LaPointe Evening Gowns: What to Know Before You Buy

An evening gown is the piece LaPointe is built around. Everything else in the collection, the satin trousers, the cape tees, the feather cuffs, orbits the same idea: one long, fluid, strongly coloured line that reads from across a room.

Here is how the house cuts a gown, which shape suits which event, and what to check before you buy one.

What is a LaPointe gown actually like?

Three things define it.

Doubleface satin. This is the house cloth. It has weight, so it falls rather than floats, and it holds a strong colour without looking flat. It is the reason a plain LaPointe column photographs well.

A bias cut. Many of the gowns are cut on the diagonal grain, which lets the cloth follow the body without a seam doing the work. It is a flattering, forgiving line that moves when you do.

One idea per dress. A LaPointe gown usually does a single thing: a halter neck, a drape, a slit, a feather cuff. It rarely does three at once, which is why the pieces restyle so easily.

Which LaPointe gown shape suits which event?

Black tie and galas. The satin halter gown is the safest strong choice. A clean neckline, a full-length column, a high slit, nothing else. It suits an awards dinner and a charity gala equally.

A winter wedding as a guest. The drape neck bias dress in chocolate, emerald and mulberry. Long sleeves, covered shoulders, a soft line.

A party where you want to be seen. The sequin and mesh gowns. These are sheer-ground pieces with sequins worked across them, so they throw light rather than reflect it in a block.

A dinner that is not quite formal. The tab gown and the shift styles sit shorter and lighter. They read as a dress rather than a gown, which is usually what a dress code means by cocktail.

See the full run in evening gowns and the wider designer dresses.

What colours does LaPointe cut its gowns in?

Black and cream carry the collection, but the house is known for colour, and the gowns are where it shows. Recurring shades include berry (a vivid magenta), mulberry (a deep purple), emerald, chocolate, marine, cinder (a dusty mauve) and a powder blue the brand calls cloud.

The colours are chosen to work in satin specifically. A berry satin reads far more saturated than the same shade in crepe, which is worth knowing if you are shopping from a screen.

How should a LaPointe gown fit?

LaPointe sizes on the US ladder and Coveti converts everything to UK, so a UK 10 is a US 4 at source. The collection is cut true to size, and the brand says so on most product pages.

A bias gown is the one to think about. It should skim, not grip. If it grips at the hip in the fitting room it will be tight by the end of an evening, because the bias relaxes downward as the night goes on. Take your usual size. The LaPointe sizing guide has the full conversion table.

Hem length is worth planning. These are cut for a heel, so if you intend to wear a flat shoe, budget for a hem alteration.

How do you care for a satin gown?

Dry clean only, and hang it on a padded hanger rather than a wire one, which will mark the shoulder. Satin creases along a fold, so store it hanging, never folded in a drawer. If it has picked up a travel crease, hang it in a steamy bathroom rather than pressing it directly.

Where to buy LaPointe gowns

Coveti carries the LaPointe gown collection across satin, mesh and sequin. Browse the LaPointe edit, read who LaPointe is, and see brands like LaPointe if you want to compare houses. Every piece is authenticated before dispatch.

Frequently asked questions

What fabric are LaPointe gowns made from?

Most LaPointe gowns are cut from doubleface satin, a weighted satin that falls rather than floats and holds strong colour. The house also makes gowns in sequinned mesh and in jersey.

Are LaPointe gowns true to size?

Yes. LaPointe states true to size on most product pages. The brand sizes on the US ladder and Coveti lists everything in UK sizing, so a UK 10 is a US 4 at source.

What is a bias cut gown?

A bias cut runs the cloth on the diagonal grain so it follows the body without seams doing the shaping. It gives a fluid line that moves with you. A bias gown should skim rather than grip, because the cloth relaxes downward as you wear it.

What colours do LaPointe gowns come in?

Black and cream run through the collection, alongside the house colours: berry, mulberry, emerald, chocolate, marine, cinder and a powder blue called cloud.

How do you clean a LaPointe satin gown?

Dry clean only. Store it hanging on a padded hanger rather than folded, because satin creases along a fold. Hang it in a steamy bathroom to drop a travel crease instead of pressing the cloth directly.

Read next

• What to wear to a gala
• LaPointe sequin dresses
• LaPointe vs Brandon Maxwell

Written by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti.