High Street, High Fashion: The Negligee

Don’t break the bank chasing this season’s hot trends. Martha Cliff looks at how to get the catwalk negligee look without destroying your overdraft.


It is that wonderful time of year again. January brings with it a fresh start, a new and better you, but more importantly the Spring term’s student loan.

Soon enough you’ll be charging through Quakers Friars like a hurricane and before you know it you’re sitting alone in McDonalds crying into your share size chicken nuggets having blown £400 in Harvey Nichols because a sales assistant made you feel good about yourself.

Sound familiar?

It doesn’t have to be this way. As promised, The Tab is here with the key high street pieces you need to stay on top of the Spring/Summer 2013 trends.

We start with a look at the negligee trend which can be seen in the designer ranges of Haider Ackermann and Balenciaga.

This trend may revolve around the idea of underwear as outerwear (Haider Ackermann’s catwalk models essentially wore nighties) but there are boundaries. This does not mean stocking up in Ann Summers and parading around Cabot like something out of The Rocky Horror show.

Please see below for how to do the trend with a little more dignity. Though a word of advice, don’t wear all the pieces at once!

The point of the trend is suggestive dress not fancy dress. There is a fine line between transparent accents and something you might wear for your boyfriend (if he’s very lucky) on Valentine’s Day.

Lace camisoles add a little excitement under sharp tailoring, whilst embellished trousers are the perfect party piece for January, providing a little extra coverage without being borderline frumpy. Don’t forget the added bonus of cutting down on the cost of razors!

Our favourite shop for the trend? REISS provide a sophisticated spin on an overtly sexy trend, though we’d suggest you stick to the sale if your loan is to last the term!

Next time, we look at how to jump on the neon bandwagon without looking like a highlighter!