Category: Dresses

These 20 Wedding Dresses Look Wildly Expensive, but They’re All Under $250

Wedding-dress shopping is often a monumental occasion for future brides. The process is something you’ll most likely remember forever. If you’re having a virtual wedding this year or planning for your 2021 ceremony, make sure you discover your perfect match. Online shopping is currently the safest option, and there are so many affordable choices out there.
If you’re a bride on a budget, we curated the most gorgeous options for you under $250. These lovely gowns will make you feel special on your big day. Here comes the bride!

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43 Ways to Bring Your Summer Dress Into Fall, So No Look Gets Left Behind

Our summer dresses have gotten us through the past few months, and we couldn’t bear to leave them in the dust just yet. Our breezy house dresses made for great selfies; our nap dresses made for great, well, naps. And really, it’s pretty simple to transition these dresses into the cooler months, as long as you use the right accessories and add enough layers. Even though this fall looks plenty different when it comes to street style, if creating outfits is part of who you are, you’ll still want to dress up for yourself – and of course to shield yourself from the cooler breeze.
So bring on the sweaters and start thinking of ways to fashion your button-down on top of your slips. And maybe stow away your slides and basket bag – just for now! You’ll be able to come back to these staples later, and we’re sure you’ll want to (especially if you bought any of these pieces during lockdown). The silver lining is that you can still take your summer dresses outside when you pull from any of the 43 ideas we’ve gathered. Go ahead and find the look that speaks to your personal style, and give your dress the autumnal twist it deserves before saying goodbye for the colder months.

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Comfier Than Cutoffs, This Shorts Length Is Just Right For 2020

