The body suit is back, but would you wear one?
There are some trends that immediately register as ‘whoa, do not go there’; others that I know will be perfect (the holy grail of practical, flattering and stylish); and a third, more difficult to define camp that leave me pondering a little longer. Bodysuits definitely fall into that final category.
I know what you’re thinking: ‘You’re asking me to consider wearing an item usually reserved for teenage Olympic gymnasts/Sandy from Grease and expect to get away with it?’ And if you’re not thinking that, you’re a braver woman than I. But I am not ready to dismiss the bodysuit just yet. It simply has too many plus points not to make it work, somehow.
Draped bodysuit, £12.99, Zara Polo-neck bodysuit, £130, Wolford
The body has become a late contender for fashion item of the summer, mostly thanks to the above street-style shot of Julie Pelipas, the fashion director of Vogue Ukraine, which went viral last month. The US website Man Repeller declared that ‘this might be the most perfect outfit of the summer’, and a bodysuit is one of its essential components.
Ribbed jersey body, £8.99, H&M; Button-front bodysuit, £17.99, New Look
The effect of a bodysuit can be incredibly chic, and it offers a wonderful base to a look, whether you’re wearing it with relaxed jeans à la Pelipas or a fancy skirt. I have already ventured to the front line of this trend – and failed. It was a ribbed black version that turned out to be too short. As I hoicked it between my legs to button it up, it ripped. So lesson one in making the bodysuit work is ensuring you select one that works for your measurements.
Silk, £59, & Other Stories; Khaite square-neck bodysuit, £550, Matchesfashion.com
The classic body is tight, but don’t be afraid of this. Find a version that is well structured and can accommodate whatever underpinnings you need, then offset the proportions with a looser bottom half. Plenty of the bodysuits available now come a little looser or with some clever draping, but they still give that neatly tucked-in effect that makes the original so appealing. What’s not to love?
