Studio Nicholson Achille Dress

Typewriter cloth is a high-density plain weave: cotton spun fine and packed very tightly, and the density is what does the work. A cloth woven that closely has almost no give and a very smooth face, so it takes light evenly, holds a crisp edge, and stands away from the body rather than falling onto it. In a fitted garment that would be a limitation to work around. In an oversized A-line cut to the floor it is the entire design. The cloth makes the shape, and the body inside it is only where the shape starts.

Everything else is kept out of the way. Fixed spaghetti straps, so the shoulder line stays a line. A drawstring at the back instead of a zip, which is how a dress this wide is adjusted without a fitting. Pockets hidden in the side seams. Black, floor length, and nothing on the surface at all.

Why we selected it

Most long dresses solve their shape with the body and a great deal of fabric. This one solves it in the weave, which is why it still has an outline at the end of an evening.

Materials and construction

One hundred percent cotton. The cloth is a Japanese typewriter weave. Oversized A-line, maxi length, fixed spaghetti straps, drawstring back closure, and hidden side seam pockets. Color: Black.

Fit notes

Oversized by design, so it does not want to be sized down: the volume is the garment and a closer fit would put the cloth in an argument with the body. The drawstring at the back is where the fit actually happens, and it will pull the width in across the shoulder blades without touching the line of the skirt. A dense cotton has no stretch, so it will not give at the bust the way a jersey would.

Styling

On its own is the honest answer. With the Dash jacket over it when it cools, where a soft unlined suede against a cloth that stands up is the better contrast. With the Doublet bag in clay suede, the only warm note against the black. Flat sandals in summer, a boot the rest of the year.

Care

Wash cool and dry away from heat. A high-density cotton presses beautifully and creases sharply, so iron it damp if you want the face flat, and accept the creases if you do not. Our general care guidance covers cotton.

Related pieces

The Minos Pant is the coated linen trouser and the Sonny Pant the uncoated cotton and linen one, and the Votan is the lyocell tank top. There is more on the house on the Studio Nicholson designer page. Everything we carry from Studio Nicholson is listed together.