I doubt Anne Hathaway intended for her May appearance in a breezy summer shirtdress to go viral. She was certainly wearing the first (of hopefully many) unique Zac Posen for Gap Dress items, and she was certainly decked out in diamonds. Still, dressing up for an event like this is just another Monday in the A-lister’s life. After all, it was just a modest poplin white dress. Who would have thought that its elegant collar and wide skirt would make the internet fall so deeply in love? Of all, it was all in the details, à la Erin Walsh.
First, take into account the scene: Hathaway was leaving the Bvlgari Hotel, a swanky location that doesn’t exactly scream 100% cotton. My curiosity was instantly sparked by the unexpected decision to wear a shirtdress created by a mall brand. Second, the Devil Wears Prada actress looked completely icy, donning a striking cocktail ring, matching earrings, a silver snake wrap bracelet, a stunning necklace made of sapphire and diamonds, and all from Bvlgari.
Large jewels that would make a Windsor blush are usually not a good match for breezy summer dresses, even ones as well-made as this off-the-shoulder one. But the ensemble became so much more than the sum of its parts with some creative layering (a matching white corset and shorts below), fitted-to-the-hilt darting, and a lot of misplaced buttons.
In retrospect, the ensemble was an unanticipated thrill from head to toe, which practically guaranteed its viral notoriety. InStyle staff Slack channels, a number of individuals are typing in a frenzy due to the initial Instagram photographs of the Gap shirtdress. All eyes were drawn to the Gap Dress by Zac Posen action because of the combination of Hathaway’s movie star smile, soft cotton, and cool sparkle.
It was therefore not shocking when the brand revealed that the ready-to-wear version was up for pre-order and that the majority of sizes sold out in a matter of minutes. Thank goodness I borrowed, begged, and bargained my way in and got to try on one of the iconic shirtdresses from the Gap Dress. Look ahead for my frank assessment and evidence of this dress’s remarkable versatility—both with and without diamonds.
How I Styled It
When it comes to transferring red carpet trends into everyday life, I’m never sure. Few of us have a staff of beauty experts or a celebrity stylist on hand to make sure not a single hair is out of place. It’s uncommon to see an extremely wearable dress on the red carpet because Oscar-worthy gowns are usually fussy by design. So, rather than trying to pull off Anne’s look exactly, my main objective was to test if I could wear this dress to more places than simply a formal event—like the office, the weekend, or even the L train to Brooklyn.
In other words, I put the Gap Dress to the “regular girl” test, and I’m happy to say that it passed with flying colours. To see how I styled it, continue reading. Yes, these are my actual clothes, before you ask.
To the Office
This ensemble was simple to put together because, let’s face it, the office is the spiritual home of every decent shirtdress. I accessorised the ensemble with a black belt, a black headband by Jennifer Behr reminiscent of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, lace-up ballet flats by Tory Burch and a pink cardigan to shield myself from the stuffy workplace air conditioning.
On the Weekend
My weekend wardrobe is largely composed of wide-leg jeans, so I wanted to see if I could use them for this shirtdress project. Honestly, it was simpler than I had anticipated. This dress almost has the appearance of a long cardigan or duster if the bottom buttons are opened, but without the bulky fabric. I am a chronic over-accessorizer, so I added a sleek wrap belt, but this garment looks great even without one.
I don’t usually wear dresses over trousers, especially not in the summer, but this ensemble looks great on me. 10/10 would rewear.
Inspired by Anne
To transition this dress into an evening look, I knew I needed some sparkle. And although it’s unfortunate that I don’t own any valuable Bvlgari sapphires in my collection of jewellery, I do have a pair of glittering blue Monolos in my wardrobe that are itching to be worn—they were my wedding shoes originally and haven’t seen much use since. Once I had my glittery burst of colour arranged, all I needed to finish off my Anne Hathaway-inspired look was a white corset (I have this one from Miaou) and some off-the-shoulder styling magic (don’t be scared to use fashion tape).
I suppose I could wear this attire to an evening summer fete or beautiful garden party, even though it’s not nearly black tie-worthy.
The Review
First, fit: This item has flawless tailoring. The lovely form that is produced by the darting at the waist and sides avoids the boxiness that I usually associate with a stiff shirtdress. It did run a tad bit big on me in terms of size. Having said that, I want my dresses to fit formfitting, so get your normal size if you enjoy an oversized appearance or a belt situation.
A note regarding cloth follows. Hear me out: This shirtdress is somewhat see-through, but that’s what makes it so unique. It wouldn’t be the ideal item to stack haphazardly if it weren’t sheer in finish. If you wear a slip dress underneath it, the effect is more three-dimensional than if you were wearing a heavier poplin. You may make a bold fashion statement by simply unbuttoning a classic item, a la Anne Hathaway. Furthermore, the 100% cotton poplin fabric maintains its shape beautifully while yet feeling airy and breathable, particularly at the collar, which I like to be almost starchy.
The ultimate decision? This dress is everything you would want in a wardrobe staple. I even pulled off the contentious decision of wearing it over jeans, even though I’m not big on fashion gimmicks. This is your go-to item when you’re not sure what to wear and are running late. At $158, it’s reasonably priced, comfy, and adaptable. Above all, the viral Gap Dress shirt is an extremely rare find because it will make you feel put together without much thought.
