Solace London Long Sleeve Dresses: Columns, Blouson Sleeves and Covered Gowns

Coveti stocks 34 long-sleeved Solace London styles, and every one of them is a floor-length maxi, sized UK 4 to 16. Black, red, purple and pink are the most common colours. The sleeves fall into three types: close-fitted columns, soft blouson bodices and off-the-shoulder cuts with a sculpted arm.

Long sleeves are the most searched silhouette for the label after gowns, and the demand is spread wide: the US first, then Saudi Arabia, Australia and the UK. That mix tells you something. Some shoppers want a covered gown for a Gulf wedding, some want a warm one for a December black tie, and some simply like the line a long sleeve gives a column dress. Solace London answers all three with the same approach it uses everywhere: clean fabric, solid colour and a sculpted cut.

The three kinds of Solace London sleeve

Close-fitted columns

This is the classic Solace London long sleeve: a narrow sleeve on a column body, usually with a high neck. The Olivia Maxi Dress in Pewter is the clearest example, a long-sleeved column with a high neck and a waterfall drape at the waist, in medium weight stretch knit crepe combined with a twill with subtle sheen. The Deacon Maxi Dress in Soft Pink takes the same idea in a tailored direction, with an exaggerated shoulder and a deep V neckline in a lightweight woven crepe.

Blouson bodices

A blouson bodice is gathered so it puffs slightly above the waist, which gives the sleeve and upper body more room. The Sedgewick Maxi Dress in Acai has a softly voluminous blouson bodice, a bias cut collar and a pleat at the waist, in medium weight stretch knit crepe combined with a lustrous heavy weight satin. It is the most relaxed long sleeve in the range and the easiest to sit in for a long evening.

Off-the-shoulder sleeves

The most dramatic long sleeves start below the shoulder. The Martine Maxi Dress in Black pairs a long sleeve with a boned corseted bodice and an exaggerated neckline. The Bradshaw Maxi Dress in Ruby is a body-conscious column with a draped off-the-shoulder bodice, and the Winslow Maxi Dress in Black adds a sculptural asymmetrical train. These cover the arm but show the collarbone, so they read as evening gowns first and covered dresses second.

Two styles sit outside the three groups. The Francoise Maxi Dress in Black has a scarf necktie and a waterfall cuff, and the Denevue Maxi Dress in Black is a crystal embellished maxi with a high round neck, sculptural bracelet-length sleeves and a belt.

Long sleeve styles compared

The details below come from each product page.

How long sleeves change the fit

Solace London cuts close, and a long sleeve gives you one more place for the fit to go wrong. The brand’s size chart lists bust, waist and low hip, with no arm measurement, so you have to read the fabric line to judge the sleeve.

Look at the composition line. Where elastane is listed for the sleeve, as on the Olivia (95% polyester, 5% elastane) and the Bradshaw (body and sleeves 95% polyester, 5% elastane), there is some give through the arm. Where the bodice and sleeves are listed as 100% polyester, as on the Martine, Sedgewick and Francoise, the sleeve has less stretch and holds its shape, which looks sharp but leaves less room. If your upper arms are fuller than the rest of your frame suggests, the styles with elastane in the sleeve are the safer choice. On the off-the-shoulder styles, the sleeve also has to stay in place on the arm, so the fit across the upper arm matters more than usual.

The brand’s between-sizes advice still applies. On boned, low-stretch styles it suggests your usual size, going up one if you fall between two; on stretch knit crepe it suggests your usual size, going down for a closer fit. Our Solace London size guide has the full body chart.

Long sleeves for winter black tie

A floor-length gown with a long sleeve is one of the most correct choices for black tie in winter, and it means you do not need a wrap to stay warm between car and ballroom. It also photographs well, because the arm reads as part of the dress rather than as bare skin against a dark background. For the most formal evenings, look at the styles with satin in the fabric line (the Sedgewick, Bradshaw and Francoise), since satin catches the light the way black tie expects.

Our guide to Solace London for winter weddings and galas goes through the full winter edit, and our general guide to black tie dresses covers the dress code itself. For the label’s full evening range, see Solace London gowns.

Long sleeves for a summer wedding

A long sleeve in summer is not as odd as it sounds, especially at an evening reception, in a cool venue, for a guest who prefers to cover. The lightweight woven crepe of the Deacon is the most comfortable in warm weather. The off-the-shoulder styles also work well, because the open neckline lets heat escape.

Lighter colours help too. Soft pink, pale pink and arctic blue all appear among the long-sleeved styles, and they look less wintry than black and ruby. Avoid the ivory and cream shades for a wedding unless the couple has asked for them. Our Solace London wedding guest guide covers colour rules by dress code.

