Inside the Edit: Our Friends & Family Picks from SIMKHAI and Bronx and Banco
There is something quietly special about a friends and family moment — it is not a hard launch or a seasonal campaign, but rather an invitation extended to those who already understand what the clothes are about. This edit is built the same way: not everything, but the right things. Pieces from two of the most considered labels in contemporary occasion dressing — SIMKHAI and Bronx and Banco — chosen because they genuinely reward closer attention.
Below, we have pulled the pieces that best represent each brand's point of view right now, whether you are dressing for a summer wedding, a long coastal weekend, or a black-tie event that calls for something more personal than a standard evening gown.
Bronx and Banco: When Embellishment Becomes Architecture
Sydney-founded Bronx and Banco has built its reputation on evening wear that treats embellishment as structure rather than decoration. The brand's signature Maraya fabrication — a stretch base layered with hand-applied sequins or 3D floral appliqué — means the garments hold their shape through movement in a way that purely woven fabrics cannot. The result is occasion dressing that photographs beautifully but, more importantly, feels secure and intentional to wear.
The Flora 3D Coral Applique Off Shoulder Gown is the most ambitious piece in this edit. Each flower is individually crafted and attached, building a relief texture across the bodice and skirt that catches light from multiple angles. It is the kind of piece designed for occasions where the room is dimly lit and the evening runs long — a summer gala, a destination wedding reception, or a significant anniversary dinner.
For those whose event calls for something between a mini and a floor-length statement, the crystal-embroidered bustier of the Midnight Floral Gown and the lilac-sequined strapless silhouette of the Olivia Mini offer two very different interpretations of the same philosophy: that evening wear should feel considered from every angle, not just the front.
SIMKHAI: The Case for Considered Casual
Jonathan Simkhai's label has always operated at the intersection of sensuality and restraint — and the current collection makes that tension feel more resolved than ever. Where past seasons leaned into sculptural evening wear, this range brings that same precision to daywear fabrics: washed linen, eyelet cotton, open-weave knit. The craftsmanship is still present, just redirected toward pieces you can actually live in across a summer itinerary.
The Analise Printed Linen Bustier Midi Dress is a strong example of why SIMKHAI's daywear continues to resonate. The blueberry-toned print is bold without being seasonal, and the bustier structure — boned, not just gathered — means it travels well and holds its silhouette through a full day of wear. Pair it with minimal gold jewellery and flat sandals for a garden lunch, or with a low heel for an early-evening dinner reservation.
The Ramsey Sand Linen Wide Leg Pant deserves particular mention for its versatility. Cut from a medium-weight linen that drapes without clinging, the wide leg sits high at the waist and falls cleanly to the ankle — a proportion that works equally well tucked with the Annaelle White Lace Cotton Shirt or paired with a fitted knit for transitional evenings. It is one of those pieces that disappears into a wardrobe and reappears constantly.
For those whose summer calendar includes something more formal, the Emma Pool Bustier Gathered Gown rounds out SIMKHAI's offering in this edit. The pool-blue ruched silk georgette gathers into a sweeping skirt that moves beautifully — and the strapless bustier construction is reinforced with internal boning, so it sits securely through the length of an event without adjustment.
At Lola Dré, the Friends and Family edit is exactly what it sounds like — a selection made with genuine familiarity, not commercial calculation. These are pieces we know well, from designers whose process we follow closely. Whether you are new to either label or already devoted, this is a considered place to begin.