Shorts. Complicated, right? Though they’re freeing for some, others are stricken by anxiety at the mere thought of them. And while they’re not always considered to be the most refined of bottoms (by human resources, anyway), certain iterations can skew smart — turns out they’re not all bum-baring cut-offs and thigh-suffocating fits after all.Which brings us to Bermuda shorts. They’re back, and designers from Ganni to Proenza Schouler have debuted fresh, elongated silhouettes (bike shorts included) that are now readily available to shop. There’s the fitted to-the-knee version, the 2020 update to the ’50s pedal pusher, the baggy boyfriend cut for a looser feel, pleated styles ideal for adding some structure to your WFH style, and sport shorts of the basketball and soccer variety for the athleisure enthusiast (tip: they look coolest when slung low on the hips).In case you feel like they’re in “must avoid” territory, try styling your Bermudas unexpectedly: match an oversized hoodie with a silky pair, use a poufy sleeve blouse to offset slightly ravaged denim, or let a crisp poplin top anchor fanciful prints and quilted renditions. We promise, these bottoms aren’t as intimidating as they sound — and with the 20 options ahead, you might just be convinced to break that I’ll-never-wear-shorts promise once and for all.At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.H&M Plus Chino Shorts, $, available at H&MMatin Studio Lace Up Shorts, $, available at Matin StudioPixie Market Denim Belted Shorts, $, available at Pixie MarketDOUBLE RAINBOUU Disco Mute Long Short, $, available at Double RainbouuSuak Madness Half Pants – Purple, $, available at SuakAiayu Shorts Long, $, available at AiayuWe The Free One Summer Night Short, $, available at Free PeopleVioleta By Mango Striped Bow Shorts, $, available at MangoKimhēkim Guifei Organza Short Pants, $, available at KimhekimStudio Nicholson Bird Shorts, Red, $, available at Mr. LarkinZara Mom-Fit Bermuda Shorts, $, available at ZaraAdidas Originals by Alexander Wang AW Soccer Shorts, $, available at Opening CeremonyThe Frankie Shop Relaxed Fit Houndstooth Shorts, $, available at The Frankie ShopJoseph Louis Polka-dot Print Silk-chiffon Shorts, $, available at MatchesFashion.comVince Coin Pocket Bermuda, $, available at VinceGolden by Tna Rutson Short, $, available at AritziaBless Jeans Pleat Front Short, $, available at Maryam Nassir ZadehBDG Naples Longline Corduroy Short, $, available at Urban OutfittersKowtow Pavement Shorts, Cream, $, available at KowtowTopshop Longline Denim Shorts, $, available at TopshopAcne Studios Denim Shorts, $, available at Acne StudiosMango Striped Cyclist Bermuda, $, available at MangoH&M Cotton Jersey Cycling Shorts, $, available at H&MUrban Outfitters Kimmy Gingham High-Rise Bike Short, $, available at Urban OutfittersPhoto Courtesy of Urban Outfitters.Rosie Assoulin Prince Of Cambridge Pinstriped Cotton Shorts, $, available at Moda OperandiPhoto Courtesy of Moda Operandi.& Other Stories Fitted Floral Cycling Shorts, $, available at & Other StoriesPhoto Courtesy of & Other Stories.Scotch & Soda Tailored Shorts, $, available at ShopbopPhoto Courtesy of Shopbop.Proenza Schouler PSWL Parachute Drawstring-Waist Shorts, $, available at MatchesFashion.comPhoto Courtesy of Matches Fashion.Eloquii Vegan Leather Shorts, $, available at EloquiiEloquii Plus-Size Bermuda Short, $, available at EloquiiPhoto Courtesy of Eloquii.Acne Studios Pocket Shorts, $, available at Acne StudiosPhoto Courtesy of Acne Studios.Levi’s 501 Slouch Short, $, available at AritziaPhoto Courtesy of Aritzia.Free People Evelina Shorts, $, available at Free PeopleELV Denim The Twin Denim Shorts, $, available at Net-A-PorterCollusion Plus-Size High Waist Legging Shorts, $, available at ASOSPhoto Courtesy of ASOS.Ganni Ripstop Quilt Shorts, $, available at GanniPhoto Courtesy of Ganni.Adidas Originals by Alexander Wang AW Nylon Short, $, available at Need SupplyPhoto Courtesy of Need Supply.Bershka Sweatshirt Material Shorts With Neon Drawstring, $, available at BershkaPhoto Courtesy of Bershka.Universal Thread Plus Size Roll Cuff Bermuda Jean Shorts, $, available at TargetPhoto Courtesy of Target.Agolde 90’s Hi Rise Loose Short, $, available at RevolvePhoto Courtesy of Agolde.Toit Volant Classic Pleated Shorts, $, available at Lisa Says GahPhoto Courtesy of Lisa Says Gah.J.Crew High Rise Triple Button Stretch Linen Shorts, $, available at J.CrewPhoto Courtesy of J.Crew.Topshop Boutique Tailored City Shorts, $, available at TopshopPhoto Courtesy of Topshop.American Eagle Outfitters 90’s Boyfriend Denim Short, $, available at American Eagle OutfittersPhoto Courtesy of American Eagle Outfitters.Oak + Fort Short, $, available at Oak + FortPhoto Courtesy of Oak + Fort.Urban Renewal Recycled Fleece Bermuda Short, $, available at Urban OutfittersGanni Recycled Printed Shorts, $, available at GanniMadewell Cutoff Cargo Shorts, $, available at MadewellCitizens of Humanity Libby Relaxed Shorts, $, available at ShopbopStorets Leah Pleather Bermuda Shorts, $, available at StoretsUniversal Standard Knockout Bike Shorts, $, available at Universal StandardLacausa Paloma Shorts, $, available at LACAUSAApartment202 Demmi Shorts, $, available at Apartment202Universal Thread Mid-Rise Bermuda Jean Shorts, $, available at TargetDaily Paper Mint Green Refarid Shorts, $, available at Daily PaperBabaton Long Tailored Shorts, $, available at AritziaStaud Sage Pleated High Rise Paperbag Short, $, available at VerishopTopshop Ecru Leather Culottes, $, available at TopshopNike 7″ Shorts, $, available at NikeDL1961 Clara Cotton Denim Bermuda Shorts, $, available at Bloomingdale’sLike what you see? 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Fall’s Biggest Handbag Trends Are A Mix Of Practical And Fun

