Five things to know before you buy an evening dress

The fabric, the fit at the shoulder and what you will wear under it matter more than the label. Here is what to check before the night.

Start with the occasion

Where are you going, and how long will you be there? A dress for a dinner that runs late needs to sit well when you are seated, and one for a garden party needs to move in the wind. Think of the evening before the colour.

Then the fit

Look at the shoulder and the waist first: a hem can be taken up in an afternoon, a shoulder rarely. Our product pages list every garment's measurements, so you can compare with a piece you already love.

• Lay a favourite dress flat and measure it.
• Between two sizes, take the larger for a relaxed fit.
• Ask us: we answer sizing questions within a working day.

Care makes it last

Most of our dresses prefer a cool hand wash or a gentle cycle, dried flat and steamed rather than ironed.

Buy fewer pieces, choose them well, and wear them often.

Questions

Write to us and a stylist answers within a working day.