The Fashion Memo

Most Wanted

A curated roundup of the best new fashion arrivals, hand-picked by our editors

Words Francine HeathFashion editor Connie Daw
Fashion
Clockwise from top left: top, Saint Laurent; dress, Rodarte; earrings, Coperni; silver cuff, Bottega Veneta; midi skirt, Christopher Esber; white bag, Ferragamo; flats, Khaite; heeled sandals, Jimmy Choo; Definitive Lifting Toner, Auteur; stainless-steel champagne coup, Louise Roe; quilted bag, Saint Laurent

“When it comes to putting together stylish holiday looks, I know I can always count on a chic and versatile black dress to see me through a busy month of social events,” says NET-A-PORTER’s senior fashion assistant Annie Hertikova, setting the tone for this week’s Most Wanted. Providing a host of beautiful black dresses to choose from in its fall/winter ’23 collection – including the fluted velvet gown Camila Morrone wore to this year’s Met GalaRodarte should be your first port of call for a special, enduring investment.

Since launching in 2005, Rodarte’s storytelling has remained at the heart of its collections. For FW23, sisters Kate and Laura Mulleavy cast gothic fairies as their leading ladies and served up dark glamour by opening the show with 12 all-black looks before introducing distinctive nods of color. Watched in New York by guests including Alexa Chung, Sophia Roe and Orville Peck, who took their seats in surroundings covered in silver glitter, Mammina Aker walked the runway in a bias-cut black dress influenced by classic ’30s silhouettes. It was teamed with a flowing Chantilly-lace veil and bold blue lip for dramatic impact, but we love it styled for real life with a long leather trench coat, glowing skin and coquettish makeup – think flushed cheeks, elongated liner and fluttery lashes. Try prepping your face, neck and décolletage the night before an event with Auteur’s Definitive Lifting Toner from our NET SUSTAIN edit (it’s made using more than 50% certified-organic ingredients), waiting a few minutes before following with a hydrating spritz.

When it comes to making life super-easy, Hertikova has just the advice for effortless day-to-night dressing: “The beauty of Rodarte’s slinky number is you can wear it straight from the office to a fancy soirée without changing your entire outfit,” she shares. “Simply layer it up with a sweater and boots for a daytime-appropriate look, then remove the knit and switch into some fancy flats for a modern and comfortable take on party dressing.”

Following Hertikova’s tip, you don’t need a pair of high heels to have a fairytale fashion moment – instead, slip on Khaite’s modern-day glass slippers. Having sold out multiple times since they debuted in mesh for spring/summer ’23, the brand’s cult ‘Marcy’ ballet flats are a style you won’t want to miss. They’re crafted in Italy from featherweight satin dotted with scores of Swarovski crystals and can be worn with straight-leg or ‘horseshoe’ jeans long after the disco balls stop turning.

Finish your party look by accessorizing with Coperni’s glossy earrings, which dazzle from all angles. A fun alternative to classic hoops, they have the same distinctive oval shape as the coveted bags in the ‘Swipe’ family, which playfully draws inspiration from the ‘swipe to unlock’ icon of an iPhone and nods to the Parisian brand’s fascination with tech and innovation. Lastly, add Bottega Veneta’s sculptural silver cuff and Ferragamo’s optic-white leather bag with coordinating Gancini hardware.

Browse this week’s New In.