Zutano evokes child shoes

From Soft Booties to Sculpted Evening Wear: What Good Design Shares

The title of this page points somewhere unexpected for a bandage dress desk: Zutano, the brand known for soft, playful children's clothing and its cosy fleece and cotton baby booties. The link is less strange than it sounds. A well-made child's shoe and a well-made bandage dress solve the same basic problem. Each has to follow the shape of a moving body closely without pinching, slipping or losing its form after repeated wear.

Baby booties are built around a few simple ideas. They use soft, flexible materials, they close securely so they stay on, and their shape follows the foot rather than forcing it into a rigid outline. Bandage dresses work on a similar principle at a very different scale. Knitted bands with some stretch wrap the body in overlapping panels, so the garment holds and shapes the figure while still moving with it. In both cases the fit does the work that decoration does elsewhere.

Lessons worth borrowing when you shop

• Flexibility matters as much as shape. A dress that looks sculpted on the hanger should still let you sit, walk and dance comfortably. If it fights every movement, the fit is wrong.
• Secure closures prevent constant adjusting. Check that zips sit flat and hemlines stay put when you move.
• Measure rather than guess. Parents measure small feet before buying shoes, and the same habit pays off with body-con knits. Our size guide explains which measurements to take and how stretch affects sizing.
• Care keeps the shape. Soft knits of any size last longer when washed gently and dried flat, away from direct heat.

Playfulness has its place too

Zutano became known for cheerful colour and pattern, and it shows that clothing with a strong structure can still feel light-hearted. Evening dressing gains from the same attitude. A bold colour, a contrast band or an unexpected accessory can soften a very structured silhouette. For ideas on balancing sharp tailoring with a bit of fun, browse the lookbook, or see the latest pieces on the new arrivals page.