Wynne Sweetheart Maxi Dress - Red

A sweetheart neckline is the oldest trick in this catalogue and it still works, which is presumably why the Wynne does not attempt anything cleverer. The neckline curves across the bust and is held by thin adjustable straps, so the height sits where you put it. Lace trim runs as a detail against the red. Below the bust the dress falls straight to maxi length, and an invisible zip closes the back. It is lined. The simplicity is the argument here. A dress with one strong neckline and no other event needs one strong shoe and nothing else — no necklace, no belt, no wrap unless the room is genuinely cold. Red at a cocktail party is not a subtle choice, and a shape this plain is what keeps it from tipping over into fancy dress. Set the straps once and forget about it for the evening.