Are you buying practical fashion for our new at-home lifestyle (matching sweatsuits, house dresses, etc.), or pieces that lift your mood (something to encourage you to get out of those sweatpants)? No need to decide because the runways of New York, London, Milan, and Paris had plenty of both — and that includes accessories. In fact, most of the Fall 2020 handbag trends fell somewhere in between utilitarian and mood-boosting. The new slate of purses has something for everyone — ranging from supersized totes that can fit all the supplies we need to carry in the time of a pandemic, to furry handbags in vibrant colors that we can’t wait to wear outside when temperatures drop.Whether you’re on a hunt for a new bag to eventually take to work or one to wear on your daily walks today, ahead, the five trends from Fall 2020 runways that caught our eye and the bags you can shop now.At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.Bags with ChainsOversized chains were all over designer runways ranging from JW Anderson (shown here) to Tory Burch and Stella McCartney. Whether in the form of a shoulder strap or shiny hardware detail, these chunky links can add an unexpected element to an otherwise classic satchel or clutch.Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.Studio 33 Woke OG Shoulder Flap Bag, $, available at ShopbopKara Chain-embellished clutch, $, available at FarfetchMango Chain mini bag, $, available at MangoBy Far, Far Rachel Croc-Effect Shoulder Bag, $, available at mytheresaOversized BagsWhile bags have been getting smaller and smaller in the last few years, this fall — if we are to believe the runways of Sies Marjan (pictured here), Longchamp, and Bottega Veneta — promises the return of the oversized bag. Good thing: In the age of COVID-19, we’re not hesitating to trade the micro bag for a comically large one.Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.Staud Oversized Tote, $, available at StaudFP Collection Double Knot Hobo, $, available at Free Peoplerag & bone Passenger Tote, $, available at ShopbopNanushka Sahara tote bag, $, available at FarfetchFurry BagsSomehow designers, ranging from Claudia Li (shown here) to Altuzarra and Dries Van Noten, knew we would need all the coziness we could get by sending out bags in fuzzy, furry textures. Fun to wear outside during cooler months, these soft bags can also double as home decor. Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.Stand Lolita Medium Faux-Fur Tote Bag, $, available at Neiman MarcusGlamorous Faux Fur Cross Body Bag in Camel, $, available at ASOSLoeffler Randall Zelda Feather Baguette Crossbody, $, available at RevolveBrother Vellies 2020 Mini Island Bag, $, available at Brother VelliesAsymmetrical ClutchesClutches have undergone a makeover and are now deliberately misshapen. For proof, look at the runways of Bottega Veneta (seen here) and Alexander McQueen. Uneven edges, sculptural shapes, and unexpected silhouettes are all in.Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.Khaore Althaarah in Black Embossed Croc, $, available at Need Supply CoMansur Gavriel Blush Mini Cloud Clutch, $, available at OlivelaA.W.A.K.E. Liv padded clutch bag, $, available at FarfetchZara PLEATED LEATHER SHOULDER BAG, $, available at ZaraClasp BagsRetro-esque bags with metal frames and kiss clasps made ladylike appearances on the runways of Miu Miu (pictured here), Chanel, and Lanvin. These aren’t the coin bags of your grandmother though. Updated for today, they are not only more modern-looking and equipped with straps, but can also accommodate a lot more than just money and lipstick.Photo: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images.Tory Burch Small Cleo Leather Shoulder Bag, $, available at Saks Fifth AvenueNunoo Saki Clutch, $, available at ShopbopTopshop Quilted Faux Leather Clutch, $, available at NordstromMANU ATELIER Ruched Demi Bag, $, available at ShopbopLike what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?Almond Oil: Pantone’s Biggest Color Trend For FallThese 5 Dresses Were Everywhere This SummerThese 6 Spring Color Trends Will Brighten Your DayRead More
Crossbody Bags Were the Accessory of Choice at Copenhagen Fashion Week

Copenhagen Fashion Week wrapped for the SS21 season last week – but not before bringing a healthy serving of seasonal style inspo via the streets. From floaty dresses to leather separates that welcome in fall, statement T-shirts, chic looks that paired well with bicycles and more, there was no shortage of Pinterest board-worthy style. Accessories
The post Crossbody Bags Were the Accessory of Choice at Copenhagen Fashion Week appeared first on FASHION Magazine.Read More
I’m a Picky Shopper, and These Are My Favorite Fall Dresses

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What Copenhagen’s Fashion Week Street Style Is Telling Us About the Future of Fashion

