This Aligne Denim Dress Is The Trans

By Alexandra Fullerton

I swear that you can wear a denim dress for every single dressing opportunity in your diary. Ok, I admit they might be too casual for black tie or the red carpet (even though Britney Spear’s denim gown lives rent free in my head…) But for ‘normal’ lifestyles, which aren’t filled with A List opportunities, I can’t think of a single place that a denim dress wouldn’t suit.

More specifically, this Aligne denim dress, made from deadstock fabric, is The One I’m thinking of for 2023. In fact, I did more than think about it. Reader I added one to my wardrobe and now I’m wondering how I ever lived without it. It’s hardly been off my body, such is my dedication to this denim dress.

I wore it to spend the day at Monica Vinader HQ when Queen Camilla was visiting to present the Queen's Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development (under a sweater vest)… I wore it to a wine tasting with friends in an East London basement bar and again to a kid’s birthday party the following weekend. I wore it on a day of meetings in London, all with industry folk who were impressed with the silhouette - there are bold puff sleeves, an asymmetric hem - and the fact it has deep, practical pockets. I popped it on for Sunday morning coffee at a new place that’s opened near me teamed with fisherman sandals and I didn’t feel overdressed among the crowds of gym-gear clad creatives.

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And that’s the joy of a denim dress. It’s a dress so it’s - y’know, dressy - but because it’s denim you’ll never look overdone (which is actually one of my biggest phobias, along with slugs and eating wild mushrooms.)

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In case you’re wondering, I did leave a day between wears and I always made sure it passed a deeply scientific sniff test. It probably helps that ‘Summer’ has not been particularly present so my sweat-levels are low and my normal deodorant kept me dry (and the dress fresh.) It's now had a spin in the machine (at 20 degrees on a quick wash) and it’s ready to go again. I could have popped it in the freezer, instead of washing it, so I might try that next time it needs refreshing or I could give it a spray with Day 2 - self-styled ‘dry shampoo for your clothes.’

I’m already feeling smug about how much I’ve worn the Aligne denim dress because if you care about sustainable fashion, you’ll know that wearing your clothes more is key to reducing their carbon footprint. That’s why the #30wearschallenge exists. The more we wear our clothes and stop buying so much newness, the better for the environment. Interestingly, the challenge settled on 30 as the magic number, as that’s the average amount of times French women wear their clothes. In the UK it’s 14. *Insert shame bell here*

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Usually, when something new slips into my wardrobe I feel a bit embarrassed. I know I should be shopping less and I’m trying, I really am, but guilt is the most usual emotion once I’ve made a purchase. Particularly as the Hot and Cool institute worked out that we should only be buying five garments each in 2023, to slow climate change.

But another big tick for the Aligne denim dress is that it’s made from deadstock fabric. (Deadstock is either unsold fabric that never got used due to overproduction, returned orders or leftovers which often end up in landfill…) As the most impactful part of a garment’s creation is in textile manufacture, using material already in existence is a major win for sustainability and makes it a piece I’m proud to shout about.

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As a brand Aligne are also super transparent about their processes, which helps you shop consciously. You can click through to find out about factory certification and location (the Harlin dresses are made in Turkey) and packaging details (your order will come in recycled and recyclable packaging.) Aligne are also stocked in some indie stores - I found my dress in Percy Langley.

Obviously as a trans-seasonal superstar, this dress needs to work hard into autumn too. I’ll be styling it over a fine-knit polo neck, under a sweater vest, with chunky boots and tights, or with a quilted gilet over the top. It will take me through to Sunday pub lunches with pals followed by nights out in boujee bars and I bet I'll make an appearance in it at LFW. Will you twin with me?

For more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton, follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton.