by JASMINE GARNSWORTHY
As the editor of Mamamia Shopping, it is my job to translate the world of fashion into English. So let me put this simply: I may have found the most flattering fashion trend… ever.
I’m talking about panels.
How do panels apply to fashion, you ask? As opposed to, you know, vans? Well, dear readers, the panels to which I refer are the type currently appearing on dresses, pants and tops everywhere. They cleverly follow your curves vertically and play with colour to make you look… Well…awesome. CLEVER.
Need some proof? Check out this gallery of celebs sporting panels:
Kate Winslet attends the Carnage Paris premiere in a Stella McCartney dress.
Kate Winslett has been rocking panels for a while and has worn variations of the trend to several red carpet events. One of her best takes on the trend was a dress by Stella McCartney, which probably costs more than I pay each month in rent, but you can look just as good in one for around $70 from ASOS.com. What’s not to love about that?
If you’re still stuck for shopping inspiration then head on over to our sister site iVillage Australia here.
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Comments
21 Comments so far
I NEED MIRANDA”S PANELLED PANTS!!! NEED!!! How ca I find out wh designer they are???
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Hi Sophie,I’m not sure what designer Miranda’s pants are, but Country Road do a very similar one for $99 – I bought them a couple of weeks ago. They are great.
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God, I’ve been waiting for panels to come back in since the mid 80′s! I fondly remember a onesie cheetah swimming cossie (anyone else remember the Cheetah surf brand?) that rocked those panels. Seriously, I’ve chased that cossie dream ever since. Wow… only took 30 years to get it back eh?
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I KNEW this style had been around before. I too remember panelled tight dresses from the mid-eighties. Now they are being bandied about like something that’s just been invented! The fashion that ate itself!
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Yep Kate Moss definitely wins this one! And Miranda’s pants too. Might be that beige/black colour combo
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I don’t like the Stella McCartney dresses that Kate Winslet is wearing. The panels are good, but those dresses make the boobs look really weird. Maybe it’s the weird “racer back in front” neckline on them?
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I want Kate Moss’s dress like i’ve never wanted anything before!!! Amazing.
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how do these women need any MORE help looking amazing??
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I’m off to get me some of those paneled pants. Awesome.
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There is a few side panel pants at Cue at the moment, I got a pair yesterday & it is like I shaved the side of my hips off!
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Off to Cue – now!
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I like the trend. I see it has finally made it to Portmans so maybe I’ll get one.
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Love this trend Jasmine- thanks! Can you possibly include the link to the ASOS dress you mention? Thanks xx
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Here you go:
http://www.asos.com/au/Hybrid/Hybrid-Faux-Leather-Panel-Pencil-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2001316&SearchQuery=panel%20dress&sh=0&pge=3&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Blackblack
http://www.asos.com/au/A-Wear/A-Wear-Contrast-Panel-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2278281&SearchQuery=panel%20dress&sh=0&pge=1&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Navy
http://www.asos.com/au/Elise-Ryan/Elise-Ryan-Sequin-Panel-Bodycon-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2375331&SearchQuery=panel%20dress&sh=0&pge=1&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=Nuderosegold
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Also found:
http://www.asos.com/au/Lipsy/Lipsy-Side-Panel-Military-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=2478455&SearchQuery=panel&Rf900=1465&Rf-800=-1,64&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=200&sort=-1&clr=Black
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Panels are great when they are done right (that first pic of Kate Winslett, and the Kate Moss pic are perfect examples). They also work really well with the colour-blocking trend, though sadly I haven’t been able to find anything panelled that really appeals to me yet.
On a side note: I really like your emphasis on finding flattering fashion trends Jasmine, because they translate so well into everyday life.
But when I first saw the headline for this article I thought my browser had stuffed up and was showing me content from a couple of months ago – there is a very similar headline for your article on peplum (http://www.mamamia.com.au/style/peplum-the-most-flattering-fashion-trend/). I guess what’s flattering and on-trend changes pretty quickly, but I definitely prefer panels over peplum
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I like peplum. Does wonders for a straight up n down figure, just like touching does. I wd be prepare however to bravely sacrifice myself to a panelled dress.
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Personally I think the sticky-out parts of peplum would annoy me, especially if I was dancing salsa etc, but yeah it can be really nice. I just think panelling is more versatile.
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Salsa (or pretty much any dancing) is no good for the uncoordinated like me, so the sticky out bits of peplum are fine.
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Un-coordination is no reason not to dance, I regularly fall over my own feet and walk into walls all the time and I TEACH dancing. True story.
I wrote a blog a little while ago exposing the myths of dancing, have a read if you have ever thought about dancing. http://blithemoments.blogspot.com.au/2011/12/dance-dance-dance.html
On the dresses, being somewhat of a hippy girl, I’m thinking panels are much more my thing that peplum.
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Absolutely, I’ll send it through shortly. I found some great dresses in Target today for $40! Even better.
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