M&S Metallic Mini Dress Drives Holiday Partywear Trend

The metallic party dress that won this year’s television design competition has gone on sale at Marks & Spencer and is already proving a hit with shoppers, underscoring a wider season trend for short, high-shine partywear. The Metallic Draped Mini Dress, created by Casey Dillon, the winner of the competition, launched online at £50 and quickly rose near the top of the retailer’s bestsellers list, retailers and shopping writers reported.

The dress is cut from a high-shine metallic satin and features contemporary draping that falls just below the thighs. It has three quarter-length sleeves with slits and a softly cowl neckline that the retailer’s product notes say is designed to flatter the figure while allowing ease of movement. The retailer has described the piece as a versatile partywear staple that can be styled with strappy heels for a classic look or boots for a more modern edge.

Demand appears strong. The item sold rapidly after the finale aired and reached a high position among website bestsellers within hours. One shopping writer who watched the final said, "It would make the perfect Christmas dress thanks to the gold colour and draped design that makes it look like...