Holly Willoughby Just Wore the Zara Trend That Is Dividing Opinion

This Morning TV star Holly Willoughby wore one of Zara's most divisive trends of 2019 so far: lilac tweed. Holly wore a £50 pencil skirt in a vibrant violet shade, with a frayed hem, a slit on the front and decorative silver buttons along the front. She paired it with a lilac crew-neck jumper by Pure Collection and a pair of her trusty nude suede pumps. 

This country knows a thing or two about divided opinions, and in a poll, the dress version of this skirt would currently probably reach a 51.9% yes to a 48.1% no. Zara's lilac tweed midi dress with a square neckline and vintage-style buttons down the front has been a firm favourite with the fashion crowd. However, one of our editors has never received such a divided reaction to an item she suggested.

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(Image credit: Holly Willoughby)

Shop Holly's Outfit

"When I first saw this dress in the Zara store here in NYC, I was immediately drawn to it," says Lauren Eggertsen. "I loved the colour, the texture, and of course, the buttons. I tried it on and posted a photo to my Instagram story to gauge how my followers felt about it (less so for me and more so for the column I write where my best friend and I try on Zara pieces and review them). The reactions were so mixed about this dress: People truly either loved it or absolutely hated it. I haven't experienced such a polarizing response to something as simple as a Zara dress in quite some time."

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(Image credit: Lauren eGG)

"But if you ask me, I think the dress is perfect for weddings, summertime events, and even a vacation cocktail moment," says Lauren. And lots of fashion insiders agree—Penny Goldstone, digital fashion editor of Marie Claire, wore hers on holiday with white strappy sandals, while Natalia Barbieri, founder of Bionda Castana, wore the £80 dress for her Who What Wear Best Wardrobes in Britain shoot.

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(Image credit: Penny Goldstone)

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(Image credit: Phill Taylor)

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(Image credit: Natalie Hughes)

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Next up, see our guide to the key trends for spring/summer 2019.

Emma Spedding