The Classic Shift Dress - perfect for Fall and Winter 2014.

Fashionable and flattering, shift dresses are a top fashion trend for winter 2014. Easy to wear, kind on the figure, a shift dress gives you instantly the sort of classic look associated with Audrey Hepburn in the 1950s and Jean Shrimpton in the 1960s.

Jackie Kennedy (pictured here) worked the classic shift dress to perfection, and Michelle Obama wore a shift dress for the first official photo of the family taken at the White House.

The classic shift dress is right on trend now for 2014. It's a perfect party dress too.

What is a shift dress? Well, a shift dress skims the body, without clinging and without fitting at the waist, making a shift dress a joy to wear for anyone without a perfect figure.

For 2014 you can buy classic shift dresses in a wide range of colors, plain or printed. You can also buy a classic shift dress at a wide variety of prices.

Shift dresses are versatile. A classic shift dress can take you from the office to a dinner date.

Here I'll pick my current top choices of shift dresses for you to buy right now. I've chosen plain and patterned, plus size and shift for the mature lady. There's a perfect shift dress to suit you right here.

photo of Jackie Kennedy in May 1962 thanks to wikimedia commons

Beautifully tailored, this dress , which comes in black or charcoal, is a classic. Wear with a bright blazer to hit the shops or for a lunch date. Wear with a demure knitted jacket for work. Glitz it up with a sparkling scarf for a date after work. Fling a shawl, pashmima or maybe s sparkly jacket over for the evening.

If you start with a quality dress like this, you can go anywhere.Made by Theory, who make great clothes that take you everywhere - always fashionable, always smart. Made in the USA.

You can see all of Theory's latest collection with tips on how to wear them right here.

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Feel like buying something really special?

This silk shift with leather sleeves is just amazing. The central silk panel is vibrant and eyecatching.

Yes, it is quite expensive, but it's so stunning that it's worth it. This dress will take you to dates and parties. Team with opaque black tights for a more casual look.

The classic shift dress skims the body. Pick a shift dress that is well cut, in a bright color or with a fabulous pattern.

Anne Klein makes fabulous, flattering clothes.

This block color shift is full on, fun and flattering.

As we move into summer here are two great dresses that will take you to all sorts of occasions. One is lace, which is a top trend right now, and it has 3/4 sleeves- great for cooler days and for anyone whose upper arms may not be as toned as they would like ( we don't all have fabulous upper arms like Michelle Obama )

The other is brand new from the fall range by Calvin Klein, and what a stunner it is.

A great new tote bag in the new hot fashion trend- Paisley completes are great new look.

Take a look at my choices and be tempted!

When I was a child in the 1950s, dresses and shirt were full and below the knee. This look was popular after the war, and it seemed that big was good as far as skirts went.

In the 1960s all this changed, and the new fashion coming out of Europe, especially Swinging London, was for short, slim dresses- the shift.

Read about the history of the shift in these links. It's fascinating.

Animal print is still a fashion trend in spring 2013.