The Esmeralda Mini
in Claret
The shorter sister of the Esmeralda Gown. Silk charmeuse in deep claret, falling from the same sweetheart bodice into a fluted, asymmetric bias hem. The waist holds. The skirt moves. Built for the night you don’t want to overthink.
Every Esmeralda dress is built on an internal corselet sewn into the lining. We call it the Solisia Chassis — a structure of woven poplin and power mesh with spiral steel boning that bends as the body bends, drafted in zones so the dress holds the waist without compressing the ribs. It laces at the back through a series of hand-set grommets, with a cord we developed ourselves so a woman can tighten the dress alone, in a hotel room, in under a minute.
The chassis is what makes the silhouette inevitable. The waist-to-hip line — a ratio close to 0.7 — has been the figure painters drew toward for four hundred years. We are obsessed with it. The chassis is our salute to that obsession.
The Solisia Chassis is the construction of the First Edition. The next edition will approach the question differently. The obsession is what stays.
The outer layer is heavyweight silk charmeuse — sometimes called cathedral-weight — woven at 30 momme. Momme is the unit of measure for silk weight: most contemporary silk dresses are made at 12 to 16 momme. Thirty is approximately twice as heavy. The silk has the drape of liquid and the weight of an idea you have been thinking about for a long time.
The neckline is trimmed with hand-pleated mesh and finished with a self-tie silk bow at the center front. The lining is a silk-and-cotton blend — breathable against the skin.
All silk is sourced from a single mill we have worked with for the past eighteen months.
Fit note. Sizes run XXS–XXL (US 0–12). Find your size below, or see the full Size Guide.
| Size | US | in | cm | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bust | Waist | Hip | Bust | Waist | Hip | ||
| XXS | 0 | 32.5 | 25.0 | 35.2 | 82.5 | 63.5 | 89.5 |
| XS | 2 | 33.5 | 26.0 | 36.2 | 85.0 | 66.0 | 92.0 |
| S | 4 | 34.4 | 27.0 | 37.2 | 87.5 | 68.5 | 94.5 |
| M | 6 | 35.4 | 28.0 | 38.2 | 90.0 | 71.0 | 97.0 |
| L | 8 | 37.0 | 29.5 | 39.8 | 94.0 | 75.0 | 101.0 |
| XL | 10 | 39.0 | 31.5 | 41.7 | 99.0 | 80.0 | 106.0 |
| XXL | 12 | 40.9 | 33.5 | 43.7 | 104.0 | 85.0 | 111.0 |
If you’re between sizes, we recommend sizing up.
questions about sizing? email [email protected].
For most wear
Silk likes to be worn, not washed. Air your piece out between wears and steam lightly to refresh. Silk wrinkles easily — that’s simply its nature — so you’re welcome to iron it at home, with or without steam; just use a low (silk) setting.
When washing is needed
Spot-clean small marks with cool water and a soft cloth. For a fuller clean, dry clean only.
Shipping. Every order ships Delivery Duties Paid (DDP) — the price at checkout is all you pay. Standard from $28, Express $50–$65, free standard on orders over $1,000. Pre-order items dispatch before 22 June; in-stock items within 2 business days.
Returns & exchanges. 14 days from delivery, on unworn, original-condition items. Your first size exchange per item is on us.
Read the full Shipping & Returns policy →
questions? email [email protected].