Move Over, House Dress; This Spring Is All About the Slip

In this bizarre in-between period of reentering society and, by proxy, dressing for the occasion, one can't help but feel anxious and unsettled. Like many of us, I've been looking forward to wearing real clothes again, but now that the time has finally come, I've found myself suddenly unable to let go of the plethora of house dresses, leggings, and loungewear that I've amassed while working from home during the pandemic (you'll have to pry my tie-dye sweatsuit from my cold, dead hands!). The mere thought of putting on a full-fledged outfit sends my mind into a tailspin. My humble suggestion? Find a middle ground.

Enter the slip dress. Unlike the traditional '90s style beloved by style icons like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, this iteration is like a cross between a nightgown and PJs, rendering it ideal for transitioning into the new normal. In fact, fashion search engine Stylight saw a 362 percent increase in clicks for "sexy slip dresses" this spring alone. Simple, easy to wear, and, yes, chic, the slip dress 2.0 is more flattering than a frumpy house dress yet exceedingly comfortable and versatile — pair it with sneakers and an oversized jean jacket for a laid-back look, or dress it up with heels and a clutch for a night out (remember those?). You could even preemptively pack it in your bag in the event of an unexpected sleepover; there's no judgment here.

After countless hours of being holed up indoors, there's nothing wrong with embracing a basic that's sexy without being too over the top. Consider this new-and-improved slip dress your foray into actually getting dressed. Ahead, shop my favorite slip dresses to wear this season and beyond — inside or outside.