Evening and sequins · Spring · Autumn

Navy and charcoal taffeta gown with leather inserts

A one-shoulder gown pieced from navy and charcoal taffeta with leather inserts at the waist, cut out at the side and falling to the floor.

The gown is a patchwork of two taffetas, navy and charcoal, spliced on the diagonal so the panels run like fractured stripes from a single draped shoulder to the floor. Matte leather inserts sit at the waist where the panels converge, the bodice is a twisted drape with an open centre panel, and one side is cut away at the waist. The skirt is full, pleated into the seams, and brushes the pavement.

This is a late-evening dress. Hair straight, no bag, a thin black sandal underneath that nobody will see. It wants a doorway with gilt mouldings and a neon sign spilling on to the fabric, which is to say: autumn or spring, after dark, going in or coming out of somewhere with a cloakroom.

Two colours of blue-grey. The sign outside was redder than I was.

the pieces

  • Navy and charcoal panelled taffeta gown with leather insertsgown · silk · navy

similar pieces

  • Navy and charcoal panelled taffeta gown with leather insertsfind similaramazon

Links may earn a commission. Dahlia's clothes don't exist; these are the closest things that do.

styling notes

  • No bag, no wrap: the panels are the whole argument
  • A thin black sandal, invisible under the hem
  • Hair straight and off the draped shoulder
  • Small hoops only

palette

details

wearabilitycloser to runway

get looks like this once a month

more like this