Bianelia

The lace sleeve is what sets this apart. It is a short cap sleeve in floral lace that covers the top of the arm and ends cleanly, while the other shoulder carries a folded band that sits flat instead of slipping. The satin is heavy enough to hold the drape at the hip, and the folds there fall in a soft knot rather than a flat seam. I am broad through the shoulders and the asymmetric cut still looked balanced. The skirt is cut slim and straight to the floor, and it needed no alterations.

This gown is beautifully cut. The satin drape starts below the waist on one side and gathers across the hip, which pulls the middle in without any boning, and the skirt then falls straight from there. The lace sleeve is lined, so it does not scratch, and the folded band across the bare shoulder stays put. I am hourglass shaped and the fit was right from the first try, with no alterations at all. The lining is smooth and it keeps its sheen without looking shiny.

My figure is straight through the middle and this gown gave it a curve. The gathered drape across the hip creates a diagonal line that reads as a waist, and the satin has enough weight to hold that shape rather than collapsing. The asymmetric neckline draws the eye up, and the single lace sleeve balances the bare shoulder. The skirt is narrow without being tight, so I could walk and sit comfortably. Nothing needed adjusting.

I sized up and that was the right call. The satin has very little stretch, so the skirt ran close over my hips, which is the widest part of me. One size up gave me room without losing the line, and the drape still gathered where it should. The lace sleeve did not need shortening. The seams are clean and the bottom edge was level out of the bag. A good gown for a pear shape once you have the size right.

Lovely gown, but the waist ran loose on me. My midsection is fuller, so a slack middle makes the drape look flat rather than shaped, and this one sat about an inch wide. My tailor took in the middle and the side seams, and afterwards it looked right. The lace short sleeve, the folded shoulder band and the trim are all well made, and it is fully lined. Worth one fitting before you wear it.

The waist was a little wide for my hourglass shape, so I had it taken in. The lace cap sleeve and the fold at the hip is lovely.

True to size and comfortable over my hips, which is where fitted skirts usually fail me. The cap sleeve sits well and it does not cling.

My shoulders are broad and the asymmetric cut still looked balanced. The sleeve had room at the armhole and the folded band did not slip.

Ran small in the bust for my straight frame, so I went up a size. The floral lace detail and the hip drape are worth it.

Ordered my usual size and the fold skims my middle instead of gripping. The satin is comfortable and it is lined.

No alterations. The drape lands on the waist, the folded band stays put, and the bottom edge is level without being touched.

A bit roomy in the chest for my straight build, but the slim satin skirt suits me and the sleeve detail is nicely finished.

The lace detail is worth paying for. The floral lace is dense without being stiff, it is lined so nothing scratches, and the scalloped edge is finished by hand as far as I can tell. The satin drape gathers from one side of the hip into a knot that looks deliberate, and the skirt is cut narrow enough to read as elegant. On a pear shape the key is the size, and once that was right everything sat properly. I sat for a long time in it and it did not crease.

Fits my athletic build with room at the armhole, and the short sleeve never pulled when I lifted my arm. The satin arrived properly pressed.

Beautiful gown, but the sizing runs small. The bodice was tight across the ribs and the bodice pulled at the side seams, so I went up a size and it was far more comfortable. In the right size the drape gathers properly and the lower half falls straight instead of straining. The sleeve was also long on me and I had the cuff adjusted. I am hourglass shaped, so I normally take a small, but this one is cut narrow through the torso.

Nice gown but the waist was too loose on me. My midsection is fuller, so a slack middle made the drape go flat and the line went soft. My tailor took in the middle and the back, and it looked much better afterwards. The cap sleeve and the material are genuinely well made, and the lining is proper. I would still buy it, but plan for alterations.

Good dress with a couple of finishing issues. The cut suits a straighter frame and the gathers create the shape. Two loose threads showed at the sleeve edge and the bottom edge was uneven by a quarter inch on one side, which I fixed myself. The bodice and the material are well sewn. For the money it is a solid buy, just look over the lace when it arrives.

It runs big, and in a narrow satin skirt that shows immediately. The skirt was wide over my hips and hung away from the body, and the waist sat low. My tailor took in the waist and the side seams, which was a fair amount of work. Once altered it looked elegant: the drape reads clearly and the cap sleeve looks sharp. I would order the smaller size next time.

Good gown, but the folded band sat wide on my shoulder and the sleeve hung loose along my arm. My athletic frame usually fills a bodice, so I had both adjusted.

Snug through the ribs for my straight figure, so I sized up. The floral lace and the satin itself are worth the trouble.

Lovely at the waist and the band stays put. The skirt was long even in heels, so I had two inches taken off the hem.

Roomy over the hips for my pear shape, so I had it taken in. Once fitted the satin falls beautifully.

Not what I hoped for. The satin is thinner than it looks, so the drape will not hold a fold and keeps slipping back into a flat panel, and the waist gives way after an hour. On my apple shape that made the middle look undefined. The sleeve edge also puckered, and the lining showed through in one place. It photographs nicely but does not hold up in person.

Too small. I have a broad ribcage and athletic shoulders, and the size I ordered would not close across the back, and the short sleeve was tight enough to mark my arm. It went back. The gown has potential: the asymmetric cut is well constructed and the material is decent weight. But the size chart clearly runs small, and the cloth has almost no give. Order up if you are built like me.