This season’s best party look is a dress of two halves

For anyone who can’t decide whether to splash out on stripes or go wild for leopard print this season, first ask yourself — why choose? After all, this winter’s hottest trend is a dress of two halves.

Imagine two different styles, clashing in colour and print, spliced together down the middle to create an entirely new garment. Frankenfrocks? Split-personality slips? Call it what you will, but the duo dress is proving to be a new season standout.

Among the finest options is Kitri’s Alyssa sequin wrap dress. Two-parts shimmering lilac to one part scarlet and finished with frilled cuffs and a satin belt, it’s dancefloor — not to mention Instagram — gold.

Unsurprisingly, it’s proved to be particular popular among fans looking to secure this season’s Christmas party outfit early with fresh supplies just in after stock sold out within a week of its launch.

Other high street hits include the new Paloma dress from London-based label Finery, which is cut from half green, half black heavy floral print satin, and ASOS’s silky, asymmetric wrap dress which is emblazoned with a strictly-not-for-wallflowers clash of zebra and an XL poppy prints.

What’s brilliant about this trend is that, while seemingly simple, it enables the wearer to make a statement without stepping out of their comfort zone. As far as silhouette is concerned — note the long sleeves and demure hemlines — these dresses are safe spaces. It’s the print that brings the party.

Given this high-impact, low-maintenance approach, it’s also little wonder that the duo dress doubles as a versatile addition to your workwear wardrobe — particularly during the festive season, when resourceful boardroom-to-bar solutions replace your usual 9-to-5 attire.

Warehouse has several styles in stock which offer just the right amount of panache for a power lunch.

See its colour block twist dresses, which smoosh together red and black or raspberry and claret for delicious results. Or look to Mango, which has perfected the art of the duo dress in the form of its mirror image striped monochrome and scarf print styles, which offer proof that this season two is always better than one.