Where some might recoil when they hear “corset bodice,” I perk up my ears instead. And my heart sings when you add the words “Bavarian influence” or “European court dress.”
STAUD’s Landscape Corset Bodice Fit & Flare Dress–with a square neckline framed by a fitted bodice enhanced with conspicuous boning, and a pannier-style gathered skirt made functional with on-seam pockets–checks all the boxes.
This design draws influence from 16th century Spanish court dressing, with a cinched waist and an exaggerated flared skirt. But its shorter length and sleevelessness help tone down the drama and makes it more wearable for everyday.
The inflexible midweight cotton-blend faille (60% cotton/40% polyester) makes the dress more breathable in warm weather, while also providing support for and balancing the structure of the design. However, as the material has very little stretch, I had to size up to comfortably fasten the concealed hook and zip closure at the back of the dress. For those who have a straighter shape or a smaller frame, try your “normal” contemporary designer size to start.
Find the STAUD Landscape Dress at Amazon, Bloomingdale’s, Farfetch, Harrods, Mytheresa, Net-a-Porter, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Shopbop, and Tuckernuck.
