March Guide: 10 events happening around Ireland this month
March Guide: 10 events happening around Ireland this month

Edaein OConnell

These four non-surgical treatments will transform your skin
These four non-surgical treatments will transform your skin

Edaein OConnell

Nicole Kidman stars in Scarpetta – here’s what to watch this week
Nicole Kidman stars in Scarpetta – here’s what to watch this week

Edaein OConnell

WIN the full Max Benjamin candle collection worth €300
WIN the full Max Benjamin candle collection worth €300

Jennifer McShane

Win two tickets to IMAGE x Sculpted by Aimee’s beauty event
Win two tickets to IMAGE x Sculpted by Aimee’s beauty event

Shayna Healy

19 pieces to inspire a spring clean
19 pieces to inspire a spring clean

Megan Burns

Conor Gadd of the newly-opened Burro in Covent Garden shares his life in food
Conor Gadd of the newly-opened Burro in Covent Garden shares his life in food

Sarah Gill

Women in Sport: First female president of GAA Rounders Paula Doherty
Women in Sport: First female president of GAA Rounders Paula Doherty

Sarah Gill

WIN a €150 Brown Thomas voucher thanks to Magnum
WIN a €150 Brown Thomas voucher thanks to Magnum

Edaein OConnell

An expert guide to why your business struggles to turn change into results
An expert guide to why your business struggles to turn change into results

Fiona Alston

Image / Fashion

7 ways to make a romantic dress less OTT


By Freya Drohan
28th Feb 2020
7 ways to make a romantic dress less OTT

Fashion’s ongoing love affair with Marie Antoinette looks set to continue — here’s how to bring the vibe back down to earth


Guaranteeing a runway show worth talking about, last week Moschino’s Jeremy Scott sent his belles down the catwalk in opulent, French Revolution-inspired embroidered hoop skirts, ruffled Marcus Regency shirts, corsets, lace-up button boots and hair piled high to the heavens.

Scott’s offering was the cherry on top after a season which boasted countless dresses inspired by Elizabethan and Victorian times. Unsurprisingly, the Kansas-born designer shook things up (as he is wont to do) by juxtaposing his wares with street-ready denim, studded leather and layered jewellery.

Let the modern day Marie have her cake and eat it too? Now there’s a thought.

Elsewhere, frilly and frothy frocks that looked straight out of a glass museum case were seen at Brock Collection and Zimmermann (obviously, being both brands’ inherent signatures) in New York during the Autumn/Winter 2020 shows.

Prefacing the aforementioned, for Spring/Summer, Alexander McQueen, Erdem, and Louis Vuitton all featured gowns that wouldn’t have looked out of place in your Leaving Cert history book.

But while we love a dramatic entrance, there are certain limitations to where you can take these genre of dresses — yet lo and behold, with a few simple styling tricks, they too can be ready for the real world.

From belts that cinch voluminous layers to leather elements that tone down the saccharine nature of a romantic dress, here are seven ways to make this time-old trend work off the runway.

Black Waist Belt

Black + Brown Line Waist Belt, €119.58 from Net A Porter

With Docs

Dr. Marten’s 1460 8-Eye Boots, €174 from Schuh

Over jeans 

Straight Jeans, €27.99 from H&M

With a biker jacket

Faux Leather Biker Jacket, €39.95 from Zara

With a camel blazer

Double Breasted Blazer, €59.99 from Mango

With tall leather boots

Block Heel Knee Boots, €72 from Office

With a Messy Up-Do
(*Glass of wine: optional) 

Featured image: Moschino AW2020 by Jason Lloyd Evans


Read more: Anklets are the new shoe trend you’ll be wearing all summer

Read more: Trust me, this suiting trend is going to dominate this season

Read more: ’90s-style leather blazers are back and cooler than ever