Layan Dress: V Neck Long Sleeve Maxi Dress for Weddings

A floor length dress in a fluid semi satin, cut with a V neckline and a wide gathered waistband that draws the shape in at the narrowest point and lets the skirt fall away from it. Floral beading sits on the shoulders, which is the only decoration on the dress and all it needs. It is lined with a breathable lining for extra comfort.

The sleeves are long and full, gathered so they move when you move rather than following the line of the arm. This is the most forgiving sleeve we make. It covers the arm completely while standing away from it, so nothing is outlined and nothing grips, and the fullness catches the light in photographs. It suits every arm shape we have ever fitted.

Semi satin is the reason the dress reads as expensive. It has the sheen of satin without the stiffness, so it drapes from the waistband instead of holding its own shape against you.

Wear it to a wedding, an evening celebration or a formal occasion. The navy and the maroon are the most formal. The green is the one people remember. The dusty pink is the softest and the easiest in daylight.

Fit note: if you are between sizes we recommend the larger. We write to you before your order ships to confirm the size you have chosen is the right one.

The model is 172cm and wears a size XS. That size measures 89cm bust, 73cm waist and 149cm from shoulder to hem, which is 35, 28 3/4 and 58 3/4 inches.

How long are the sleeves?

Sixty four centimetres from the shoulder in a size XS, so full length to the wrist, gathered rather than fitted. The whole arm is covered and none of it is held against the skin.

Will it fit over fuller hips?

Yes, and this is the one to choose if that is your concern. The skirt measures 113cm around the hip even in a size XS, far more than the bust or the waist of the same size, because it falls away from the waistband rather than following the body.

Is satin too warm for a summer evening?

Not this one. It is a light semi satin with a breathable lining, and the full sleeve stands away from the arm so air moves through it. Fabric weight and where the fabric sits matter far more in heat than how much of you is covered.

If you are choosing between sleeve shapes, read our ranking of sleeve lengths.