When online shopping I tend to keep an eye out for maxi dresses and do a little dance inside my head when I see long sleeved versions only to have my heart broken into tiny shattered pieces when I take a look at the back of the dress to find it is basically split open to the wearer's crack from either the top or bottom of the dress. Classy, I know. I've wanted a simple black long sleeved maxi dress and while most people would be like "Uh, isn't that just an abaya?" I have to tell you it's not. Traditional abayas tend to be a lot looser and more draped and I really wanted more of a fitted design for a more modern, sleek look - something way more blendable in Australian culture. This design is pretty much it, fitted sleeves with military style buttons included.
The dress itself is from Peru based design label Saya & Manto who tailor made it to my preferred measurements to ensure a perfect fit (although it won't fit for very long with this baby taking all my belly room - gonna have to buy massive kaftans as time goes by because I threw out all my old maternity stuff last year thinking "Oh I'm over the baby making. Don't need this anymore...". Mistake right there.). The quality of sewing is topnotch - this one well made dress. Loving the slight fishtail silhouette to the bottom of the dress; giving a little more shape to a garment that could have just as easily been a straight up and down affair.Being black means it will suit anything you put with it and while it is so easy to go down the black on black route I decided to throw in some colour with a very bright, multi-coloured scarf via Egypt, an amber beaded necklace bought directly off the Nile and a recent clutch purchase from Dareen Hakim.
In regards to details, the otherwise simple dress is accentuated with discreet brass hued military style buttons on each of the fitted cuffs and at the back of the neck (which for the most part would stay hidden under your scarf depending on how you wore it unless you went for a turban look).
I think the dress is very office/work friendly as the matte material and overall simpleness of it supports a professional/formal environment.
Details + Links
Dress ~ Saya & Manto
Clutch ~ Dareen Hakim
Necklace ~ Egypt (similar)
Ring ~ Gerochristo
Hijab ~ Egypt
