SHOULDER SCIENCE

Finding the right sleeve can be an art, and for some it can feel daunting. Covered up doesn’t always equal flattering, so if arm coverage is the top of your list of concerns for flattering dressing, it doesn’t mean that short sleeves must be removed from the equation.

The right sleeve shape can do wonders for proportions, after all, it’s all about balance. Two great examples are our Paisley Print Maxi Dress and the Silk Cotton Maxi Dress. Both these styles have more detail around the top half of the piece that provides added coverage around the shoulders and arms without the extra material of a long-sleeved style.

Our Paisley Print Maxi Dress has ruffled short sleeves that effortlessly drapes over the shoulders, providing coverage at the top of the arm and echoing the flared hem of the skirt, which together enhances the natural cinch of the waist.

Our Silk Cotton Maxi Dress has a ruched seam that creates a mid-length puff sleeve for more coverage. By exaggerating the shoulder line it enhances the waist’s natural contour and complements the volume of the banded skirt.  

Our Silk Cotton Maxi Dress has a ruched seam that creates a mid-length puff sleeve for more coverage. By exaggerating the shoulder line it enhances the waist’s natural contour and complements the volume of the banded skirt.  

THOUGHTFUL FLARES

Whether it’s a fit-and-flare dress, a skirt that hugs the waist or a breezy swing dress, this shape works overtime when it comes to flattering different body types.

It’s a particularly flattering choice for those with wider shoulders, especially in the form of a skirt such as the Heavy Cotton Sateen Maxi Skirt.  The band around the high rise highlights the waist, before falling into soft godet-insert folds that finish at a flared hem.

Similarly, our Guipure Lace Skirt has the same shoulder-balancing, waistline-enhancing effect, with the added bonus of textured lace that holds its structure for a non-clingy fit. We’ve styled it with a crisp white shirt, but it works equally well with a tonal counterpart such as our orange Cotton Lace Stitch Knit Vest.

If your goal is to find a single piece that works overtime to flatter the figure, look to our Tailored Flare Midi Dress, available in black or blue. The clever viscose-blend fabric has soft structure and contoured seams to create a fit-and-flare silhouette that subtly highlights the waist then skims the hips. The rolled sleeves offer extra coverage and balance the top of the arms. An all-rounder for athletic and curvy figures alike. 

Swing dresses are a go-to for most body shapes, not only are they comfortable, but they made a great choice in warmer weather due to the airy fit.

If you have a more athletic figure, a swing dress with strategically placed details that exaggerate parts of the silhouette may be your best friend. Try our Cheesecloth Broderie Short Swing Dress for example. The tiered skirt creates natural volume that can exaggerate hip shape in a flattering way. The optional tie belt can also give the look of a nipped-in waist if you prefer more definition.

The forgiving nature of a swing dress doesn’t mean it can’t have structure. Our Cotton Poplin Swing Dress offers a typical shoulder-balancing silhouette, while also benefiting from a clean-lined shape. A point collar, gathered shoulder paneling and cropped, wide sleeves work overtime to add shape where you might want it, and skim over parts you may prefer to cover.

HERO SHIRT DRESSES

There’s a reason you’ll find variations of the shirt dress in every ME+EM collection. They’re a day-to-night hero item that comes in many shapes and sizes, so there’s truly something for everyone. From casual day or vacation dressing to the boardroom, the trusty shirt dress – when made in the right material – can be a flattering option for every body type.

Material is key for this style. A structured fabric such as cotton sateen will provide a streamlined fit that skims – this is well suited to curvier figures. Enter our Cotton Sateen Midi Shirt Dress, the smooth, weightier fabric means it hangs smoothly and the D-ring belt is ideal for further accentuating an hourglass shape.

The added benefit of this style is the clean-cut structured shoulders seams, which are perfect for creating balance for those with narrower shoulders and wider hips.

CLEVER KNITS

When you think of knit you might not immediately think of dresses, but we’ve found our weighty compact-knit fabric and our streamlined ribbed-knit styles to be an ultra-flattering option that seamlessly transitions from day to night. 

Speaking of day-to-night, our Compact Knit Jacquard Racerback Midi Dress offers a modern take on summer florals that pairs equally well with flat sandals or heeled shoes. The viscose-blend knit is intelligently designed to smoothly skim over the figure and vertical seams create a subtly nipped-in effect at the waist. 

Our knit styles work for occasion dressing as well. Look to our Sheer Panelled Evening Knit Maxi dress for a contemporary take on classic occasionwear. The solid mini underlay gives the illusion of a shorter hem, while the sheer overlay offers the coverage of a maxi. Our clever stretch-knit fabric has a mix of ribbing directions to strategically flatter - horizontal around the waist and vertical across the bodice and flared skirt.  

Up the ante with the addition of sparkling fibers in our Metallic Rib Knit Cap Sleeve Midi Dress. Following the same principles as our other knit styles, this metallic piece has vertical ribbing from the high-neck, cap-sleeve bodice down to the flared hem. Note the strategically placed diagonal sections that give the look of a drawn-in waist.

VERSATILE HEMLINES

Offering a choice of hemline lengths in our signature prints is something we are committed to every season. We know different lengths work for different heights, so we want to make sure our collections have something for everyone.

We knew our summer paisley print would be a hit, so we wanted to make sure we gave you options. Our Creaseless Linen Paisley Print Maxi Dress comes in a long, maxi length that’s perfect for those who love a long hem, whereas our Cotton Paisley Print Short Dress falls just above the knee. The shorter length is perfect for those who don’t love a long dress, and the addition of the tie belt means if you’re on the petite side you can add more definition to the silhouette.

If you love color and florals, look no further than our Lantana Flower Print. The Vibrant green base is the perfect canvas for the pink and purple flower clusters, and best of all, this pattern is available on a short and a maxi length.

The Short Boho Dress is a lesson in balanced proportions. The cuffed balloon sleeves are the perfect complement to the flared knee-length hem, adding just the right amount of volume. Zoom in on the neckline to see a discreet zip fastening that allows you to customize your decolletage coverage - we call that intelligent design. 

The longer version of the Lantana Flower Print dress has the same features we love in the mini version - it’s made from the same fluid crepe and an intelligently designed adjustable neckline - with the addition of a drawstring waist and shirring around the upper bodice for a flattering slim fit over the shoulders.