Scanning the looks coming out of Copenhagen, where the Danish capital was the first to put on its Spring/Summer 2021 Fashion Week, you won’t find any luxury It bags or coordinated brand looks dominating the street style shots. In fact, the influence of a single trend at all is largely missing. It’s surely different than Fashion Weeks in the last few years where one look, even one item – like Bottega Veneta’s buttery soft clutches – emerges as a clear and definitive trend, providing a directional look for influencers and the people who follow them, editors, and of course, fast fashion designs that hit the shelves in the weeks following Fashion Week. That said, it’s not terribly surprising.
With a small, largely more local crowd showing up to participate in the first major Fashion Week since COVID, the looks veered entirely more personal, more expressive of individual style. Absent were the mega influencers being dressed head-to-toe by designers – what’s the point with no front rows to seat them in? Street style as a whole was scaled down – fewer photographers, fewer show attendees vying for attention, and fewer brands gifting looks to dress them in.
The resulting style showcases a greater range of looks. Showgoers are experimenting more. Sure, you’ll still find a handful of the items given the trendy seal of approval, including bucket hats and biker shorts, but those are fewer and far between. If you’re looking for common denominators among the street style looks, there are overarching themes, like summer dresses and sandals, but not actually a particular type or brand emerging to set a clear trend. To that point, trendsetting itself looks different, and the people doing it are putting their own twist on their own clothes. In that way, it’s very much a call back to the original street style stars, like Taylor Tomasi Hill and Joanna Hillman, who captivated fashion fans with their own brand of personal style in the early 2000s, before influencers and brand partnerships dominated Fashion Week and flooded social media. Suffice it to say, the attendees at Copenhagen look a lot more like that. And, if we consider that Copenhagen offers us a glimpse into the future of Fashion Weeks – and fashion in general – the shift to style that’s more personal may be more of a guide than the idea of trends as we know them.
Here, take a closer look at the variety of street style that came out of the last few days in Copenhagen.Read More
Romeo Hunte Has Been Called A “Disruptor” — Now The Designer Is Owning It

Designer Romeo Hunte is no stranger to devoted fans. Since launching his impossibly cool namesake label in 2014, his clothing has appeared on celebrities like Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Laverne Cox, and Tessa Thompson and athletes like Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul. Most recently, Zendaya wore Romeo Hunte’s Boxy suit for her InStyle cover story, for which the Euphoria star’s stylist Law Roach pulled all-Black designers.

In July, a week after the RH office has re-opened, Hunte tells me that being in lockdown during the pandemic has given him time to reflect. Despite having had to edit back and hold off on some new drops as a result of stay-at-home orders, the brand has continued to be there for its customers, in part by pivoting to manufacturing masks. “The reviews were just like, ‘Oh, thank you so much. This brightened up my day,’” he says.

View this post on Instagram @zendaya in our #ROMEOHUNTE SS20 Boxy Suit for @instylemagazine September Issue 👑🔥🖤 Styled by the legendary @luxurylaw Captured by @abdmstudio A post shared by ROMEO HUNTE (@romeohunte) on Aug 6, 2020 at 7:33pm PDT

As factories and warehouses closed due to the lockdown, a lot of brands have had to slow down and get creative. Some have had to turn to upcycling old fabrics and pieces for the new collections. Part of it has to do with the fact that they didn’t have access to new fabrics with the closures; another has to do with sustainability — an issue that has been brought to the forefront as a result of the pandemic. Romeo Hunte was ahead of this. In February, he unveiled his Fall/Winter 2020 collection that incorporated archival looks from Tommy Hilfiger. (While the production has since been delayed due to the pandemic, Hunte will be working on making it available by pre-order later this year.) “I’m really excited about this partnership,” he says. “Tommy has been an amazing mentor and like a godfather to me, and just to be the first designer, and the first Black designer also, to work and take his archives and upcycle a lot of the pieces and taking his brand identity and mixing it with mine…” he says.

View this post on Instagram Behind The Scenes Fall/Winter 2020 Collaboration:@tommyhilfiger Haft Theatre | 4 pm Powered By @ciroc A post shared by ROMEO HUNTE (@romeohunte) on Feb 9, 2020 at 8:50am PST

The partnership came about organically for Hunte who has always been a master of deconstructing classic silhouettes into unexpected, high-fashion creations. “I used to take a lot of my mother’s vintage pieces, I got in trouble a lot for that, but I’d take a lot of her pieces and upcycle it. I’d take it apart, deconstruct it, put it back together,” he says. “When I first started the brand, that was not my thing. I was like, ‘Okay, I did that when I was home bored.’ But over the seasons, it’s so crazy how fashion really is, it just connects. It definitely connects with your culture automatically and with your past and your experiences, even when you don’t really want to express those things.”

When it came to the collaboration, Hunte says he was inspired by the idea of giving existing pieces new life. “I was like, ‘Tommy, I really don’t want to do something new. Let’s see how we can go into your archives and build these amazing silhouettes and new styles for the show that is very exclusive and, at the same time, find a way to celebrate sustainability in a great big way,’” he says. “I think it’s very essential that all brands find a way to be sustainable in some way and shape.”

