I’ll never forget where I was when I saw it. It was my local coffee shop in Williamsburg. Standing in line, browsing Instagram to kill time and avoid opening emails from my editor pleading me to finish my article before the deadline I was obviously going to miss anyway when suddenly there it appeared; sliding through my feed, innocently mocking me from my phone.
The Caserta dress by Reformation. Almost spilling my oat milk latte on the dude in front of me I muttered to no one in particular. “That’s the one. I need that dress.” What I didn’t know at the time was that roughly 14,999 other people felt the exact same way.
Ok, so I’ve been writing about clothes for long enough to know when something big is about to hit. When that magical confluence of zeitgeist-y enough to feel ubiquitous, but unique enough to feel curated lands squarely on Trendstakes territory.
But even I did not foresee the hysteria that would ensue following the release of The Caserta.
Made of dreams; or a perfectly-weighted silk with an effortlessly flattering cowl neck, thin spaghetti straps, and a side slit that gives you infinite legs, whichever.
It sold out across sizes and colours a mere 48 hours after hitting the website. Then the waitlist opened.
First it was hundreds of people. Then thousands. Last I checked, it was somewhere north of 15,000 people and climbing.
Pop quiz: how many people live in College Station, Texas? 15,000. Yep.
We’re basically a small city right now all crying for the same dress. Pro tip: start referring to yourself as “McCaserta”. I hear Rebecca Haas says hi.
Ok, but what is it about this TOTES NOT-CHEAP dress that’s made it worth upwards of a three month wait forReformation loyalists everywhere? Is it the fabric? The fit?
Let me give you a little insider fashion editors’ tip and tell you it’s both of those things, but more simple than that. It just looks good. On everyone.
I’ve seen it on my friend Emma who is short and busty; my coworker Taylor who is tall and will be comfortable living at your Target until she graduates college, and my sister’s roommate Megan who is probably the perfect worst-case median of the two. It just looks good. On every body type.
It’s MAGIC I TELL YOU. Now hear me out on this, because this is where it gets science-fiction levels of coincidence. I have a theory that the Caserta hit all of what I like to think of as my “Triple S” criteria for universally-lovable clothing: silhouette, simplicity, and stretch.
The bias-cut silhouette is the main headline here. It allows for that loose ‘90s Kate Moss vibe that works on any figure because it skims instead of clings to your body. Add to that how simple it is; literally just a slip dress.
It can be dressed up or down depending on how you style it. Then throw in the amount of stretch the material has; enough that it fits your body perfectly without bragging about what you had for lunch, and you’ve got a winner. It’s like unicorn magic meet stabilizing airs.
Comes in handy when you have to chase your toddler around all day. Helping with that last part? The price point.
Clovia dipped at $248 which isn’t exactly “steal” territory when you’re functioning with the brain of a normal mammal (speaking from experience here, Dad’s having a heart attack just THINKING about that price point), but just enough that you can convince yourself it’s an “investment piece” without murdering someone on the street for their kidneys to make rent. It’s expensive enough that putting it on feels special, but not so impractical that wearing it once feels like your wearing out the “I Spent $400 on This” novelty card. Trust me, once you wear that you never take it back.
I tried to explain the hysteria to my boyfriend over dinner last Saturday while refreshing the Ref site like a maniac. “It’s like,” I yelled, stabbing my fork aggressively at the air for emphasis and nearly skewering our waiter. “THE PERFECT DRESS! Do you understand?? It’s the PERFECT DRESS!” He looked up from his bucatini, clearly having seen this show before. “Wait, didn’t you buy the black one like this last month?
And wasn’t the green one pretty much this dress too?” I regarded him with the sort of stony disdain you’d reserve for someone who didn’t know your fabulous rock-inspired style had completely transformed over the past year. “Listen to me hipster, those dresses were good. But this…THIS is perfection. It’s the Plat-EASTIC form of dress.
Plato himself would wear this dress and it would better him.” He raised an eyebrow at me, clearly missing my rhetorical point. “Okay, but Plato was a man who didn’t wear dresses.” Don’t worry guys, I totally cheated and bought one too. For science. Here’s what I did: I set alerts onLike all my shopping apps, made a new email account dedicated to receiving Reformation restock emails (delete all other emails, impulses to buy clothes), and… BEGGED my friend who works at Reformation (hi Jess!) to text me whenever they got any shipments.
Literally took her out for an obscene amount of Barolo and promised to pay her back if I EVER found out she had lied to me about the text. Jess if you’re reading this: it was worth it. Fast forward three weeks and there she was in my inbox.
Size small. In black. My heart skipped a beat.
What I didn’t tell you is when it arrived, I basically lived in it for the entire week it took me to wrap up that article and clear my schedule. I wore it with every pair of shoes and accessory I own just so I could see how it looked (and dispatched my parents with frantic FaceTimes so they could see it too because MUM I KNOW YOU LIKE MY CLOTHES). Did I mention I live on the fourth floor of an flat building with no lift and a huge batch of new neighbours who probably think I’m spray painting my windows when I set up impromptu photoshoots?
No? Well. Here we are.
But guys. It really is THAT good. I’ve been telling everyone it’s the new LBD.
But it’s better. It truly is. Perfect for throwing on with some converse to run to the store, then kicking up heels for dinner.
