An Ode To The Sheath Dress: A Business Traveler's Elegant Solution

Men have it so easy when they travel (as in many other aspects of life but I digress). Two suits, 5 shirt and tie combinations, a pair of khaki slacks and voila! All their sartorial needs are met for an entire week of meetings and social gatherings. In a bind, they could probably make due with one suit and no one would bat an eye. Women on the other hand are held to much higher sartorial standards and have to show significant ingenuity to pull off the same feat without lugging around several times their body weight in luggage. Traveling in winter is especially challenging as clothing are bulkier and take up more room and you tend to need more of it.

On The Luxe Chronicles' recent jaunt to New York, my answer to this problem took the form of three well cut and impeccably tailored sheath dresses and one pair of well tailored trousers: one slate gray sheath with three-quarter length sleeves; one black sleeveless sheath with a "V" back worn with a colorful cardigan and a patent-leather belt during the day and which substituted as a cocktail-dress for a chic dinner out with friends; and, a deep red short sleeved shift to break up the neutrals. By pairing the dresses with belts, cardigans, and an assortment of jewelry and shoes, I managed to attend four days worth of meetings, two business-related social functions and a few outings with friends. The sheath dress is uncomplicated yet elegant, feminine yet professional. It takes up little space in your luggage and when properly packed, will stand up well to the constraints of travel. While the sheath dress was all the rage in the 1990's, they had all but disappeared from our closets in favor of the baby doll dress in recent years (which incidentally did nothing for women working in any area other than fashion). They're back in force for this Spring and for Fall 2008 and I couldn't be happier! What began as a demure way of dressing for women in the 1950's remains an elegant solution for working women today. Ironic isn't it?

Sincerely,

The Luxe Chronicles

Photographic references:

Left to right: Michael Kors Pre-Fall 2008; Gloria Guinness and C.Z. Guest circa 1950's; Douglas Hannant, Fall 2008.

Comments

[1LTLos]

But what about 1950's womens attire bringing a blouse, those stunning thick banded belts that were worn with a full flowing skirts and with (though I preferred without) petti-coat?
Are these two pieces or weren't some designed as sheath dress though with fuller flowing skirt area? I am publishing a book on these types of fashions and would appreciate were your readers to submit photography of fashions of the type I describe or whatever! My photography is award winning and so is my Art and soon my published books. May I please ask for assistance in image acquisition from your posters? All donors will be fully credited and acknowledged in the books! Thank you for this opportunity to share.
send to:
c.carlos.ramos@gmail.com Thank you!!!!
Los

[Niki]

Fabulous article. It's already been sent to many of my friends.

[Jillian]

Stunning. I agree, and I have always loved sheath dresses.