This idea of reinvention has long been part of Romeo Hunte’s DNA, whether it’s taking a trench coat and turning it into a dress by removing sleeves or adding bold elements, like neon piping, to turn an otherwise-classic staple into a can’t-miss style. For his latest collection, which combined business casual wear and sportswear, he sent out blazer-hoodie and denim-and-leather jacket-coat hybrids that appeared, in true Hunte form, simultaneously statement-making and wearable.

While the last few months have brought some downs for the fashion industry, Hunte is hopeful for the future. “A lot of business plans are changing right now. It is definitely a time to be very strategic; but at the same time, be very optimistic and open-minded.” Personally, Hunte says he will continue to “think outside the box” and do “things that I really want to do.” He adds, “I feel like I’ve been called a disruptor, and now I’m owning it. Like, I feel like I did come in, and I didn’t want to play games. I really got straight to the business. And I found a way to structure my business without [financial] backing and a small team.”

“I’ve been called a disruptor, and now I’m owning it.”

This has proven to be successful for Hunte, who, over the years, developed a loyal customer base, as well as industry acclaim. “I just always had to believe in myself and push forward, and I knew that I could do it,” Hunte says. “It’s a dream come true to dress the former First Lady Michelle Obama and Beyoncé.” It wasn’t without its challenges, though. For one, when Hunte was attending the Fashion Institute of Technology (in which he enrolled after turning down two full athletic scholarships), there were not many Black designers that were doing what he wanted to. “There was only, like, Tracy Reese that was on the [fashion] calendar,” Hunte says. “Tracy Reese is an amazing, beautiful designer of beautiful dresses, but I’m not really a dressmaker. So it was hard for me to relate. But it was very inspiring to see.”

Breaking into the fashion industry proved even harder. “I’ve been told a lot, ‘It takes time.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, if it takes time, I don’t really see that with other designers that are not Black.’ I’ve seen designers start their first year, their companies skyrocket, and they’re all over the internet. They’re all over the publications.” He tells me of his first big show, a moment that should have been a celebration of his hard work and talent. “Right before the show started, it was chaos backstage, we are all trying to start on time, open the doors,” he says, recalling a conversation he overheard between two people working the event. “My show got called ghetto until the doors opened and the models were all dressed, and then the same people who called it ghetto was like, ‘Oh my god, it was so many good, important, amazing people [watching the show], so much support in the industry.’”

This is hardly an isolated incident for designers of color in an industry that favors whiteness and tries to disregard talent even when it’s right in front of their eyes. “You have to prepare yourself. The industry’s not easy, period. I just feel like, as a Black designer, my experience is that I feel like I have to work double, triple harder to even still be here,” he says. “Your work gets overlooked.” With that in mind, Hunte, as someone who has built a strong business and client base, hopes he can inspire young designers to keep following their dreams. “I try and utilize my platform to inspire other designers, to motivate them, like, ‘You can do this, too,’” he says.

While the pandemic has been hard enough on independent designers like Hunte, the news of George Floyd, a Black man, being killed at the hands of the police, added a new layer. “It was a lot mentally to take,” says Hunte. “It was just really hard for us to get back to work, it was so much weight. We already were going through a lot, keeping each other strong, and then for that to happen and more heavy weight to take on moving forward with the brand…”

Following the racial justice protests, fashion — that has long overlooked Black creatives and kept them out of boardrooms — is going through a reckoning, with many calling on the industry to do better in supporting Black creatives. “I think what young designers want is to be included in the stories and have a seat at the table; their work to be compared to the bigger houses, and not just compared but in mind with the bigger houses for trends, and their drops and collaborations to be acknowledged and to be published. That’s what really helps a business,” Hunte says. “I just think it has a lot to do with your presence: How much are you celebrated? How much are you acknowledged? Where do you sit?”

At the time of the interview, Hunte is unsure of his plans for NYFW or the future. “I feel like everyone loves the show and the energy of the models walking. You don’t know what’s coming out, what’s going to walk out next kind of thing,” he says. “At the same time, I don’t know if my client is looking forward to it and that it will make them feel like, ‘I want to get up and wear a Romeo Hunte look and feel fabulous again.’ Or is it, ‘I need to pay the rent and the bills and keep lights on’? I don’t know. We don’t know. We’re taking it day by day.”

That uncertainty doesn’t faze him: “The team, we’ve been strong. We went through wars, but this is one where we’re prepared, and we’re going to go hard for this show, and for the next season, too.” All to say: We’ve seen nothing yet.
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