Summer Nights

Raise the heat in after-dark evening wear and accessories. Here’s how to plan your perfect outfit

2nd June, 2025

As we celebrate the last few weddings of the season our attention turns instead to summer nights at home and on vacation. The essentials? Incredible evening wear and accessories that make any night out one to remember.

Evening wear was a vivid focus of the SS25 runways, from an influx of joyful shades to shimmer and shine (hello embellishment!) there’s clearly something for everyone – and thus there no excuse to not dress up!

 

For the minimalists out there, boldly coloured evening wear steps in where sequins and embellishment might not be your thing. Both
Blumarine’s vibrant red gown and Magda Butrym’s halter neck midi dress couldn’t be more SS25-approved, reminiscent of the tomato red trend seen at Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta.

 

In a continuation of joyful colour, Paris Georgia’s slinky satin midi dress in vibrant saffron looks like figure-flattering liquid metal. When the light hits it, expect envious heads to turn. For something modest yet magical, Simkhai’s Blue Izel Cape Gown has a transformative quality about it, giving you instant poise and elegance.

 

For the magpies among us, evening wear signals one thing, embellishment, and the more the better. After all, whilst our daytime wardrobe may steer towards directional cuts with a minimalist edge, evening wear is a moment to have fun, forget the less is more rule and bring on the drama. Runways took note of this for SS25, with heavy embellishment seen at Simone Rocha and Prada (albeit with an expected modern Muiccia touch). At 16Arlington, dresses were artfully adorned with plumes of features – a reminder that adornment need not always glitter to grab your attention. Firstly, as a general life rule, you can never go wrong with a sequin – Paris Georgia’s skirt and sequin set is the proof. Adorned with mermaid-like over size sequins the colour of the ocean, the matching set is nothing short of a holiday wardrobe essential. 16Arlington new collection also celebrates the oversize sequin, this time in inky midnight shades – perfect for cocktail events overlooking the city. If you like your accessories to sing, Italian accessories brand, Benedetta Bruzziches must be your first stop. Dripping in crystal rhinestones, each handmade design is the perfect finishing touch to your evening wear look.

 

Elsewhere on the runway, ruffles, frills and romantics silhouettes dominated after-dark dressing. Chloe delivered boho romance aplenty, a return to the aesthetic the brand has long been known and loved for, whereas Valentino Garavani gave us a dose of gothic blouses. Shop Fabric of Society now, looking to Blumarine – the brand’s Plisse Maxi Dress couldn’t get more goddess like. Coperni’s Black Ruffle Midi Dress has a dark arts sense of romanticism about it, it’s body-hugging silhouette playfully offset by bountiful
ruffles across the neckline.