A party dress isn’t just for Christmas – it’s for life. Whilst the festive season provides plenty of opportunities to dress up, there’s something joyful in the act of pulling on a great outfit and heading out to socialise in the darker post-xmas months. As tempting as it is to live in gym gear and cosy knitwear throughout January, slouchy comfy clothes don’t always inspire us to be the best possible versions of ourselves.
It’s a sentiment shared by Ivy Ekong, Founder and Creative Director of the eponymous glamorous womenswear label Ivy Ekong Fashion, who says: “We believe that every woman deserves to feel empowered and confident. With our new collection, we aim to inspire women to embrace their uniqueness and showcase their inner strength through the art of fashion.”
Ivy Ekong is a celebration of femininity and glamour. Expect body-conscious form-fitting silhouettes, opulent embellishments, feathery trims, floor-length sequins, sexy cutaway styles and diamante details aplenty. It’s unsurprising then, that the latest collection from creative director Ekong is named the “Decadent Collection”.
One of our favourite pieces in the collection is the velvet ‘Amanda’ – a black midi off-shoulder party dress. The Ivy Ekong team kindly sent us this style to road test which offered the opportunity to add some glamour to an otherwise dull January day. Reminiscent of Princess Diana’s iconic ‘Revenge Dress’, this little black number features flattering ruching that hugs the figure whilst concealing any lumps and bumps. Made from luxurious velvet fabric with plenty of stretch thanks to the spandex fabric mix, this is one of those timeless wardrobe classics that will never date.
Slipping into the Amanda along with a pair of sheer tights, gold bow-detail heels and a simple pair of chunky gold earrings made me feel like a million dollars for a Saturday night dinner date.
Speaking of dates, this is a suitably gorgeous Valentine’s outfit whether you’re being wined and dined, or heading to a singles night with friends. A word of note – I’m 5’10 and this made for more of a mini dress on my frame, if you’re petite expect this to fall closer to the knee.
As well as being a go-to destination for occasion wear, Ivy Ekong’s collections also feature tailoring (we love the sharply tailored blazers with a glamorous twist), boujee gym gear and amped-up resort wear.
There’s also costume jewellery in the form of chunky statement necklaces and earrings to add that final flourish. We love the faux pearl-set Shaya double hoop earrings that feel very of the moment and would look just as good worn with a blazer and wide-leg trousers for the day, as they would paired with an Ivy Ekong evening dress.
If you’re planning some winter sun, explore the Ivy Ekong swim collection which features a curation of bejewelled bikinis, bold beach coverups, printed kaftan dresses and floaty separates. Our resortwear pick is the gorgeous Maldives shirt and trouser co-ord in an abstract floral print that will look great in the airport, as a coverup on the beach or dressed up for dinner.
On a mission to empower all women, Ivy Ekong casts models of diverse shapes, sizes and ethnicities for her campaigns, showcasing how each design is carefully considered and cut to flatter different body shapes. She also considers the carbon footprint of the label by offering carbon-setting at the point of checkout and designing timeless, beautifully crafted pieces that are designed to be worn and loved forever.
Give your gym kit a day off this January and reach for an empowering Ivy Ekong number – a dose of glamour works wonders to lift your mood all year round.
Discover the full Ivy Ekong collections and shop online at https://ivyekongfashion.com/