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It goes with literally everything, and yet feels extra. That’s the thing, it’s a wonderful base piece that can take you from day to night without skipping a beat. But it’s special enough that putting it on feels like getting dressed for a night out.
It has that magicQuality versus Quantity ratio we all chase but rarely strike. But you’ll probably be stuck on the waitlist for quite some time STILL. So what to do in the meantime while you countdown the days until you can see your inbox???
Well I took that same bitterness and frustration and poured it into my search for alternatives. Here’s what I found. Alternative Numero Uno: The Vivienne Dress by Aritzia ($98).
Looks nearly identical to the Caserta but with slightly thicker straps and no side slit. It doesn’t have that same buttery smooth fabric as the Reformation, but this option from Canadian favourite Aritzia is similarly cut and comes in approximately 853587 colours. I own it in black and this beautiful moss green and while it will never give me the same I-made-out-with-John-Snoad-at-a-launch-party delusions of grandeur, it’s a really nice dupe and will truly work with anything.
8/10 would rewear. Option numero dos: The Naomi by Realisation Par ($250) This beauty also predates the madness but has been around long enough to fit that tried-and-true ‘90s slip dress aesthetic. Side note: the leopard print iteration of this dress has officially been worn enough on Instagram for me to meet the criteria of overuse and never see again.
Fortunately they have other colours that don’t ooze Bad Idea Rap Show vibes. The material is a beautiful silk that has a much higher end drape than Aritzia but still only costs $250. The only drawback?
The sizing runs small. Like, “maybe order two sizes up” small. Ask me how I know.
Budget option! The Gwyneth Slip Dress by J. Crew($138) Look, I’ve never really been into J Crew but this dress?
FUCKING GREAT. It’s more “structured” than the Caserta, meaning the neckline isn’t as deep, but still retains that high quality feel with sturdy straps and delicious silk. Available in tall sizes too, which my tallest coworker Caroline insists are “actually actually tall and not just like one inch taller than everyone else like most places.” <<< Girl sued me for slander, but I’m not wrong.
Plus sizes run a smidge small but don’t let that deter you if you’re in between. Just go up! Lane midi dress ($395) For when you’re feeling a little more high-low.
Nanushka’s Sade dress is similarly cut with more of an architectural vibe and they have some AMAZING vegan leather options that are actually strangely comfy and perfect for full-day wear. I wore mine to a wedding last summer and didn’t feel that “I can’t wait to take this dress off” feeling by midnight. Hallelujah.
But seriously though, this is going to upset my fashion columnist mum but I present to you: Abercrombie & Fitch’s Cowl Slip Midi Dress($70). Yes, you read that correctly. Okay, so is the material AS nice?
Of course not. Will it pill after two washes? Maybe.
Does it basically *look* the same other than being sheered-out white instead of that opaque sky blue they do at Ref? DAMN STRAIGHT IT DOES. Buy it in black, white, or nude to mask that obvious difference, throw it on with some Jeffrey Campbell boots and no one will ever know the truth.
And hey, if they ask you where it’s from, I won’t tell. Now that you’re sufficiently drooling over every dress known to womankind let’s get into how to make YOUR Caserta (or acceptable facsimile) live up to all your lazy-girl dreams, shall we? Casual Day Look: my go-to has been teaming mine with an oversized blazer (currently loving this vintage men’s Armani from the ‘80s I snagged at a shop downtown),Statement Watch (helloomanipulinheritedfromgranddad), and either a pair of white trainers or those huge fisherman sandals that are everywhere right now.
The trick here is to balance out the simplicity of the dress with something unexpected; a bright bag, a funky pair of sunglasses, or in my case,the vintage Hermes watch my Grandpa left me when he passed. It’s not really “practical” but anything under that gets instantly upgraded. Night time is seriously where this dress shines.
Because it’s that good. But since we’re talking about it, here’s my failsafe look. Strap heels.
Boom. Done. Maybe a simple necklace or diamond studs, but otherwise this dress doesn’t need much.
It’s like bringing a knife to a gunslinging fight. Though speaking of…. To answer your probably top fashion-related question as of right now: YES you can totally wear it with a jumper underneath for autumn!
Cue all my fellow SEC grads laughing in the distance. 🙋🏻♀️ Paired with a thin turtle neck or even an oversized chunky jumper looks INCREDIBLE.
Like, I wore this to my high school reunion and got shit on about “still modelling?” quality compliments.
I’ll admit, it was a little terrifying at first putting myself out there in my literal dream dress for the first time in front of.. actual high schoolers.
People I actually went to high school with, and more importantly PEOPLES FROM ST CATHERINE’S. Had my mary janes ready if anyone tried to ask me about those ridiculous platform Skechers I rocked for a hot minute back in the day. I regret nothing.
But I’m telling you guys, I walked in wearing this with some simple gold hoops and black strappy sandals and THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE ASKED ME IF I “STILL MODELLED.” I do not. Not once in my life. Not for Walmart baby, not for Sears.
The closest I came was standing around “helping” on set for my internship at Lucky Magazine while actual models called in sick one day. “Can you stand over there? And try not to trip?” No Paula Abdul highlight reel here folks. But my point is.
THIS DRESS. If people think you have a double life as a model when you wear this I WILL FIND YOU AND WE WILL BE FRIENDS.
