Swan Serenade - Caroline Castigliano

Every so often a Caroline Castigliano gown arrives  —  her dresses are deceptively simple until you actually meet one in real life. Swan Serenade is exactly that. On the hanger, she seems calm and understated. On the body, she quietly gets on with the business of making you look incredible.

The strapless sweetheart bodice is shaped properly — none of the flimsy nonsense — thanks to that wonderful Castigliano corsetry hiding inside. It holds you in the right places and lifts you in the right places, and you suddenly understand why couture matters. The wide band of beaded lace around the waist is just enough. No glitter explosion, just a soft, pretty detail that gently defines your shape.

And then there’s the skirt. Layers and layers of tulle that don’t swamp you or turn you into a cupcake — they just float. The train has that graceful sweep that always reminds me of a ballerina taking her final bow. It’s romantic without being sugary.

She’s a size 8, in immaculate preloved condition, and very much for the bride who loves clean lines but still wants a bit of theatre. Swan Serenade doesn’t shout — she glides.