LaPointe Feather Dresses: The Complete Buying Guide

Feathers are the reason most people can name a LaPointe piece across a room. Sally LaPointe has used them since the early collections, and they now run through roughly a third of what the New York house makes: ostrich plumes at a cuff, marabou down a sleeve, hand embroidered cascades over sheer nylon. If you are shopping LaPointe at Coveti, feathers are the house signature you will meet first.

This guide covers what the brand actually uses, which silhouettes suit which occasion, and how to keep the plumes alive for more than one night.

What kind of feathers does LaPointe use?

Three appear again and again on the care labels. Ostrich (listed as Struthio camelus) gives the long, soft, drifting plume used on cuffs and hems. Marabou is the shorter, denser, cloud-like trim you see at a sleeve on the cashmere silk turtlenecks. Coq and other domestic feathers (Gallus domesticus) turn up in the hand embroidered pieces, where they are stitched flat onto nylon mesh rather than left loose.

The composition line on each product page names the exact mix, and most feather pieces pair the plume with a plain ground cloth: 100% nylon for the embroidered styles, doubleface satin for the shift dresses, cashmere silk for the knits.

Which LaPointe feather piece should I buy first?

It depends on how much of the look you want to carry.

The satin shift dress with feathers is the easiest entry point. It is a clean, short, wide-sleeved shift in doubleface satin with plumes at the cuff, so the feathers read as a detail rather than the whole outfit. It works for a winter party and for a city wedding.

The feather-trimmed knits are the quiet option. A merino mock neck with plumes at the wrist is a normal sweater until you move. These are the pieces that carry a LaPointe signature into a working week.

A full feather jacket (the marbled feathers styles) is the statement. It is a coat of plumes, and it is best worn over something completely plain.

If you want the effect without committing to a garment, the feather cuffs slide over any long sleeve and come off at dinner.

How do you wear feathers without looking costumed?

One rule covers most of it: let the feathers be the only texture in the outfit.

A feather jacket goes over flat satin, a plain jersey column, a simple trouser. A feather-cuffed dress wants a bare shoe and small jewellery. When people go wrong with plumes it is usually because they have added sequins, a print and a statement earring on top.

The second rule is about proportion. Feathers add visual volume wherever they sit, so a cuffed sleeve widens the arm and a hem trim widens the leg line. If you are petite, a cuff detail flatters more than a full hem. Our guide to wearing LaPointe goes further into the house silhouettes.

Are LaPointe feathers real?

Yes. The care labels name the species and, on some styles, the country of origin and whether the birds were captive raised. LaPointe does not use synthetic plume on the pieces described as feather. That is also why the care instruction is usually stricter than for the rest of the wardrobe.

How do you care for a feather garment?

Never wash a feather piece at home, and never steam directly onto the plumes. Water mats the barbs together and they do not recover their loft.

Take the piece to a specialist cleaner. Several LaPointe labels say so explicitly, and the marabou styles often specify a fur specialist rather than a general dry cleaner. Between wears, hang the garment where nothing presses the feathers against a wardrobe wall, then shake it gently before you put it on to let the plumes open again. Store it in a breathable cover, never sealed plastic.

A crushed plume can often be revived by holding the garment in the steam above a bath for a minute, well away from the water, then shaking it out. That is the only home remedy worth trying.

Where to buy LaPointe feather pieces

Coveti carries the LaPointe feather collection across dresses, tops, jackets and accessories. Browse the full LaPointe edit, the designer dresses, the tops and the jackets. Every piece is authenticated before it ships.

Frequently asked questions

What feathers does LaPointe use?

LaPointe uses ostrich (Struthio camelus) for long drifting plumes, marabou for the soft dense trims at cuffs and sleeves, and coq and other domestic feathers for the hand embroidered styles stitched onto nylon mesh. The composition line on each product page names the exact mix.

Can you dry clean LaPointe feathers?

Yes, but only with a specialist. Several LaPointe feather pieces specify professional care, and the marabou styles often ask for a fur specialist rather than a general dry cleaner. Never wash a feather garment at home, because water mats the barbs and they do not recover.

Are LaPointe feather dresses suitable for a wedding?

The satin shift dresses with feather cuffs work well as a guest dress, and the ivory feather styles are popular for the second look at a wedding. Check the dress code first, because a full feather jacket reads as a statement rather than a quiet guest outfit.

How do you stop feathers from shedding?

Some shedding is normal on a real plume. Reduce it by hanging the garment so nothing crushes the feathers, shaking it gently rather than brushing it, and keeping it away from friction against bags and seatbelts.

What should I wear with a LaPointe feather jacket?

Keep everything else plain. A flat satin trouser, a jersey column dress and a simple shoe let the plumes carry the outfit. Avoid adding sequins and prints on top.

Read next

• How to care for feather clothing
• LaPointe accessories
• How to wear LaPointe

Written by Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti.