I’m a firm believer than no one should buy a wedding guest outfit with the understanding of only wearing it for one day. Same goes for the races, garden parties, holiday dinners out and any other kind of summer soiree, regardless of their varying dress codes. Over the past few years, I've made a conscious effort to get more wear out of the pieces I buy for events, meaning that while they should make me feel lifted and sensational on the day, they should only be purchased with longevity in mind. Will this piece feel fresh a few years down the line, and will I be able to wear it more than once this year? Trends are all well and good, but if the answer is no, then I’m afraid there’s a good chance it will be left in my wish list and never see the light of day.
This ties nicely in with the fact that generally, traditional occasion outfits are on the out – as is blinding shopping trends for the sake of it. Where once it was strictly lace and florals at a wedding, for example, now we’re now introducing cooler outfits such as suits, slips and even separates into the mix – all items that you’ll wear again on repeat. As such, our options for getting dressed up are endless – a concept that can feel overwhelming at times, particularly if you have an event-packed summer ahead. So where can you go to find the kind of occasionwear you can wear again and again? As it turns out, the same place I go for all my timeless buys: ARKET.