The document discusses changes in modern eveningwear. It notes that ballgowns and couture dresses are now seen as dated for evening events. Contemporary black tie fashion emphasizes tailored pantsuits in black, red, or white from designers like Dior, Altuzarra, and Lanvin. Trousers without jackets in black silk, or dressy jumpsuits, have also become popular options. Long black evening skirts paired with bow tops or slit designs are seen as sophisticated alternatives to dresses. The document concludes that modern evening fashion prioritizes sleek, cool styles that are still comfortable, with relaxed rules about footwear like metallic flats.

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today, fashion is all about redefining tradition. And perhaps the biggest
overhaul has taken place in the eveningwear department. In the not too distant past,
dressing for elegant soirées had us conjuring images of fanciful ball gowns and red-
carpet couture confections. But now the whole notion seems so dated. Especially
when you consider the contemporary—call it casual, if you will—take on black tie
that was very much in evidence in the latest resort collections:beautiful clothing (yes,
clothes, not dresses) that we all want to wear when the witching hour strikes.
So what’s the hottest ticket on our cocktail party wish list?The tailored pantsuit,by
a mile. Every bit as sleek and sexy as previous standouts like the fitted LBD of the
early naughties, jacket-and-trouser combinations in classic black, deep red, and crisp
white have become the order of the day—or,rather,night.Suiting for evening (forgo
a stuffy business shirt in favor of a plunging V-neck or even,if you dare,a bra top) has
been spearheaded by Raf Simons at Dior, Joseph Altuzarra, and Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz,
the man who launched a thousand swoon-worthy dresses.You need only look to
Lanvin’s slouchy tuxedo pants and sleeveless jackets—which came accessorized with
languidly draped long scarves and giant flower corsages—as proof.
It’s worth noting that trousers sans jackets, preferably in black silk, worn with a
glamorous white top, a pretty knit, or a skin-baring scarf top (Dior again), have also
proved a party favorite. Phoebe Philo (who else?) has championed the black trouser
look to perfection both on the Céline runway and in her own wardrobe.Given fash-
ion’s current love affair with the ’70s, permission has been granted to work your
trousers long and lean or to jump on the flared bandwagon.
Also in the running is the dressy jumpsuit, seriously luxe in silk, strapless, or one-
shoulder,and in rich shades of noir and navy.Take your cue from Bergdorf Goodman’s
Linda Fargo and add a hint of glitz with statement earrings or a sparkly brooch.
For those who crave the ladylike feel of a dress but long for the frisson of something
new,fear not.It’s simply a matter of turning to the season’s other sophisticated star,the
long black evening skirt.Altuzarra went for the all-out glamour of a gown with a thigh-
high slit skirt paired with a bow top,and Dior put the fun in flirty with a high-waisted,
knee-length A-line.But the biggest surprise—or maybe it isn’t a surprise at all—is the
footwear, which, much like the dress code, has relaxed too. Flats, primarily those that
look like upmarket pool slides in metallic and black (as seen at Elizabeth and James) as
well as polished loafers (at Lanvin) and pointed ballerina styles (atTomas Maier), have
become an acceptable alternative to sky-high stilettos.
And that right there sums up fashion’s new approach to modern evening dressing:
sizzling style that’s undeniably cool and yet still comfortable.We approve. n
MirteMaas
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LilyAldridge
KarolinaKurkova
EVENINGWEAR
MODERN
Nighttime attire is no longer what it used to be—it’s better
By Natasha Silva-Jelly