Item of the week: the shift dress

What it is:

Back when it originated in the 1920s, the shift dress was considered a radical fashion piece for its ousting of more restrictive dress codes. Coco Chanel is often credited with being the mind behind the dress, having designed what is typically deemed the first of its kind, as seen in Vogue during 1926. The look regained popularity in the 1960s, when the mini skirt was having its heyday thanks to Mary Quant, and has since become a definitive wardrobe staple for women worldwide. The shift dress itself is typically defined by a silhouette in which the material falls straight from the shoulders with darts around the bust and either a scoop or boat neckline.