During this extended period of working from home, my favourite sweatpants and old 5K T-shirts are getting a lot of wear, but sometimes I crave a reason to dress up. My wardrobe calls for some pure sugary fun, which is why I can see the sweetness in Lirika Matoshi's Strawberry Midi Dress [1] (£375). The pink-tulle ensemble originally launched last year, and has grown in popularity thanks to TikTok and the rise of the "cottagecore" aesthetic [2].
The "strawberry dress" hashtag has been viewed over 14 million times on TikTok, launching the dreamy puffy-sleeved gown into the focal point of many photo shoots, as well as the inspiration behind some creative fan art. It pairs serendipitously with Mitski's song "Strawberry Blond" [3] on TikTok, along with its matching face mask. Just two days ago, Matoshi released a black-tulle version, too. At £375, you could definitely call this glittering strawberry-embellished dress an indulgent purchase, but, like a good dessert, it's a treat to yourself.
This excitement over a piece of clothing has also sparked a deeper conversation. As model Tess Holliday (who wore the dress to the 2020 Grammys) suggested in her tweets [4] earlier in August, a sweeping trend like this needs to be inclusive. The strawberry dress essentially exists in a world of its own, outside of the practicality of everyday dressing and conformity. In this world, all are welcome.
Lirika Matoshi Strawberry Midi Dress
Lirika Matoshi Strawberry Midi Dress [6] ($490)