Glow like a Grecian goddess in our classically draped dresses

Adapt the ancient look to modern times with these film fashionistas.

They say that fashion is cyclical with yesterday’s old threads certain to make a comeback at some point in the future. And while some crazes enjoyed their first flush of popularity a couple of years ago, or even a few decades ago, we’re currently enjoying one that’s got the legs on all of them, being centuries old – Grecian style.

Femininity is big for this spring and summer, with florals, frills and pastels all packing the high street and there’s nothing more girlie than going Grecian. This historical fashion philosophy is built on a few fundamentals that have been given a modern makeover to make it current for today’s style mavens, the most important of which is draping. Whether brought together in a tunic top, maxi dress, skirt or babydoll dress, draping is the cunning construction of loose layers hanging delicately to create a gliding goddess effect, cleverly cinched here and there to give a flowing, flattering shape and a truly female silhouette. And for extra pizzazz, opt for a shimmery, sparkly fabric to really dazzle. It’s about creating a fluid flow that skims the figure, being sexily suggestive without seeming cheap.

And the trend is back, back, back for 2010 with top fashion houses like Balenciaga, Givenchy and Lanvin going Grecian with plenty of artfully draped haute couture creations sashaying down the runways recently. But it’s not just fashion designers encouraging us to get Grecian, as the most stylish of celebs such as Zoe Saldana, Rihanna and Beyoncé have also been snapped sporting the look. And the just-finished awards season, traditionally a time for stars to up the formality and really go glam, witnessed the Grecian craze in full effect.

Both Rachel McAdams and Twilight’s Anna Kendrick glided down the red carpet in soft, ruched, flowing layers courtesy of Elie Saab, celebrated style maven Sarah Jessica Parker went with a looser, less structured Chanel dress and Meryl Streep showed a fun side in an expertly draped, cowl-necked Chris March effort. Yet showing the young ’uns how to get the best out of the look was Sigourney Weaver in a one-shouldered scarlet dress by Lanvin which obeyed every Grecian style rule.

Yet thankfully it’s not a look that needs a red carpet to really pop. Draped dressing is accessible, wearable and most importantly, flattering. Thanks to its ability to help emphasise your good points and carefully conceal your less favourite ones, draping suits women of all shapes and sizes. On the short side? Have fun with a cute babydoll dress. On the tall side? Hold your shoulders back with an elegant maxi dress. There are so many ways to work it and introduce it into your spring/ summer look, the options are endless.

In fact, we’ve seen it styled in all sorts of ways on the big screen. Old school icons like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe both put their individual stamps on it, proof that it embraces all figures whether shapely like the blonde bombshell or more petite like the graceful gamine. Marilyn’s famous white halterneck dress from The Seven Year Itch is essentially a lesson in draping, ruched around the bodice and pleated at the skirt, while Audrey’s attempt was a little more literal and tongue–in-cheek when, as Holly Golightly, she wore an improvised toga to a party in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It should have looked scruffy and shambolic – but this is Audrey and so instead it looked chic and cute.

More modern screen stars have also made the look work for them. New York fashionista, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker again) strutted her stuff in a vintage white dress with customary Carrie corsage and Grecian side-swept draping in the opening intro to Sex and the City. This was Grecian in a very modern, funky way, while its more romantic and delicate nature was dialled up by Amanda Seyfried as Sophie in Mamma Mia! She dressed in a classic antique-looking gauzy Grecian gown for her wedding to boyfriend Sky (real-life love, Dominic Cooper) and her pair of bridesmaids were similarly stunning in more stream-lined gold dresses with elegant empire lines.

And with Clash of the Titans heading our way in the coming weeks with Bond starlet, Gemma Arterton working the Grecian look, it’s sure to be a summer style sensation. We’ve got ahead of the curve with some gorgeous draped dresses that offer a fun and fresh way to go classical. We knew our ancient history school studies would come in useful one day…