Man I Need? More Like Outfit I Need! A Guide To Dressing Like Olivia Dean
- standrewsthestand0
- Nov 17
- 4 min read
By Poppy Reid
We constantly go through cycles of ‘it girls’. We’ve recreated Alexa Chung’s 60s twee of the 2010s and taken model-off-duty ease from Gigi and Bella Hadid. Now, there’s a new ‘it girl’ on the block: Olivia Dean.
Following the release of her second album The Art of Loving, it has become increasingly hard to not fall in love with her elegant but fun outfits. Her stylist, Simone Beyene, is pulling looks from brands such as Rat & Boa, Coperni, and even Chanel; mixing timeless silhouettes and long hemlines with fun polka dot prints, feather trims, or sequins.
I read in her Instagram comments recently “her stylist loves her,” and it could not be more true. Though she is still a showgirl, she, unlike other shiny and costumed pop girls in the industry like Sabrina Carpenter, is not dressing in customised bejeweled bodysuits and elaborate performative ensembles. Instead, she is shopping at mid-tier designers and setting new trends with her unique, and frankly wearable outfits.
Curating an original and captivating style that is somewhere between old Hollywood glamour and city-girl fun, she is often seen twirling on stage in long silky dresses, two piece mini co-ords, and funky knee-high boots that give her a classic and feminine style that reflects her personality.
All of this to say, I think we can all take a little bit of inspiration for our next event from Olivia Dean- and if there is one thing that you can almost always guarantee for events in St Andrews, it’s a dress code.
Cocktail Outfits
Cocktail dressing can be really difficult- how much is too much? Mini? Midi? Maxi? You may find yourself struggling to dressing cocktail as you head to a fashion show gallery launch, or even a friend's dinner, but one thing that it does allow for is some personality and fun interpretation of classic pieces.
Take, for example, a little black dress that you have had in your wardrobe for years- we know her, we love her but she lacks something interesting. Our muse Olivia Dean has the answer- a captivating pair of patterned knee high boots. She went for a pair of Jimmy Choo cheetah print knee highs, but this look can be easily recreated with options available on the high street this Autumn/Winter. A printed, coloured, or textured boot is the perfect way to elevate a classic piece a la Olivia.
Taking inspiration from some of her most recent stage looks from Clio Peppiat and David Koma, favouring classic shapes with embellishments or feathers is a very Olivia Dean-esque way to incorporate a bit of fun into a dress. Most recently, I have noticed a bunch of options at our high street favourite, Zara, featuring floral embellishments and mini dresses with feathery hems- perfect for your next cocktail event or festive dinner.
Black-tie Outfits
Something that has become synonymous with St Andrews is the inevitability that you will have a black tie event within your academic calendar year- whether it’s your first or your twentieth time trying to find the perfect dress, it can be overwhelming when there are so many options on the market and you want to feel original and show your personality.
If you are feeling bold as we approach the festive season, you may take inspiration from one of Olivia’s stage looks as she dazzled in a 16arington black sequinned dress. Most recently, they have released a 16arlington X Marks & Spencer collaboration meaning that one of Olivia’s most loved brands has never been more accessible for the student budget. If sequins ever feel like too much, trying them in a subtle or neutral color like champagne gold or black, like Oliva,can help to keep them feeling classy and wearable.
Perhaps you already have a dress in your wardrobe that you know and love, and want to wear again. Olivia often finds herself in a monochrome dress that compliments her colour palette, but has a fun feather trim draped around her arms, or a big statement earring that catches the light. Paired with her signature bouncy hair, a simple maxi dress can be easily transformed with accessories like these for your next event. Most recently, we have seen her stun on the CFDA Awards red carpet in New York, where she stunned in a butter yellow Thom Browne satin column dress. Perhaps it is time to surprise everyone and revive the colour of the summer for the winter season too.
Keeping it Casual
Despite my evident love for her glamorous style, some of my favourite outfits seen on Olivia Dean are her most casual ones when she is roaming the streets of London. Nothing makes me want to revamp my entire wardrobe like her effortless cool girl chic.
My favourite to recreate? A black top, white midi skirt, and trainers combo that she wore over the summer. Though it may not seem so inventive, her use of wardrobe classics and monochromatic colours goes to show that you don’t need super interesting and complicated pieces to have cool girl chic. She throws on a pair of sunglasses and slicked back hair to add to the ease and effortlessness.
Another favourite of mine, which can be carried into the colder months that are approaching, is the spotty slip skirt that she was spotted in earlier in the year. From Susamusa, her polka dot slip skirt paired with a sheer slim fitting jumper is the perfect amount of casual but put together. Paired with fun knee high boots makes this combo perfect for Autumn/Winter in St Andrews. Though, with the cold weather you may want to look to her Burberry coat with a built-in scarf for some colder weather layering in the harsh Scottish wind and rain that we face on the way into town for a lecture or coffee.
So, whether you’re looking for a dramatic outfit for your next ball or a cool ensemble to meet your friends for coffee, Olivia Dean has the answer. With easy ways to dress up some classics that you already own, or some new patterns to keep your eye out for on your next shopping spree, I have no doubt that her effortless and feminine chic will echo in your next look. Man, I need Olivia Dean’s wardrobe.
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