Woman seen from behind in a cobalt blazer dress with a pleated peplum and tiered mini skirt on a neon-lit street at night

Dark tailoring · Spring · Autumn

Cobalt blazer dress with a pleated peplum, from the back

A cobalt blazer dress seen from behind: sharp shoulders, a cut-out at the waist and a peplum folded over a tiered mini.

The back of this cobalt blazer dress does most of the talking. Strong square shoulders, one sleeve pushed and ruched to the elbow, the other cut short with a deep turned-up cuff. At the waist the jacket splits open into a small cut-out, then drops into a folded peplum that sits over a two-tier mini skirt. One colour from collar to hem, so the construction has nowhere to hide.

It is a night-street dress: neon, wet pavement, a metallic clutch held low in one hand and nothing else to carry. Autumn evenings and mild spring ones, with a pointed heel or a sleek ankle boot. The structure stays put while you walk, which is the whole point of tailoring that ends in a skirt.

I do not wear much colour. When I do, I want it from the back as well.