D'Amour Day Dresses: Design Inspiration and Size Guide

There has been a great deal of chatter swirling through the tearooms and millinery counters this week, and it centres on one thing only: the irresistible return of the 1950s day dress. Society darlings, fashionable matrons, and bright-eyed ingénues alike have been seen twirling through town in fitted bodices and full, swishing skirts, sending the city into something of a nostalgic flutter.

And truly, who can blame them?

Those in the know say the magic lies in the silhouette itself. Tailored cleanly through the bodice, narrowed at the waist, and blossoming into a generous skirt, the classic 1950s vintage dress flatters with the same charm and certainty as a well-timed compliment. Whether worn for morning errands or a luncheon at the club, its ability to emphasise curves - or conjure them as needed - is nothing short of marvellous.

The ladies of our town insist that no other shape is quite so obliging. One prominent hostess - always the picture of polish - confided that the full skirt “floats away from one’s hips like a dream,” while the fitted bodice “reminds the world that a waist is still something worth celebrating.”

Fashion watchers agree:

• For those blessed with an hourglass figure, the vintage dress simply frames the curves with precision.
• For straighter silhouettes, it creates a graceful line, sculpting the waist and adding softness through the skirt.
• For figures fuller through the middle, the design works like a whispered secret, defining without clinging and creating balance with elegant ease.

One need only stroll down the high street to observe the trend in action. For morning outings - florists, post offices, and those little shops that simply must be visited - society ladies favour cottons in cheerful prints. Gingham for the practical, florals for the romantic, and polka dots for the delightfully playful.

By afternoon, the same dresses appear transformed with a strand of pearls, kitten heels, and a structured handbag. Observers report that a surprising number of women are adding slim belts and petticoats “for just a whisper of extra swish,” as one socialite put it between sips of tea.

And come cocktail hour?

The silhouette turns decidedly glamorous. Deeper hues, polished accessories, a touch of lipstick, and perhaps gloves - because what is a well-dressed woman in early evening without them?

Tailors and dressmakers quietly confirm what society swears by: the 1950s day dress is both universally flattering and endlessly adaptable.

• Pear-shaped ladies find balance through bodices that draw attention upward.
• Apple-shaped figures enjoy smooth, structured bodices and skirts that begin exactly where they should.
• Straight figures gain instant curves from nipped waists and generous skirts.
• Hourglass silhouettes shine most naturally, as though the design had been invented solely with them in mind.

One well-established couturier was overheard saying, “This silhouette doesn’t just flatter. It forgives. It transforms. It celebrates.” And truly, what more could one ask of a dress?

As the season unfolds, one thing has become quite clear among the most stylish women in town: the 1950s day dress is far more than a passing fancy. It is the garment that carries a woman gracefully from dawn to dusk, polished in the morning, charming in the afternoon, and quite ready for a cocktail at six.

Elegant, feminine, and delightfully flattering, this vintage dress silhouette shows no signs of falling from favour. And if the whispers at the tearooms are to be believed, its popularity will only grow.

After all, a lady may change her hat, her handbag, even her shoes - but a perfectly cut 1950s day dress?

Now that is a love affair destined to last.

And if you’d care to follow us, the Kittens are just slipping into the fitting room now… ready to show you exactly how beautifully these day dresses come to life on the female form!

Lanterns Dress - Size 8:

Kerryn wears a size 8 in this design and found it beautifully true to size. She absolutely loved the wrap-effect bodice, and the print - festive, vintage, and utterly charming - reminded her of classic Christmas wrapping paper. The waist felt wonderfully snatched, creating such a flattering silhouette.

'Check Me Out' Dress - Size 8:

Oh my stars… what a dress! Kerryn wears a size 8 here as well, and she could not stop raving about it. The print, the cinch, the swirl—simply sensational. The bodice is incredibly flattering, and with so many colours to draw from, accessorising becomes far too much fun. A true standout.

'Halycon' Halter Dress - Size 8:

Dreamy is the word! Kerryn wears a size 8 in this design and found the fit perfectly true to size. The deep purple is gorgeous, and the neckline is absolutely stunning. The print has such a vintage charm that Kerryn simply couldn’t pick a favourite between the dresses - this one is every bit as irresistible as the others.

'Lanterns' Dress - Size 6:

Tammy wore a size 6 and found the fit absolutely true to size. She loved the beautiful waist cinch and the effortless twirl of the skirt. With a petticoat added underneath, the Lantern Dress gained even more swoosh and charm - perfect for day or night, or even a little glamour at home.

'Check Me Out' Dress - Size 6:

In the Check Me Out Dress, Tammy also wore her usual size 6, and it fit like a dream.
The silhouette hugged in all the right places, with that classic 1950s cinch and full skirt she adores. A petticoat added the perfect touch of volume. Tammy said this one feels like the kind of dress you can wear anywhere - school runs, date nights, or simply feeling fabulous in the lounge room.

'Halycon' Halter Dress - Size 6:

The Halycon Halter Dress in size 6 was another perfect match for Tammy.
She loved the halter neckline, the flattering waist, and the graceful movement of the skirt. With a petticoat beneath, it had wonderful fullness. Tammy felt this dress could take her from day to evening with ease - polished, pretty, and endlessly wearable.