Safiyaa Embellished Dresses: Crystal, Gunmetal and Mirror Work

A Safiyaa embellished dress is a clean heavy crepe silhouette with crystal, gunmetal, mirror embroidery too, placed at one point: the neckline of the new Ardine, the bust of the Nyra, the bodice of the Mela. Only the Rionaise and the Regan go further. It is a more restrained take on the embellished dress, priced on Coveti from $3,460 to $6,331.

Embellished dresses draw steady demand year round, rising in November and December in both the US and the UK. Safiyaa, founded in London in 2011, has made crystal a house signature, but it rarely covers a whole dress. The useful question for a buyer is how much shine you want, and where. This guide answers it, piece by piece.

How much embellishment does each Safiyaa dress carry?

Safiyaa embellishment falls into three levels: a traced line, a focused panel, and all-over work.

• Traced line: crystal along the neckline and straps, as on the Ardine, and gunmetal along the neckline of the Selena.
• Focused panel: crystal across the bust on the Nyra, gunmetal crystal on the mesh bodice of the Mela, crystal embroidery on the Zetta.
• All over: the Rionaise column and the mirrored crystal corset of the Regan.

Which Safiyaa embellished dresses are on Coveti?

Nine styles, from cocktail lengths to black tie gowns.

Which is the best first embellished Safiyaa gown?

The Ardine and the Nyra: the crystal frames the dress without covering it.

The Ardine Embroidered Long Dress in Black with Crystal ($3,270) is a halter column in heavy crepe with crystal tracing the neckline and straps into a crystal bow, and a thigh-high slit. The Nyra Long Dress in Black ($3,830) is a heavy crepe column with an empire waist, spaghetti straps, a front slit and crystal across the bust. Both are designed for formal evenings and both work with the same black sandal. For the halter alternatives see our Safiyaa halter neck dresses guide.

What is gunmetal embellishment?

Gunmetal is a dark, smoky metallic finish that reads as shine without silver’s brightness.

Safiyaa uses it on the Mela Long Dress in Black with Gunmetal, whose sheer mesh bodice is covered in gunmetal crystal, and on the Selena Long Dress in Maritime Blue with Gunmetal, a sleeveless column with a slit, a draped faille back and gunmetal along the neckline. Gunmetal suits black tie when silver feels too festive.

Which Safiyaa gowns are fully embellished?

The Rionaise and the Regan.

The Rionaise Long Dress in Black is a column with all-over embellishment, framed by a structured Tech Duchess cape with a Maritime Blue interior; Safiyaa notes its modest coverage. The Regan Long Dress in Black with Crystal is a strapless corseted column whose bodice is covered in mirrored crystal and sequin embroidery, finished with a fringed hem. Our Safiyaa black tie dresses guide covers both.

Is there a short embellished Safiyaa dress?

Yes. The Ripa midi and the Reffie mini both have a crystal and feather hem.

The Ripa Midi Dress in Black with Feathers is sleeveless; the Reffie Short Dress in Ivory with Feathers is a long-sleeved heavy crepe mini. Our Safiyaa feather dresses guide covers them in detail.

How should you style an embellished dress?

Match your jewellery to the metal, and keep it small.

• Crystal: diamond studs, a fine tennis bracelet too.
• Gunmetal: black jewellery and a black satin clutch.
• All-over: nothing at the neck; a single ring.

How is embellishment worn around the world?

In the United States, all-over shine is the gala default. In the UK, a traced crystal neckline is the safer black tie choice. In Europe, gunmetal is popular for opera nights and winter balls. In the Gulf, the caped Rionaise and the three-quarter-sleeved Zetta offer shine with coverage; see our Safiyaa modest occasion dresses guide.

What size should you buy?

Safiyaa says its dresses fit true to size; Coveti offers them in UK sizes 4 to 18.

Embroidered panels do not stretch, so check your bust measurement for the Mela, Nyra and Regan. The house model is 175cm and wears a FR36. See the Safiyaa size guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does Safiyaa make embellished dresses?

Yes. Coveti stocks nine embellished Safiyaa styles, including the Ardine, Nyra, Zetta, Mela, Selena, Rionaise, Regan, Ripa and Reffie.

What is the Safiyaa Ardine embellished dress?

The Ardine is a heavy crepe halter column with crystal embroidery along the neckline and straps, a crystal bow at the front and a thigh-high slit.

What is gunmetal embellishment?

Gunmetal is a dark, smoky metallic finish. Safiyaa uses gunmetal crystal on the Mela bodice and along the neckline of the Selena.

Which Safiyaa dress is fully embellished?

The Rionaise has all-over embellishment with a Tech Duchess cape, and the Regan has a mirrored crystal and sequin corset bodice.

Can you wear an embellished dress to black tie?

Yes. The Nyra, Zetta, Mela, Selena and Rionaise are all designed by Safiyaa for black tie events.

How much are Safiyaa embellished dresses?

On Coveti they range from $3,460 to $6,331 for the Regan.