Degradé Foxglove Cotton Poplin Dress
by Oscar de la Renta
by Oscar de la Renta
by Oscar de la Renta
by Antonio Marras
by Dolce & Gabbana
by Dolce & Gabbana
May is the month of springtime splendor, of the desire for rebirth, of a renewed sense of wonder at the sight of nature. Our afternoons slow down and linger as the days grow noticeably longer. There is a life after work, and every year it feels as if we were discovering it for the first time: we take up our walks again, go out at sunset, attend cocktail parties, and spend evenings in the garden with family and friends. We enjoy showing off new outfits on these occasions, but much of our imaginative energy is devoted to the ceremony invitations that fill our letterboxes. We think about what we will wear and talk about it at work and with our friends. I am here to explore with you the vast field of dos and don’ts for the coming party season.
Let us opt for the midi dress for morning and early‑afternoon ceremonies (the long, full or column version in daytime is the exclusive prerogative of the bridesmaids). Oscar de la Renta’s midi dresses are the most glamorous choice imaginable, partly because they are instantly recognizable and invite admiration, and partly because, being part of the brand’s very DNA, they are perfectly designed to be worn with ease throughout long spring or summer ceremonies. The Spring 2026 collection offers two particularly interesting versions: a sky‑blue poplin dress with a pink foxglove dégradé print (there is also a handbag in the same pattern). The pleated skirt and tone‑on‑tone belt charmingly highlight the waist, while the slightly raised collar and discreet sleeve echo the canons of 1950s bon ton; the floral knot that falls over the bare back evokes the understated elegance of Grace Kelly at the 1955 Cannes Film Festival. The second, in sumptuous embroidered pearl‑grey silk, is made to astonish and to linger in the imagination.
Amid the general splendor of the romantically committed ensembles in Antonio Marras’s new collection, I would choose a bustier dress with a sweetheart line that covers the shoulders with a removable collar inspired by sailors’ jackets, and a wide pleated skirt in exquisite sky‑blue cotton‑silk printed with large white roses. In a world that is all too often disenchanted, Antonio Marras still manages to move us, gently overturning conventions and bringing joy. Among Italian designers he is undoubtedly my favorite, because he has no equal in terms of innovation and originality.
Within the realm of made‑in‑Italy excellence, Dolce & Gabbana’s latest collections continue to leave us spoiled for choice. If you want to be elegant and at the same time sensual, if full skirts are not your style, and if you remain faithful to the canons of Mediterranean beauty, all of D&G’s colored cordonetto‑lace creations are perfect. This year in particular, I have a weakness for the magenta version. Dare to go for color‑blocking and coordinate tights and accessories for a guaranteed bold effect.