The slip dress, a defining silhouette of the 1990s, has re-emerged on A/W 25 catwalks and in a Daily Mail fashion feature that asked readers to spot which pieces were high street bargains and which were designer originals. The item ran as a "Spot the Dupe" quiz on Sept. 6, 2025, with senior bookings editor Lila Flint Roberts modelling three looks assembled at different price points.
The feature presented three full outfits — labelled Low, Mid and High — and revealed the retailers and prices for each item. Lila Flint Roberts styled the slip dress with a camel coat, a gold clutch and burgundy slingback heels.
In the Low-price look, the total came to £167.75. The camel coat was listed at £75 from Marks & Spencer, the slip dress at £48 from Next, the handbag at £16.75 from Shein and the shoes at £28 from ASOS. The Mid-price outfit totaled £642.98: the coat was £279 from Baukjen, the dress £282 from Enza Costa via Revolve, the bag £35.99 from Parfois and the shoes £45.99 from Mango. The High-price ensemble was priced at £2,123, with a £600 coat from Paul Smith, a £625 dress from Galvan London, a £485 Cult Gaia bag from Farfetch and £413 Paris Texas shoes listed on Farfetch.
The feature noted the slip dress's renewed prominence after designers including Ralph Lauren and Alberta Ferretti sent the silhouette down their A/W 25 runways. The story framed the item as a revived wardrobe staple and highlighted the price gulf between high-street versions and luxury labels.
Hair and makeup credits for the shoot were Dayna Vaughan-Teague using Olaplex and Levi-Jade Taylor at Carol Hayes using Anastasia Beverly Hills, respectively. Hoop earrings worn throughout the shoot were listed at £25 from Orelia; other jewellery items belonged to Lila Flint Roberts.
The piece functions as both a trend note and a consumer comparison, showing how similar styling can be achieved at markedly different price points. By listing retailers and prices for each component of the three looks, the feature provided readers with the information needed to identify which dress and accessories were the low-cost alternatives and which were the designer originals.