This women's floral cocktail dress does something most long dresses don't, which is cover your arms. A flocked floral runs across a fine mesh, the body is cut close from a round neckline all the way through the hip, and the skirt releases just below the knee into a soft mermaid sweep to the ankle.

Why you'll love it:

• Short sleeves on a formal maxi, genuinely hard to find and far easier to wear than strapless
  
  
• Flocked floral on sheer mesh gives texture and depth rather than a printed-on look
  
  
• Fitted mermaid silhouette that follows the body then flares below the knee
  
  
• Lined through the body with the mesh left sheer at the sleeves
  
  
• Seven tonal colourways: black, wine red, emerald, dusty blue, light blue, brown and rose pink