Rent Alice and Olivia dresses and you’ll be avoiding the following summer nightmare scenario.  Let us set the scene…What with most girls’ summer social calendars a-wash with al fresco soirées, barbecues, and cocktail parties, there’s a lot of pressure on their summer wardrobes to provide an outfit for each of these social engagements.

To Rent: Alice and Olivia Dresses to the Rescue!

But not every wardrobe, even if it is packed with clothes, can deliver the goods. (It may be stuffed with said goods, but just like a TopShop sale rack, together, everything looks good but upon closer inspection of each individual item you just can’t bear to dare to wear!)  Which is why we think what you need is to borrow a dress.  (Alice and Olivia dresses are our current summer favourite.)

Why Borrow a Dress by Alice and Olivia for your Next Summer Do?

The reasons for this are these: Just what would your  really picky ‘friend,’ you know, the one who always looks immaculate, wherever she is, react if you turn up in that same New Look maxi dress you wore to her midsummer night’s dream themed champagne and canapes gathering she held last year?  The answer: you won’t be invited back come next party.  And you sort of want to be.  After all, those canapes were rather tasty!  A far cry from the Iceland vol au vents, which as host you simply don’t dare to serve if she numbers among those on your party guest list.

Rent Alice and Olivia dresses from the Following Selection….

1. GMD’s stylist’s favourite: ‘I personally would borrow this dress by Alice and Olivia because I have a huge crush on the maxi length! Plus the paisley print on this kaftan style dress is fabulously boho. Perfect for the beach, doing al fresco chic…whatever you want.  And you can glam it up with some gold tone accessories for the evening.’ Rent this dress by Alice and Olivia: £119. (Usual RRP: £405).

2. GMD buyer’s favourite: Out of all our our ‘for rent’ Alice and Olivia dresses, top of my list has to be this Flower Blouson dress, purely for it’s easy to wear brilliance.  Romance dress-onified! And lends itself perfectly to colour pop accessories.’  Dress to hire: 89. (Normal RRP: 165).

Dresses by Krystof Strozyna

Polish designer Krystof Strozyna who showcased his first collection at London Fashion Week in 2009, is now well known to those in the fashion know for his statement dresses. Strozyna is one of the lucky few to have dressed fashion’s femme du jour, Alexa Chung, and she and the likes of socialite Hofit Golan were FROW-ers at his LFW A/W ’11 show.

Rent a Krystof Strozyna Dress – as worn by Cheryl Cole

Certainly from looking at his collection, it is clear Krystoff Strozyna dresses are by no means for shrinking wallflower types.  No no. It is for the bold woman that Krystof Strozyna dresses are made.  So it comes as no surprise that his designs have been seen on one of Britain’s most influential women in the fashion stakes, none other than the nation’s favourite outspoken Geordie lass, Cheryl Cole.

Cheryl wore this orange silk crepe dress from the Krystof Strozyna S/S ’10 collection to chat to Holly Willoughby on her TV show, Cheryl Cole’s Night In, in December 2009.  Our love for the dress hasn’t diminished which why we’re so excited to have it gracing our hangers here at GirlMeetsDress.  Rent a Krystof Strozyna dress from our collection here at GMD.

Krystof Strozyna Petal Dress – Diane Vickers’s & Nicole Scherzinger’s Choice

The Polish designer also appeared to have caught the attention of songstress Diana Vickers, who wore a Krystof Strozyna dress (also seen on Nicole Scherzinger) when she performed on the Graham Norton Show in June 2010.  Diana wore this Krystof Strozyna Petal dress. Hire for £49. RRP: £900.  So, if this Polish wonderboy hasn’t caught your attention already, be fashion forward-think Krystof Strozyna! 

It’s my 30th birthday next month, and I want to celebrate it in style. What can I wear to make me look and feel both beautiful and sophisticated?

Your 30th Birthday Celebration is definitely one you want to remember: you don’t want to be another ‘depressed-because-I’m-turning-thirty person’, but rather that girl who looked so fabulous that she made 30 the new 20! So here is my top choice, in keeping with the ‘beautiful/sophisticated’  request:

The Ruth Tarvydas – Poshy dress is an incredibly sophisticated and simultaneously sexy dress. There is no need to wear accessories with it, because the lace on the leg gives it more than enough detail. Just wear with your favourite pair of black heels, and you will have a look that is to die for!

Have a very Happy Birthday from GMD!

Useful links: Party dresses, My Birthday, Bags

“I have a spring wedding coming up in April. It’s in the country, and it starts in the early afternoon, but it will probably turn into an evening affair. What dress could I wear that is appropriate for both day and evening?”

It is important to remember that at weddings, you want to look sophisticated and comfortable. Of course, it is also important to know the level of formality of the wedding, but I always feel that in these situations, it is better to err on the side of over dressed rather than underdressed – nobody wants to be the girl who was cut out of all the pictures for wearing jeans and sneakers! However, at the same time, you don’t want to be remembered as the girl who tried to steal the spotlight. It’s actually quite a difficult balance to find.

I think that over-the-knee dresses are more appropriate than the average mini you might wear at a club. It being a spring wedding, I think that floral or pastel colours are a good choice. A bit of shine might add a nice touch, especially if this for a day-turned-night affair. Here are my top choices:

Zimmerman – Halter Maxi Dress

This is a really stunning dress, which elongates the figure. It is also very handy for those of us who are not particularly gifted when it comes to walking in heels – a pair of flat pumps or sandals will be fine for this option. Minimal accessories are also important – a pair of drop earrings and a bracelet will be more than enough.

Phillip Lim – Halter Fringe Silk Dress

This dress has a beautifully vintage feel about it. The front makes it demure, while the back shows just the right amount of skin. Wear with light, gold jewellery – a bracelet and a pair of small solid gold hoops will do. Wear with a pair of feminine shoes – baby doll high heels would be perfect.

Philosophi di ALberta Ferretti – Purple Strapless

My final choice is the purple strapless. This is a really lovely option, and works equally well for the day and the night. Accessorise with a light silver necklace (nothing to heavy – the bow already gives it a lot of detail). Wear with a pair of round-toe heels.

Send any fashion questions to: thea@girlmeetsdress.com

Useful Links: Wedding guest, bags, day dress