Laws of Couture: For the Frill of It

Thursday, March 13

For the Frill of It

Dries van Noten

When you were a little girl, you loved dressing in ruffles from head to toe. After all they were so feminine, so fun, and so frilly. As an adult, however; you fear they're too playful and lack sophistication. Well, this spring, there's a new kind of ruffle in town that's all grown up. There's nothing frou-frou about these frills. Fanciful? Yes, but also sophisticated because they are used in unexpected combinations- for example, running down a crisp white button down a la Etro or floating down the shoulder of a sharp red sheath dress at Marchesa. Personally, I've never outgrown my love of ruffles. I like to think of them as an extra layer of texture-a structured ruffle trim lends a sculptural flourish to the fashion classics: an oxford shirt, slingback sandals, even a tough cuff bracelet.

Here's how to pull of the look...

1. Teaming a flounced item with something menswear inspired- a pair of trousers or a tailored white button down- prevents the look from seeming too sweet.
2. Softer ruffles can work for all ages, as long as they aren't baby pastels or on a miniskirt. One refined choice? A black ruffled slip dress is downright seductive and hey, who couldn't use a little more romance in their life?
3. One ruffled item only in a single ensemble!

Check out my favorite ruffled picks below just for the frill of it.