Sleeveless Lace Midi Dress with Tiered Skirt

A sleeveless lace midi dress that swings when you walk

This lace midi dress from Och Bella is all flowers and movement. It has no sleeves, a round neck and a skirt built from three tiers that get wider towards the hem. The edge of the lace is scalloped, so the dress ends in a row of small arches.

The maker says it is lined. In the photos the lining stops around the knee and the last tier of lace is see-through over the legs. The fabric is 90% polyamide with 10% spandex, and the sizes run from S to XL.

At a glance

The piece: models 181678, 181679 and 182552 by Och Bella

Och Bella is a label sold through a Polish fashion wholesaler. Its description of this dress is short: a sleeveless openwork dress with a flared cut, with a lining. The three colours share that text and one size table.

Openwork is the maker's word. In the photos it is a floral lace that covers the whole dress, from the neckline to the hem. The top is plain and straight. Below the bust the first tier starts, and each tier is gathered onto the one above, which is where the width comes from.

At the back of the neck there is a small keyhole opening with a button.

Who it's for

For you if you want a summer dress that is loose from the bust down. Nothing sits tight at the waist or the hips, so it is comfortable in the heat and after a long lunch.

It is sleeveless, with wide armholes in the photos. If you prefer your upper arms covered, a short cardigan or a jeans jacket fits over it without spoiling the shape.

Closer look: what the maker's data and the photos show

• Sleeveless, flared cut (maker's data)
• Openwork fabric: a floral lace over the whole dress (maker's data and photos)
• Lining (maker's data); in the photos it ends around the knee
• Skirt in three tiers (photos)
• Scalloped lace hem (photos)
• Round neckline, keyhole with a button at the back (photos)
• Hem at mid-calf on the model (photos)

The maker gives no length in centimetres. If you need it, ask us and we will request it from the supplier.

Fabric and feel: stretch lace with a lining

The composition is 90% polyamide and 10% spandex. That is a stretch lace, softer and more flexible than the stiff lace of a tablecloth. The maker gives one composition for the dress and does not list the lining separately.

Lace catches. Rings, bracelets with charms and rough bag straps can pull a thread, so put jewellery on after the dress and carry your bag in your hand. In white and beige the lining makes the top part opaque in the photos. The sheer part starts at the last tier.

Fit and silhouette: the chest decides

The dress fits at the shoulders and chest and is free everywhere else. The maker's table gives a chest of 82 cm in S, 86 cm in M, 91 cm in L and 96 cm in XL. The waist column in the table is empty, and no length is given.

Those chest numbers are small if you read them as body measurements. With 10% spandex the lace gives, but we don't know by how much. Measure a sleeveless dress that fits you flat across the chest, double it and compare. If you are between sizes, take the larger one. The tiers hide extra room, and a tight armhole is hard to live with.

Size chart (cm)

Source: the maker's size table, the same for all three colours. It gives the chest only; the waist column is empty and there is no length.

Styling: flat sandals or sharp heels

The photos show the range. The white dress is worn with flat woven sandals and looks like a holiday. The black one with pointed black pumps looks like a dinner. The beige with clear block-heel mules sits in between.

Because the lowest tier is sheer, your legs show through the lace. Bare legs work in summer. With the black dress, sheer black tights carry it into autumn. Keep the bag small and smooth so it doesn't snag.

Occasions

The wholesaler files it under day dresses. In white or beige it suits a garden party, a christening, a summer lunch or a beach holiday. In black it works for an evening out and for more formal dinners.

The white one is a risky choice as a wedding guest, for the usual reason. The beige and the black are fine.

Care: follow the label

The maker's data has no care instructions, so follow the label sewn into the dress.

For lace in general, a laundry bag and a gentle programme prevent most damage, and hooks and zips on other clothes are the usual culprits. Hang the dress to dry and keep it on a hanger. Folded lace gets sharp creases along the scallops.

The wow detail: the last tier

Up to the knee the dress is lined and quiet. Then the lining stops and the lace goes on alone, so you see flowers against skin and, at the very bottom, the scalloped edge moving around your calves. It is the part of the dress that people notice when you walk past.

Fashion that gives back

5% of each sale goes to a cause you choose. We matched the causes to 11 of the 17 SDGs, the United Nations goals, so you can see what your share supports before you pick.

Our promise

Ships from the maker's wholesale partner in Poland, inside the EU, with tracking. The wholesaler lists up to 3 days to prepare an order; within the EU delivery usually takes 2–7 business days after dispatch. Delivery is free within the EU on orders from €69; below that it costs €4.95 in the Netherlands and €6.95 elsewhere in the EU.

You have 14 days after delivery to ask for a return, as long as the dress is unworn and still has its tags. Our promise is plain: if what arrives does not match what this page says, send it back within 14 days and we refund you.

More calf-length styles are in our midi dresses collection.