A red carpet event is a great place to take style inspiration from for occasionwear, and the recent Time 100 dinner truly delivered with this Demi Moore ensemble. The sensational Grecian-inspired gown was crafted with intricate drape and pleat detailing through the body, creating an hourglass silhouette through horizontal hip panels, for a true old school, Hollywood glamour moment.
The handiwork of American fashion designer Zac Posen, (who has dressed the likes of the Duchess of Cambridge), in collaboration with designer Kim Jones, the dress was made in the GAP Studio - yes, the brand you get some of your best jeans from - where Posen is currently Creative Director. And while the dress was truly a standout look on the red carpet, it was the accessorising around the dress that sparked our interest.
Teaming the dress with an elegant colour-coordinating ivory blazer, Moore draped the jacket over her shoulders, in an act known as 'robing', and in doing so, effortlessly combined a classic, feminine gown, with more androgynous tailoring for a modern take on what to wear over a dress, and this style hack is one you should be adding to your summer partywear wardrobe stat.
Demi Moore's mix of evening dress and tailoring is redefining what to wear over a dress this season
With the hunt for the best wedding guest dresses now on, there is always the age-old question of what kind of cover-up works best with a pretty dress for special occasions. With temperamental summer weddings and outdoor ceremonies and parties to consider, it's easy to reach for cardigans or cropped jackets for added warmth, but Demi Moore has solved this sartorial dilemma with her thoroughly modern choice of a tailored blazer.
Delivering a more 'borrowed from the boys' feel, the choice of a blazer helps to add androgynous elements to a feminine frock and is a style pairing that will work with most dress silhouettes and hem lengths. A sharp way of adding a little more definition to floatier ensembles, you can 'robe' your jacket over your shoulders, to fully show off your dress, or slip it on fully to create a waist-defining look and benefit from the extra arm coverage.
While you can go for a contrasting blazer, we recommend keeping it tonal, because as with Demi's outfit, your dress is likely to be your statement piece, and keeping the same colour throughout not only gives a more expensive overall look, but it ensures there isn't too much going on.
A brilliant option for what to wear to the races, a blazer adds a sharpness to your outfit that a cardigan just can't deliver, and with linen iterations on the market right now, they can be a cooler choice than summer knits too.
Naturally, Demi's all white ensemble doesn't solve what to wear to a wedding (because wearing white to a wedding that isn't your own is a big no-no), you can still take inspiration from the style idea of dress and blazer combos, as well as the concept of going tonal for a chic finish.
Get the look
Despite working in fashion for over 20 years, I'd often dismissed even looking in Mango for myself, as a size 18, however, this season I have discovered the brand's exceptional tailoring, and invested in two brilliant, wear with everything jackets, including this very blazer, that I'm slipping over everything from an abundance of dresses, to t-shirts.
Evoking a similar draped feeling to Demi Moore's beautiful gown, this floor-length 'foam' hued design has a figure-hugging fit, with clever drapery through the bodice to skim over curves. All the elegance of evening wear, with practical machine washable after care, means you don't have to worry too much about the light colour.
British clothing brand Reiss makes some of the best blazers on the high street, and this sky blue hue is a great outerwear option for spring outfit ideas. Pair over blue hues, or slip into your office outfit rotation and wear with shirts, Breton stripes and wide leg trousers. The single button closure creates a nipped-in silhouette for a flattering finish.
When it comes to evening wear this summer, this dress really packs a punch, and for under £65, it's an absolute style steal. Whether you're after a wedding guest dress or bridesmaid attire, this draped, bias-cut design is supremely elegant, but paired with a tonal blazer, you suddenly have a slightly more relaxed and fashion-forward feel.
Turn heads for all the right reasons this summer and beyond, in this gorgeous red gown. The draped detail through the middle is smoothing on midriffs, while the one shoulder design draws the eye up, creating a lengthened silhouette. Pair with a tonally matching blazer for an A-list look that won't go unnoticed, but keep accessories neutral to avoid them overpowering.
Give this bold red blazer an eveningwear twist by switching out the stern black buttons for jewelled designs. A way to instantly make your high street buy look and feel more expensive, you get to add a touch of sparkle, as well as a more personalised feel. This feel can be carried through to jewelled accessories too.
While Demi Moore's evening cover-up hack is ideal for special dresses this summer, this is a style pairing that you can take into the rest of your wardrobe, teaming your best dresses with tailored blazers to mix androgynous and feminine shapes for a more interesting finish. And if you've invested in any trouser/blazer co-ords, repurposing the jacket over a dress is a fantastic way of maxing out the cost per wear.
One of Demi Moore's best looks of all time, Demi was being honoured by Time 100 as one of the most influential people of 2025. The red carpet ensemble was not just stylistically brilliant, but wearing, what is essentially a high-street brand to the award, with a little designer craftsmanship to boot, certainly showcased that Moore is not afraid to buck trends.
We are used to seeing the star flit between tailoring and dresses, but the fusion of the two made this outfit feel more in tune with modern sensibilities. While there is no definitive jacket length to for recreating this style, the longer your dress hem, the longer you can afford to go with your jacket as you want to balance proportions. As a general guide, however, opt for thigh-grazing blazers with midi, midaxi or floor-length dresses.
Not reserved solely for the races or wedding guests, a blazer over a dress would also be a great option for teaming with the best mother of the groom dresses or as part of a mother of the bride outfit for an up-to-date finish.
If you're getting ready for a summer bursting with invites, swap your trusted cardigan or bolero for a sharp blazer this season and watch those compliments roll in. After all, you've just nailed A-lister style.
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