High-Fashion High

The baby doll dress was one of the most memorable—and regrettable—fashion trends of the 1990s. Anna Sui’s Fall/Winter Ready-to-Wear collection for 2006 reinvents the look, and finally does it justice. Don’t hang your heads in shame any longer, ladies, you can now admit that the baby doll is chic once again.

Sui’s dresses work because the fabrics, colors, and prints are complementary to a woman’s figure, and the cap-sleeved, scoop-neck look is left in the ‘90s. V-necks in satiny fabrics and trimmed patterned hems along with fun embellishments at the empire waist are cute yet womanly. A glittering black mid-thigh baby doll could appear on Sienna Miller’s sleek frame any day now. The edgy feathers cut around the v-neck and silver sunburst design at the tip of the neck give a plain dress more pizzazz.

Even Sui’s skirts are worn at the waist, not around the hips. A blue satin blouse with a white collar and cuffs is perfectly paired with a bold horizontal-striped blue and gold skirt and matching belt. Blue tights and blue shoes make this a darling office ensemble—not too daring, but sure to turn heads.

For a different look, Sui’s paisley-print baby doll dress is a little reminiscent of Sonny and Cher, but a true fashionista must have at least one unconventional piece in her wardrobe. Paired with huge Jackie-O sunglasses and a knee-length matching coat, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen would pick this outfit up faster than they could start another multi-million dollar franchise.

And cropped riding pants with bows at the ends make a more tailored and structured look very cute. Paired with a white frilly blouse, black jacket, and black loafers, the pants can be dressed up or down.