Fitted Dress

Bright Prints by Day, Black and Gold by Night

A close cut amplifies whatever the fabric is saying, so choose the mood before the size. Printed microfiber is bright and smooth, easy to wear from a lunch date to a birthday dinner. Black and gold read as evening the moment they go on: a strapless column, a backless V with a leg slit and a sequin fringe mini that throws light when you dance.

What to Wear Under a Fitted Dress

A fitted dress shows every line beneath it, so the underlayer is part of the outfit. Getting it right takes two minutes and makes the whole dress look more expensive.

• Seamless underwear in your skin tone. No edges to print through and no white glow under pale fabric; no visible panty line styles are made for exactly this.
• A bra that matches the neckline. Strapless for a straight neckline, adhesive cups for an open back or a deep V.
• Smoothing is optional. It gives a cleaner line, not a smaller size, so only add it if you like the feel.

Sitting, Walking and Hem Creep

A fitted skirt rides up when you sit, because the fabric stretches over the thigh and takes the hem along. Stand, smooth the skirt down from the hip once, and it settles back into place. It beats checking a mirror every few minutes. At floor length a close cut shortens your stride, and a leg slit gives it back. A sequin fringe mini has the opposite personality: it wants to move, so let it. For a long dinner, the stretch styles are the comfortable pick, giving when you sit and springing back when you stand.

Where a Fitted Dress Shines

A fitted dress is the fastest route to looking put together. The bright printed styles suit birthdays, concerts, vacation dinners and any day you want color to do the talking. The black column and the backless V belong at galas, evening weddings and black tie optional parties, while gold sequin fringe was made for New Year's Eve and any night with a dance floor. Pick the event and the dress almost chooses itself. Or keep one of each and you are covered for most of the year.

Dressing It Up or Down

The printed styles look great with white sneakers and a denim jacket by day, then switch to heeled sandals and gold hoops at night, and a cropped cardigan over the shoulders takes them to a casual Friday at the office. The black dresses need almost nothing: one piece of jewelry you love and a shoe you can stand in for hours. For how the stretch behaves wash after wash, the four-way stretch page has the details.