Experts share differing views on Fashion Museum’s pick for Dress of the Year

The Fashion Museum’s pick for The Dress of the Year 2021 has been received by the fraternity with mixed feelings. We invited three designers to share their views

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is considered by many as a fashion icon in her own right. And so, when the dress she wore to her much-publicised and eagerly anticipated tell-all with Oprah was announced as the Dress of the Year 2021 by The Fashion Museum Bath, for many, the pick made sense — the dress in question is a long black triple silk georgette outfit from Giorgio Armani’s Spring/Summer 2022 Cruise Collection, and features a symbolic lotus motif embroidered on its front.

The Dress of the Year 2021

Markle’s decision to wear the dress is believed to be based on the flower’s symbolic association with rebirth, self-regeneration and spiritual enlightenment, and the lotus’ often-referenced ability to flourish despite seemingly challenging conditions. But does the relatively simple dress score high enough on the fashion stakes for it to be honoured with this milestone title?

A very safe pick 
Sanjana Bubber fashion designer

Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala look. Pic Courtesy/Getty Images

I was honestly surprised when I learned that this dress made it to The Dress of the Year. The last year has been a transformative one, with some of the most influential names in the design world pushing the fashion envelope further.

Lady Gaga’s bullet-proof look

And while this dress is nice, it does fall flat when compared to all the other options. My personal selection would have been Lady Gaga’s avant-garde dress by Schiaparelli Haute Couture, which she wore to US President Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony.

The dress, which featured a navy blue jacket, red billowing skirt and a gold dove brooch [to symbolise peace], was bulletproof. Another contender is Kim Kardashian’s ‘faceless’ all-black look at the Met Gala. Designed by Balenciaga, it covered every inch of her body; the T-shirt material and the interpretative symbolism making it stand out.

Rich with symbolism 
Shahin Mannan fashion designer

Markle has empowered many women by the strength and resilience she’s shown. I think this dress was quite an interesting choice and I agree with it being the best dress of the year too. She opted for a single-toned black dress, with hints of white, which show that even in darkness, there will always be light. At a time when the world has been grappling with the aftermath of a global pandemic, and negativity around with compartmentalised racism, this dress imprints a strong message of resilience. It’s iconic how the sentiments of the world were encapsulated into fashion with this piece. 

Apt, considering her stature
Khushi Shah founder, Shanti Benaras

Fashion choices are a very bold way of expressing one’s personality, and the royal family often believes in sending a message through their style. I personally feel Meghan Markle’s dress definitely deserved to be the dress of the year for the symbolic meaning it had attached to it.  While the dress in itself wasn’t something extravagant, the motif and colour are what made it a statement. And that’s always what wins people over — when there’s thought attached to style. The lotus showed rebirth and an ability to flourish despite hurdles, and that portrays hope. The dress emits a ray of hope to all, which I think was a beautiful message to put across.

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