Azucena | Pleated Playsuit with Ruffles and Lace

A short black playsuit sorts out the evenings when you fancy neither a dress nor trousers. Azucena is one of those: from the front it looks like a party dress, and as you walk you see it is shorts. Pleated chiffon, ruffles and lace at the hem.

The high ruffled neck. It rises to the neck and finishes in a gathered ruffle. It is what keeps such an open neckline from feeling excessive: it is closed at the top, and that is why the V at the front can afford to go where it goes.

The V-neckline. It drops in a V to the waist, with a ruffle all round the edge. It is the centre of the piece and what you see from the front.

The armhole ruffles. They run down the shoulder and side like a sleeve that never quite becomes one. They cover the shoulder and leave the arm free.

The pleating. All the chiffon is finely pleated vertically. It lengthens because it draws the eye up and down, and it gives volume without adding bulk.

The elastic waist. Gathered with elastic, with no zip and no buttons. It marks the waist wherever it falls and goes on over your head.

The lace at the hem. It finishes the short leg with a band of openwork lace. It is the detail you see as you walk and from behind.

Key Details

High neck with a gathered ruffle: closed at the top, it balances the neckline.

Deep V-neckline with a ruffle at the edge.

Ruffles at the armholes: they cover the shoulder, arm free.

Vertically pleated chiffon: it lengthens and gives swing.

Gathered elastic waist: no fastenings, it goes on over your head.

Short leg with openwork lace at the hem.

Sleeveless.

XS to 3XL.

Perfect for: dinner, cocktails, a summer party, an evening terrace and a hen do.

What to wear underneath

The neckline drops to the waist: a normal bra will not work here. What does work is adhesive cups or a very open V-neck bra. The shorts area is lined, but the chiffon is fine and the lace at the hem is openwork: skin-tone briefs are the safe choice.

Size guide

True to size. With an elastic waist and a loose cut it forgives a fair amount: take the one you always wear. If you are between two, stay with the smaller — any excess shows at the shoulder and the neckline, which is exactly where you do not want it.

Not sure? Write to us with your bust, waist and hip measurements and we will tell you your size before you buy.

Care

Hand wash cold. The pleated chiffon and the lace do not take kindly to the machine: the pleating opens up and never comes back. Dry hanging, without wringing.

Colour may vary slightly depending on the lighting in the photographs.

Free shipping and 30 days to exchange or return. If it is not your size, we will sort it out.