Mahaut Rieussec | Red Sparkly Sequin One Shoulder Knot Tie Wrap Short Sleeve Dress

The knot does the work here. Everything above the waist falls loose - a soft, blousing bodice that drapes off one bare shoulder while the other side keeps a short, fluid sleeve - and then it all gets pulled in and tied at the hip, with a long sash left hanging down the side of the skirt.

That construction is why it flatters without gripping. The bodice skims instead of clinging, the gathered wrap skirt crosses over itself and lands just above the knee, and the whole shape is defined by one deliberate point at the hip rather than by squeezing everything at once. The asymmetric neckline slides off one shoulder and stays there; the short sleeves keep the arms lightly covered, which is a rarer thing in party dresses than it should be.

The result is a dress you can eat dinner in and still photograph well in afterwards - which is a shorter list of dresses than most people expect.

Details You'll Love

• Knot-tie wrap skirt - gathers at the hip with a long sash left trailing, so the shape is set by one tie rather than by an all-over squeeze.
• Asymmetric off-shoulder neckline - drops away from one shoulder and stays put, giving the whole dress its diagonal line.
• Soft blousing bodice - falls loose over the waist rather than clinging, which is what makes it comfortable to sit down in.
• Short fluid sleeves - keep the arms lightly covered without adding bulk, an unusually practical touch on a sequin dress.
• Just-above-knee wrap hem - crosses over itself for a soft diagonal edge instead of a straight cut across.