Lantana Dress: Long Sleeve Printed Midi for Garden Parties

Wavy lines of yellow and blue run the length of the Lantana Dress, a print drawn exclusively for Baruni and used on this style alone. The fabric is georgette, light and fluid, and the dress is cut close through the bodice before the skirt opens into a full midi sweep. Long sleeves close with an elasticated hem at the wrist. A gathered keyhole sits at the back, below the neckline.

Wear it where the day runs long. A garden party, a lunch that turns into an afternoon, a holiday, a daytime celebration. The same cut exists in a second print as the Verbena Dress, and the rest of the warm weather pieces sit in Resort Wear.

The model is 175 cm and wears a size S. At that size the dress measures 94 cm at the bust, 75 at the waist, 110 at the hips and 123 from the shoulder to the hem. The bodice is fitted and the skirt is full, so the waist is where the size is decided. If you are between sizes, we recommend the larger.

Is the Lantana Dress see through?

The body is lined in rayon, so the bodice and the skirt are solid and the print reads clean. The sleeves are a single layer of georgette, which is what keeps them light and lets the air move through them.

Can I wear it in the heat with the sleeves on?

Yes, that is what it is made for. Georgette is one of the lightest woven fabrics there is, the sleeves are a single layer, and the elasticated hem lets you push them up the forearm when you want to. It is a covered dress that behaves like a summer one.

Does it crease, and how does it pack for travel?

Georgette travels well. The weave is fine and lightly textured, so it resists hard creasing, and what it does pick up drops out as the dress hangs. Roll it rather than folding it flat, and hang it in the bathroom while you shower on the first morning. The skirt is full and wants a little air to come back.

Is a printed dress right for a daytime wedding?

For a daytime wedding it is often the better choice. Print reads as considered rather than formal, which is the register a garden ceremony or a lunchtime one asks for, and a midi with long sleeves keeps it respectful of the occasion. Keep the jewellery quiet and let the print do the work.

What shoes work with this length?

At 123 cm from the shoulder the hem falls between the mid calf and the ankle on a height of 175 cm, so the shoe shows. A flat sandal keeps it easy through the day. A block heel of 5 to 7 cm lifts the hem clear of the ground and lengthens the line without tipping the dress into evening. A nude or soft metallic tone disappears against the pale ground of the print.

Can I wear it to more than one kind of occasion?

Yes, and that is the argument for it. The same dress takes a garden party, a daytime wedding, a long lunch, a holiday dinner and an ordinary Friday. Change the shoe and the jewellery and it changes register. Baruni cuts in small runs, so a piece is made to be worn for years rather than once.