Fit & Flare

Why we love it:

The world of fashion is full of beautiful and unique silhouettes, many of which we adore.  A classic and personal favorite of ours is the Fit and Flare. Fit and flare dresses are typically nipped in at the waist followed by a fuller skirt. The simple style is versatile, universally flattering and comes with endless styling possibilities which must be the reason we see it pop up year after year reinvented to follow current trends and seasons.  The beauty of Fit & Flare is how it gives any woman a feminine hourglass shape.  It is timeless as well as fun.

The fit and flare style has been popular since the 1940s among women of all ages. It can be said it stems from Christian Dior’s iconic 1947 collection that introduced the “new look”, which, like fit and flare, emphasized a small waist with a full skirt.

Wearing a fair trade version means that you will feel as good as you look. See below for some of our favorite looks featuring fair trade fit and flare dresses made by groups which focus on empowering women in marginalized areas, as well as made using many time honored traditions in craftsmanship like weaving, screen printing, and batik printing.

How to Wear

Casual:

We love to pair this Ghanaian batik-print Kessie dress with a trusty jean jacket for a laid back day. Complete the look with booties and this versatile white disk necklace.

You could also try the adorable block print Talli Dress, from India. The pops of orange in the pattern sing when paired with an orange infinity scarf. Throw on boots and you're ready to adventure

Formal:

We adore the bold print and delicious colors in the Sisi Party Dress and it begs to be worn with matching heels in mustard as shown, blue or green. This wooden statement necklace is the perfect touch for a formal occasion.

We also love the elegant rose pattern in the Amodini Dress. Pair it with black earrings and black heels, and a statement purse like this awesome clutch made of pop tops from Brazil.