Sequin Dresses for Women: The Edit

These are sequin dresses for people who don't usually wear sequins. In all eight, designed by Ramola Bachchan, the sequins are kept to one place: the collar and cuffs, the shoulders, a lapel or the hem. The rest of the dress stays plain, so it reads as party wear without feeling like a costume. Five are cotton satin shirt dresses with crystal buttons, in red, black, blue and sand. The other three are a lined beige net A-line, a black satin midi with sequinned net at the shoulders, and a black blazer dress.

Sequinned shirt dresses

Five of the eight are one idea: a cotton satin shirt dress with a shirt collar, full sleeves and crystal buttons down the placket, with the sequin work kept to the collar, the cuffs and the shoulder seams. The body stays plain, so the shine sits around the face and the hands, and the dress is still a shirt dress you can sit, eat and dance in. The cuffs tie with tasselled cords, and the hem dips lower at the back.

The red is the boldest. Red with sequins is already the whole statement, so keep everything else matte: black heels and small studs. The collar and placket also mean it can be half-tucked into wide trousers if you would rather not wear it as a dress.

The black with pockets is the practical one. It has two working pockets, so you can go through a whole evening without a clutch. Button the collar high for a formal look, or open the top two buttons and add statement earrings.

The black hi-low has the steepest hem of the five: higher at the front, so it never catches underfoot on a dance floor. Worn open over a slip with the collar up it reads as evening; buttoned to the neck with flats it works for a gallery opening or a long lunch.

The blue is a bright turquoise with darker sequins at the collar. It has no pockets, so plan on a small crossbody. The full sleeves give more cover than most party dresses, which helps at air-conditioned venues and on cooler winter evenings.

The sand is the quiet one. It sits close to skin tone, so the sequins show without the dress taking over the room, and it works in daylight too. Tan or gold accessories keep the look tonal.

Three other cuts

The beige net dress is the softest piece here: sleeveless, round-necked and A-line, with sequin-embroidered lace over net and crinkled satin, a scatter of sequins across the body and a net frill at the hem. It is lined, so it holds its shape without a slip. Pair it with metallic sandals rather than flats.

The black mid-length dress keeps all its detail at the top: sequins and crystals on sheer net panels across the shoulders and short sleeves, over a plain polyester satin body with a V-neck. Draw the eye up with an updo and drop earrings, and skip the necklace.

The black blazer dress is the one to wear as a jacket. It is cut in banana crepe with a lapel collar, full sleeves and a button front, and the sequin work sits on the lapel and shoulder. Button it as a dress for an evening, or wear it open as a long jacket over cream trousers.

For how to wear sequins beyond dresses, and how much shine to put in one outfit, see our sequins outfit guide; to keep the sequin work looking new, see caring for sequinned and embellished clothes.