answer may surprise you: Target! Target is always supplying the masses with fashion on a budget, and this is no exception. Two of their main brands, Xhiliration and Mossimo have several styles of shirt dresses in shades of brown, gray and black. Their styles are quite unique; many of their shirt dresses come with ties, ruffles and pleats as accents. If you’re looking for more traditional shirt dresses, I highly recommend visiting Express. You can view many of their current pieces at ExpressFashion.com, but unfortunately they aren’t available for purchase online. So if you mosey on over to the mall anytime soon, definitely take a look at their affordable selection of shirt dresses.
For the last two years, especially in the Spring/Winter season, skirts have been all the rage. But now dresses are ready to make a fierce comeback. Expect to see an abundance of dresses from now through the next season. There are so many popular and unique styles hitting the market, including the ones discussed here. Don’t be afraid to try something new, you might just end up finding something you love!
