Slips

3 products

A slip dress is a narrow cut dress with thin shoulder straps and no collar or sleeves, and Duck Apparel sells slips in South Africa in a pastel maxi length. The collection covers the Pastel Maxi Slip Dress, the Pastel Blue Maxi Slip and the Pastel Pink Maxi Slip. This page explains what a slip dress does that other dresses do not, how to wear one across a full South African year rather than only in summer, and how slips compare with the other dress shapes Duck Apparel offers.

What is a slip dress?

A slip dress is the simplest shape in a wardrobe. It has no waist seam to place, no sleeve to fit and no collar to sit correctly, so it hangs from the shoulder straps and falls straight. That plainness is the point. A slip carries whatever is put over it, which is why it works as a base layer under a knit, a shirt or a jacket as easily as it works alone.

In maxi length the same shape reads dressier, because the extra fabric adds line. A Pastel Blue Maxi Slip or a Pastel Pink Maxi Slip with a flat sandal is a daytime outfit, and the same dress with a heel and one piece of jewellery is an evening outfit. Very little has to change between the two.

How do you wear a slip through the South African year?

A slip dress is a summer dress in December and a layering piece in June. From November to March a maxi slip works on its own in Durban, Cape Town and the Lowveld, where the length keeps sun off the legs while the shape stays cool. Between June and August the same dress goes under a chunky knit or over a long sleeve top, with boots instead of sandals, which is the way most South Africans get more than one season out of a slip. A long coat over a maxi slip is a straightforward winter outfit, and it costs nothing extra to put together.

Slips compared with the rest of the Duck Apparel dress range

A slip is the plainest dress shape, and a wrap is the most adjustable one. If you want the dress to define a waist, the wrap dresses at Duck Apparel tie at the waist and suit anyone who prefers a marked shape or whose size shifts between seasons. If you want a dress that disappears under other layers and lets the layers do the talking, a slip is the better pick. The full range of shapes, lengths and prints sits together in the Duck Apparel dresses collection, which is the easiest way to compare a slip against a wrap, a shift or a longer style before deciding.

Choosing a colour

Pastels suit warm weather and layer well under stronger colours in winter. Pastel Pink Maxi Slip is the warmer of the two colour options and sits with tan, cream and gold. Pastel Blue Maxi Slip is the cooler one and sits with white, navy and silver. If you plan to layer the dress under knits and coats through winter, either colour works, because what shows is mostly the hem and the neckline. Shoppers buying more than one dress at a time can check the terms on the Duck Apparel dress bundle page before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a slip dress?

A slip dress is a narrow dress with thin shoulder straps, no sleeves and no collar, cut to hang straight from the shoulder. Duck Apparel sells slips in South Africa in a pastel maxi length, including the Pastel Maxi Slip Dress. The simplicity of the shape is what makes it easy to layer.

Can you wear a slip dress in winter?

A slip dress works in a South African winter when it is layered rather than worn alone. Between June and August a maxi slip goes under a chunky knit or over a long sleeve top, finished with boots and a long coat. That is the usual way to get year round wear out of one dress.

What is the difference between a slip dress and a wrap dress?

A slip hangs straight from the shoulders while a wrap ties at the waist. The wrap gives a defined waist and some adjustment in fit, which suits anyone whose size shifts between seasons. The slip gives a plainer base that layers under knits and jackets more easily.

What shoes go with a maxi slip dress?

A flat sandal makes a maxi slip a daytime dress and a heel makes the same dress an evening one. In winter an ankle boot under a maxi slip works with a knit layered on top. The length of the dress matters more than the shoe, so check where the hem falls before choosing a heel height.

Are pastel slip dresses only for summer?

Pastel slips are not limited to summer, though they are easiest to wear from November to March. In winter the pastel usually sits under a knit or a coat, so only the hem and the neckline show, which lets a soft colour work against darker layers. Pastel Blue Maxi Slip and Pastel Pink Maxi Slip both handle that.

What do you wear under a slip dress?

Plain, flat seamed underwear is the usual choice under a narrow slip dress, because the fabric falls close to the body and shows lines easily. In cooler weather a long sleeve top or a thin thermal layer underneath extends the dress into winter. A plain colour underneath keeps the outline of the dress clean.

Which slip dress colour is the most useful?

The most useful colour is the one that matches the accessories you already own. Pastel Pink Maxi Slip sits with tan, cream and gold, while Pastel Blue Maxi Slip sits with white, navy and silver. If the slip is mainly a layering piece for winter, either works, since most of the dress is covered anyway.