Review of the Alex Black Shirt Dress

The Alex Black Collection - stylish shirt dresses for all occasions.

Sleek, Stylish and Timeless Style from Alex Black

I always envy women who manage to achieve a well put together look from what appears to be the simplest of outfits. You know the ones – they make jeans and a t-shirt look chic and stylish, while the rest of us – er, don’t.  Or they appear to know just the right styles, cuts and colours to suit their shape and skin tone and have a wardrobe full of effortlessly stylish outfits.

Well, I’ve recently discovered the answer to my style challenges in the shape of the ultimate tailored shirt dress from the Alex Black Collection. Created by its namesake Alex Black, the collection of shirt dresses, belts and accessories will help even the most style-challenged woman to achieve an effortlessly stylish look, that moves easily from day to evening, from work to weekend.

What makes these dresses work so beautifully is Alex’s focus on the detail.  She has been fastidious with every element of the design, including selecting the ultimate cottons to ensure the best possible finish, incorporating French seams, whip-knot finish buttons, double hems, superior interlining and thread, to give a luxurious feel as well as a fantastic fit. She’s also omitted the extraneous details, so you won’t find belt hooks, pockets or button tabs on the sleeves.

There are currently five dresses in the collection, each with different detailing, cut and colours, with more to be added next year. The addition of the beautifully crafted belts, made of soft leather and finished to work perfectly with the dresses, creates a well-finished and polished look for day or night.

I’m now the delighted owner of The Eloise – a deceptively simple blue and white pinstripe dress, which when accessorised with one of Alex’s grey double wrap belts made me feel stylish in a way that I’ve rarely been able to achieve. Teamed with some simple jewellery and a pair of flats, this is my new go-to outfit for meetings and events around Hong Kong.  The addition of a pair of heels transforms it into an easy outfit to wear in the evenings too.

Also available is the feminine Josephine –  a black (slight) stretch dress featuring a ruffled detail, which particularly suits a curvy figure – think plunging neckline and figure hugging cut. The Laurie and Kate dresses have a traditional mandarin collar and pleated front giving a timeless look and the white Kate dress has a slightly more generous cut, perfect if you have a larger frame. Finally the the white Kate dress is cut slightly bigger at the hips and waist so that you can wear it without worrying about having your undies on show!

Alex’s eye for detail is also clearly evident in the fit.  Stature is not on my side, but rather than feeling drowned in excess fabric, I was delighted that the cut and styling of the dress worked on even my petite frame. For me, the dress makes me feel well put together, comfortable, stylish and most importantly confident. I can’t wait to add more to my wardrobe!

If you want to view the collection, you can browse and shop at the following locations:

Inside: 231, Landmark Prince’s Building, Central; Shop G104, Repulse Bay Arcade, Repulse Bay  and  12th Floor, Horizon Plaza, Ap Lei Chau

The Shop by Shangri-La: Aberdeen Marina Club, Unit 10, G/F Aerdeen Marina Tower, 8 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen

Online: www.alexblackcollection.com and www.Latitude-11.com