Tadashi Shoji Gowns

Tadashi Shoji Gowns

Tadashi Shoji was founded in Los Angeles in 1982 by Sendai-born designer Tadashi Shoji, who saw a gap in occasion dressing. The signature is stretch fabric with fluid silhouettes, combined with couture dressmaking techniques engineered for production. This edit gathers lace and crepe gowns, jumpsuits, sequin embroidered gowns, taffeta halter gowns and cocktail dresses with lotus embroidery.

Collage of formal gowns in lace, satin, floral prints and jewel tones across runway and editorial settings

Lace gowns and jumpsuits

Tadashi Shoji was born in Sendai, Japan, and studied art there before working for three years in the studio of the conceptual artist Jiro Takamatsu. In the United States he worked for the costume designers Bill Whitten and Richard Blackwell. In 1982 he started his own label in Los Angeles because he saw a gap in occasion dressing. The approach he describes is stretch fabric with fluid silhouettes, plus couture dressmaking techniques adjusted for production. You can see that in the lace and crepe pieces here. The Ravelle lace panelled column gown, the Plunging Illusion Lace & Crepe Gown and the Pintuck Bodycon Lace & Crepe Dress show the stretch and the lace together. Jumpsuits are a good alternative to a gown, from the Amaris plunging illusion lace jumpsuit to the Aderyn metallic jersey and the Deacon collar style. The Parello lotus embroidered tulle gown and the Cabbie foliage print midi are for a more romantic evening. What I would skip is the metallic crisscross gown at a daytime ceremony, where it will read as too much. This black tie guide shows which gowns fit which dress code.

Model in a silver fringe halter cocktail dress on a grey studio backdrop

Sequins, tulle and draped gowns

Shoji's runway collection debuted at New York Fashion Week in 2007, and he was elected a CFDA member in 2012. The second group has the sequin and drape pieces that suit a wedding or a gala. The Sequined Lace One-Shoulder Gown, the Sequin Illusion Column Gown and the Miranda sequin embroidered gown in both regular and plus size are the dressier ones. The Mireya draped cap sleeve gown, the Nanea draped gown and the Draped Off-Shoulder Georgette Gown are softer. Sims has a taffeta shoulder bow halter, Carnie is a strapless floral print, and Sorella is a jacquard and taffeta portrait gown. For shorter hems, the Stelly lotus embroidered tulle cocktail dress, the Sone floral embellished mini and the Fiora pintuck illusion midi are good. If the invitation is for a daytime wedding, garden formal wedding guest dresses and mother of the bride dresses will help you choose the length.

Model in a black wrap dress with fringed cuffs on a grey backdrop
Runway model in a red lace gown with ruffled shoulders

The pieces I would build around

With more than 700 department and specialty stores worldwide, and boutiques in the US and China, the label is easy to find when an event calls for a gown. A fragrance called Eau de Rose, bridal and accessories followed in 2017. If I were choosing, I would start with a lace column gown or a lace jumpsuit and keep everything else simple. For other ways to dress the wedding season, wedding guest dresses for fall are in velvet and silk, and a jumpsuit worn instead of a dress is a clean option.

 

To round out the look, see Roksanda Dresses and Gowns and Halston Gowns and Coats.