Kayra Dress: Metallic Effect Shirt Maxi with A Line Skirt

A floor length shirt dress in a metallic effect fabric that shifts between matt and bright as you move. The neckline is high, the bodice is semi fitted, and the skirt releases into a clean A line that holds its shape without needing anything underneath. It comes with a tie for the waist, and there are pockets in the side seams.

The long sleeves unbutton at the armhole and come away completely, so the dress works covered or sleeveless and the buttons stay on the bodice. Every button is made by hand, the ones down the front and the ones at the armhole alike. Lined throughout in soft rayon.

Available in Maroon and Purple Blue. The model is 175 cm and wears a size S.

What does it look like with the sleeves taken off?

A different dress, which is the point of buying it. Covered, it is a long sleeved high neck gown suitable for a daytime ceremony or a conservative dress code. With the sleeves unbuttoned it becomes a sleeveless column with the same high neck, which reads much cooler and much more modern. Nothing is cut and nothing is damaged, so you can change your mind between the ceremony and the dinner, or between one wedding and the next.

Will the colour photograph the way it looks in the room?

Close, but expect it to look brighter in photographs than it does to your eye. A metallic effect fabric reflects whatever light is thrown at it, so a camera flash will lift the Maroon towards red and the Purple Blue towards blue. In ordinary room light both colours sit deeper and quieter than the images suggest. If the event is being photographed heavily, that lift works in your favour.

Does an A line skirt suit a shorter woman?

It is one of the kinder shapes for a shorter frame, because the widest point is at the hem rather than at the hip, which keeps the eye travelling down. The one thing to watch is the length. The skirt is cut to fall to the floor on a 175 cm model, so on a shorter woman it will pool slightly unless you wear a heel or have it taken up. Measure the published length against your own height before you order.

Can I wear this to more than one kind of event?

Yes, and it is the dress in this collection that does it most easily. Sleeves on, tie fastened, with a heel, it is formal enough for a wedding or a gala. Sleeves off, tie loose, with a flat sandal, it is relaxed enough for a long lunch or a holiday evening. That is unusual at this length, and it is why we would call this the most useful dress of the group rather than the most dramatic one.

How should a metallic effect fabric be cared for?

Dry clean, and say so when you hand it in, because the finish is what gives the fabric its light and a hot press will flatten it. Hang it rather than fold it. If it needs freshening between wears, steam it from a distance with the dress on a hanger and let it hang until it is completely dry. Treated that way the finish lasts as long as the dress does.

If you want the same detachable sleeve idea in a jacquard rather than a metallic effect fabric, the Hypnotise Gown does it with hidden buttons and a wide tie. Both sit in our evening collection.