Bastienne Verdelet | Gold Sparkly Sequin V Neck Tassel Fringe Sleeve Bodycon Mini Dress

The sleeves are split from shoulder to wrist and hung with tassel fringe along the opening, which means your arms are bare underneath and covered on top at the same time. Lift a glass and the whole length of it swings; drop your arm and it falls closed again into something that reads as an ordinary sleeve.

Underneath that, the dress is deliberately plain. A soft V neckline, a body gathered lightly at the waist so the sequins collect light in bands rather than one flat sheet, and a close fit that stops just above the knee. There is no other detail anywhere on it, because there does not need to be - anything else would only be competing with the sleeves for the same job.

Standing still it looks like a well-cut gold dress. In a room where you are actually talking to people, it does something else entirely.

Details You'll Love

• Split tassel-fringe sleeves - open the full length of the arm with fringe along the edge, so the sleeve moves independently of you.
• Soft V neckline - open enough to balance the weight of the sleeves without introducing a second focal point.
• Lightly gathered waist - collects the sequins into bands that catch light unevenly, which reads richer than a flat surface.
• Close fit to just above the knee - keeps the silhouette narrow, giving the sleeves room to move against it.
• Sequins throughout - sleeves, bodice and skirt all carry the same finish, so nothing looks bolted on afterwards.