Long sleeves for covered dressing

For shoppers who want full coverage, a long sleeve is the starting point but not the whole answer. The neckline matters as much: the Olivia and Denevue both have high necks, while the Deacon’s V and the off-the-shoulder styles show more skin. Our guide to Solace London modest dresses sorts the range by overall coverage, and our guide to Solace London in Dubai and the Gulf picks out the styles we would suggest for Gulf weddings and Eid evenings. For a wider view across labels, our edit of modern modest dressing is worth a look.

Looking after long sleeves

Sleeves take more wear than any other part of an evening dress. Cuffs pick up make-up and hand cream, and the inside of the elbow creases after a seated dinner. Every product page we read gives the same care: dry clean only, cool iron, do not tumble dry. Hang the dress as soon as you get home, steam the sleeves rather than pressing them flat, and point out any marks on the cuffs when you take it to the cleaner. On the off-the-shoulder styles, store the dress on a padded hanger so the neckline keeps its shape.

The colours

Among the 34 long-sleeved styles, black is the largest group with 10, followed by red with 7, purple and pink with 5 each and blue with 4. The purples run from acai to deep orchid and grape, and the reds from ruby to crimson. For a mother of the bride, the jewel tones are the most useful, and we pick out the best of them in our guide to Solace London mother of the bride dresses.

The full range of long-sleeved styles sits on our Solace London brand page and in the evening gowns category.

Frequently asked questions

Which Solace London dresses have long sleeves?

Coveti stocks 34 long-sleeved Solace London styles, all floor-length maxis. They include the Olivia, Deacon, Sedgewick, Martine, Bradshaw, Winslow, Francoise, Denevue and Delano, in colours led by black, red, purple and pink.

Do Solace London long sleeve dresses run small in the arm?

Solace London publishes no arm measurement, and sleeves listed as 100% polyester have little give. If your upper arms are fuller than your bust and waist suggest, choose a style with elastane listed for the sleeve, such as the Olivia and Bradshaw.

Is a Solace London long sleeve gown right for black tie?

Yes. A floor-length Solace London gown with a long sleeve suits black tie, and it is warm enough for winter without a wrap. The styles with satin in the fabric, such as the Sedgewick and Bradshaw, look the most formal.

Can you wear a Solace London long sleeve dress to a summer wedding?

You can. Choose the lightweight woven crepe of the Deacon, an off-the-shoulder style that lets heat escape, and a lighter colour such as soft pink and arctic blue. Avoid ivory and cream unless the couple has asked for them.

What colours do Solace London long sleeve dresses come in?

Of the 34 long-sleeved Solace London styles at Coveti, 10 are black, 7 red, 5 purple, 5 pink and 4 blue, with grey and other shades making up the rest. The purples include acai, deep orchid and grape.

Are Solace London sleeves lined?

Solace London product pages say most styles are fully lined, but they do not always say whether the lining runs into the sleeve. On the Sedgewick, for example, the lining is listed for the skirt. Check the fabric line on the product page for each style.

More Solace London guides

Every Coveti guide to the label, plus the full Solace London edit.

• Is Solace London a Luxury Brand? Quality, Fabric and Fit Assessed
• Solace London Size Guide: UK, US and EU Sizes with Body Measurements
• Where to Buy Solace London in the US, UK and Australia
• Solace London Gowns: The Evening Styles Worth Knowing
• Solace London Wedding Guest Dresses for Every Dress Code
• Solace London Bridal: Wedding Dresses, Reception Looks and Civil Ceremony Styles
• Solace London Modest Dresses: Long Sleeves, High Necks and Full Lengths
• Solace London Dresses by Colour: Black, Red, White, Pink, Green and Blue
• Solace London Strapless, One Shoulder and Off the Shoulder Dresses
• Solace London Signature Styles: Kinsley, Lang, Kira, Olivia and the Icons Explained
• Which Celebrities Wear Solace London? Every Verified Look
• Brands Like Solace London: 6 Alternatives We Stock
• Solace London in Dubai, Riyadh and the Gulf: Where to Shop and What to Wear
• Solace London Mother of the Bride Dresses: Elegant Styles for the Whole Day
• Solace London for Winter Weddings and Black Tie Galas
• Solace London Christmas Party Dresses: Minis, Midis and Party Maxis
• Solace London Maxi, Midi and Mini Dresses: Lengths Explained
• Solace London Rental Versus Buying: When Each Makes Sense
• Solace London Resort 2027: The New Collection
• Solace London Real Versus Fake: How to Check Your Dress and the Site You Buy From
• How to Style Solace London: Shoes, Bags, Jewellery and Cover Ups