Styles and design · 5 October 2026 · 4 min read

Made-to-measure wrap dresses: neckline, ties and coverage

What to ask for in a made-to-measure wrap dress: true or faux wrap, how deep the neckline sits, hidden fastenings, skirt overlap, ties and sleeve length.

Inspiration

Three places a wrap dress goes wrong

A made-to-measure wrap dress is cut so the crossover sits where you want it: the neckline as high as you choose, the tie at your own waist and the skirt overlapping enough to stay closed. Those are the three places where a ready-made wrap most often disappoints, by gaping at the chest, tying too high or too low, or flying open in a breeze.

A wrap is one of the Western dress shapes you can ask us for by sending a photo, in your own fabric or in fabric we supply. The notes below cover what to specify.

True wrap or faux wrap?

A true wrap opens completely, like a dressing gown. One front panel crosses over the other, and a tie, usually passed through a small opening in the side seam, holds everything at the waist. You adjust it each time you put it on, and it needs no zip.

A faux wrap only looks crossed. The front panels are stitched down where they overlap, and the dress goes on over the head or closes with a zip. Nothing can come undone, the neckline stays where it was sewn and the skirt is closed all the way round. If coverage matters most, the faux wrap is the safer choice. If adjustability matters most, choose the true wrap and add the small fastenings described below.

Neckline depth and keeping it closed

The V of a wrap is formed by two diagonal edges, and the point where they cross decides how deep it is. Give that point as a measurement, straight down from the hollow of your throat, instead of trusting the photo. Then choose from the usual dressmaking answers to a gaping wrap:

A higher crossover. The panels are cut to overlap further, so the V ends higher and its edges sit closer to the neck.
A hidden fastening. A small press stud or hook where the edges cross stops the front shifting when you bend or reach.
A modesty panel. A flat piece of matching fabric sewn behind the V fills it in while the wrap line stays visible.
A stabilised edge. Diagonal edges stretch easily, which is why wrap necklines grow slack with wear. A stay tape or firm facing sewn into the edge keeps it lying flat.

Skirt overlap and ties

On a true wrap the skirt is open down one side of the front and held only by the overlap. A shallow overlap parts when you walk, sit or climb stairs. Ask for the under panel to reach well across the body, close to the opposite side seam, and consider an inside tie or button at the waist that anchors the under layer separately from the outer tie.

Ties can wrap right round the body and knot at the side or back, or fasten in a short bow at the side seam; longer ties allow either. If you dislike bulk at the waist, ask for narrow ties, or for a faux wrap with a flat waist seam.

Sleeves, length and fabric

Any sleeve length can go on a wrap bodice: full length with a buttoned cuff, three-quarter, elbow or a loose flutter. The sleeve styles pages show each shape. A full sleeve, a raised crossover and a midi or maxi skirt give a wrap dress that covers as much as any other long dress, and the V-neck page helps with judging depth.

Fabric changes the result more than on most dresses. Soft, fluid cloth such as crepe, georgette or viscose folds into the crossover and ties neatly. Crisp cotton makes a sharper, shirt-like wrap that holds its shape but shows the knot more. Very light fabric needs a lining. Our article on how fabric changes fit and drape explains why the same measurements behave differently in different cloth.

What to send with your request

Use Send Your Design and include the points below. The Send Your Design page explains how a photo becomes a written description that you approve before cutting, and we confirm in the quote which of these details are possible on your fabric.

A photo of the dress, front and back if you have both.
Bust, waist, hips, shoulder to waist, dress length, sleeve length and your height.
True or faux wrap, and how far down the V should end.
Any hidden fastening, modesty panel or lining you would like.

Common questions

Does a wrap dress suit a fuller bust?

It can, because the diagonal neckline and the tie follow the body. The result depends on enough fabric in each front panel, so send an accurate full-bust measurement and ask for a hidden fastening where the edges cross.

Can a wrap dress be worn with a hijab?

Yes. Ask for a raised crossover or a modesty panel so the neckline sits near the base of the neck, with full sleeves and a midi or maxi length. A faux wrap keeps everything in place through the day.

Will a true wrap still fit if my waist changes a little?

A true wrap has more tolerance at the waist than a zipped dress, because you tie it afresh each time. The shoulders, bust and sleeves are still cut to the measurements you send, so those need to be accurate.

More guides