ON OUR MIND…
Every Summer, the fashion crowd appoints a dress of the season. The one that dominates your saved folders, gets re-posted and shared every day, and results in endless “does anyone know where this is from?” comments.
This year, the honour belongs to Sydney Silverman who graced our algorithms with her mint-green draped maxi in Nice - a fluid silhouette with barely-there side cut-outs, styled with sculptural hardware. Equal parts understated and unforgettable, it’s the kind of look which makes you question your whole holiday aesthetic. It didn’t just go viral, it became our Euro Summer blueprint.
The beauty of Sydney Silverman’s look lies in its restraint. A floor-skimming draped maxi in a soft pistachio shade, gathered with a silver bangle and generous cut outs which reveal just enough skin. Styled with undone waves, minimal jewellery and an unfussy chic woven tote, it captures everything we romanticise about European Summers. It feels less like a typical trendy holiday outfit and more like you’ve mastered the art of dressing for warm-weather evenings.
THE EQUATION
Fluid draped maxi dress + woven tote bag + kitten heel flip flop sandal + barely there jewellery + oval sunglasses = the Modern Riviera dress code.
The Dress | The silhouette should skim, not cling. And the metal hardware (should you choose to add) should feel substantial and elevated, avoiding anything overly shiny/ silver or plasticky. The dress is where we would spend the money.
The Accessories | The key here is what isn’t happening, an understated bag which looks as though you have been carrying it for years and isn’t overly trying. Minimal jewellery which just forms part of your everyday stack. A cute pair of sunglasses which add elegance but don’t distract from the dress.
The Shoes | The outfit does not need heels. It wants very minimal, barely there sandals - a small heel is fine which still lets the dress do the talking, anything more will start competing.
The exact dress is the Mayumi Open Side Dress from Helsa, available via Revolve, for £275. It’s undeniably an investment, but the kind that quietly earns its keep. The dress isn’t just tied to one holiday, it works just as effortlessly for location weddings or dinner parties.
Suddenly the cost per wear feels surprisingly persuasive. The Instagram girls will tell you to panic-buy the lace duster, the perfect not-too-baggy but not-too-tight jeans, the tiny clutch bag, the perfectly oval sunnies and some vintage jewellery for good measure - just to ensure you nail the trend. Suddenly, you’ve spent £400 to recreate an outfit formula almost entirely around a single item of clothing.
Verdict: Spend your money on the investment piece - in this case the dress - and borrow everything else from your existing wardrobe. The look doesn’t need much to accompany it, chances are you already own the accessories to feel complete. If you’re buying five new items to make the look work, reconsider.
Sporty & Rich Cap | £65 - The cult favourite, off-duty cap you’ve been waiting for
Skims Tank Top | £42 - An everyday essential, your wardrobe will thank you
Damson Madder Tote Bags | £38 - Practical and playful, but perhaps overdone?
See you next Tuesday.
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