Sunny slips: how to dress in a heatwave

Victoria Beckham wore one at the Wimbledon finals but are London women ready to step out in their slips during the day? Lucy McKay reveals (nearly) all
Lucy McKay15 July 2013

Underwear as outerwear is back, this time in the form of slips. It’s a classic look for a night out but since Victoria Beckham wore one at the Wimbledon final, the slip has become the new sundress. Already people are rushing to the nighties section of John Lewis with the retailer reporting a 35 per cent rise in sales since the tennis. But a negligée on a summer day is a bold move, as demonstrated by the stir that Posh Spice caused with hers, so I took to the streets to find out if us mere mortals can pull off the style in the daytime or if these nightdresses are best kept in the pyjama drawer.

Victoria Beckham’s dress was part of Louis Vuitton’s autumn/winter collection and Alice Temperley has also taken the trend on board.

I tried the look with a navy silk John Lewis slip and a long black one from Myla. Jo Hooper, head of womenswear buying at John Lewis, said: “Darker colours are proving most popular and our customers are buying them to wear both in the boardroom and the bedroom.”

Finishing the outfit with low platform shoes was an effort to avoid looking like I was on a walk of shame, but with slightly longer dresses a high heel can work well. If you’re buying a slip that was designed for the boudoir they can be a touch too see-through for wearing in public, so add another plain one underneath, as I did with the black one.

My dress testing began in the park.

I expected the outfits might turn some heads but, as usual in London, most people seemed unfazed, apart from one woman who ran up asking if it was the same dress Victoria Beckham wore and where could she get it.

It was a different story on the street and on the bus, where there were gawking passers-by. Unfortunately, most of them were not the people I particularly wanted to be gawking at me. The styles I opted for were rather, er… revealing for the afternoon. I felt particularly overdressed in the office, where people knew for sure that I wasn’t on my way to a glamorous party.

On their own, as I wore them, slips feel a bit dolled-up for daywear. Paired with a contrasting oversized blazer or dark denim jacket though, I think this trend is a striking look for any time of the day or night. Just make sure you practice your death stare to keep wandering eyes at bay.

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