A gold shift dress relies on two elements: how the fabric reflects light and how little else there is to the dress itself. Shift dresses have no waist seam to give them shape, so the fabric has to do it’s job and most fail spectacularly. Cheap metallic finish will crease awkwardly and hang stiffly on the body, falling intoplace that looks exhausted by 9PM. You want something with movement, something that flows when you move rather than resists. Look for a lining that prevents the dress clinging to the body and a weighted hem that encourages the dress to hang vertically.
The ones that fit best hug the body without squeezing, skim rather than hold, and finish somewhere around the top to middle of the knee. The length is important. Shorter and it looks like clubwear masquerading as a shift dress, longer and you risk looking matronly.
The neckline can say a lot about the dress since quite often it’s the only detail it will have. A shift dress is simplicity incarnate so play around with a round neck, boat neck or subtle cowl to change the mood without altering the silhouette.
Styling it is more a case of deciding what you leave on rather than throw on. Gold does a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to visual impact, which is why your best bet will always be something simple: a plain black blazer, skinny heel or minimal sandal, a single statement necklace or stud earrings, but never both. Throw a blazer on top and it brings down the shine for daytime looks, bare legs and a strappy sandal send it into full-on evening mode. As for fabric, a leather jacket will never work but a cashmere sweater or coat will add some much-needed texture to what can otherwise be a single-note look.
When do you wear it? Whenever black is too dreary but you don’t want to look like you didn’t try. Cocktail party season, Christmas parties, birthday celebrations, any occasion with good lighting and someone to drink with. It’s not office-appropriate, nor will it keep you warm in winter. It’s for looking absolutely fabulous for a few hours, then stowing away until you deserve it again.
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