There's a version of yourself you lose track of sometimes. Not dramatically — not through anything you could point to and name — but gradually, through two years of working from home and wearing comfortable things and not going anywhere that required you to think about what you put on. I'd been practical for so long that I'd forgotten I used to enjoy getting dressed. That I used to have a point of view about it.
My best friend's thirtieth birthday was the occasion that made me realise I needed to find that version of myself again. It was a proper evening out — dinner, dancing, the kind of night that deserved a real dress. I opened my wardrobe and found nothing that felt right. Plenty of things that were fine. Nothing that felt like me.
I spent a week looking. And then I found the Yumi Green Bardot Asymmetric Maxi Dress, and I stopped looking.
What I Was Looking For
I wanted something that felt celebratory without being costumey. Something with a neckline that was interesting — I'd been wearing crew necks and high necks for two years and I wanted something that felt more open, more summery, more like an evening out. And I wanted a print, because block colours felt too safe and I was done with safe.
The bardot neckline had been on my mind for a while — off-the-shoulder, inherently elegant, the kind of thing that makes you stand differently. The asymmetric hemline was the detail I hadn't known I was looking for until I saw it: it gives a maxi dress movement and interest without the formality of a straight hem. And the ditsy floral print in green was exactly the right register — feminine without being fussy, on-trend without being try-hard.
Why I Chose This One
When I found the Yumi Green Bardot Asymmetric Maxi Dress, I knew within about twenty seconds. The off-the-shoulder neckline with ruffles is the kind of detail that elevates a dress from pretty to genuinely special — it frames the shoulders and collarbone in a way that's flattering on almost every body shape. The fabric tapering at the waist to show off your curves is exactly what I needed after two years of shapeless comfortable things. And the asymmetric hemline — full-length but with movement, not stiff or formal — was the thing that made it feel like a dress for dancing rather than just a dress for standing in.
The ditsy floral print in green is the kind of print that photographs beautifully and looks even better in person. Not a large, bold print that dominates — a small, delicate one that adds texture and interest without overwhelming the silhouette.
The Birthday Night
I wore it with strappy gold heels and minimal jewellery — the dress didn't need much else. I got ready in about twenty minutes, which is the mark of a dress that works: you put it on, you look in the mirror, and you're done. No second-guessing, no accessories crisis, no last-minute change of plan.
My friend opened the door when I arrived and said: "Oh, you look incredible." Not "you look nice" — incredible. I hadn't heard that word directed at me in a while and I'd forgotten how much it matters.
I danced in it for three hours. The asymmetric hemline moved exactly as I'd hoped — with me, not against me. The bardot neckline stayed exactly where it was supposed to all evening. The fabric was light enough to be comfortable in a warm room without feeling insubstantial. I didn't think about the dress once after the first hour, which is the highest compliment I can give any piece of clothing.
The Difference It Made
I came home that night feeling like myself in a way I hadn't in two years. That sounds like a lot to attribute to a dress. But clothing is how we present ourselves to the world and to ourselves, and when you've been presenting a practical, comfortable, slightly diminished version of yourself for long enough, putting on something that reflects who you actually are — who you want to be — is genuinely significant.
I've worn the dress twice more since then. I've also started buying things I actually like again rather than things that are merely sensible. The dress was the start of that. It reminded me that getting dressed can be a pleasure rather than a task, and that I have a point of view about it worth expressing.
That's a lot to attribute to a dress. But it's the truth.
Who I'd Recommend This To
Anyone who has an important occasion coming up and wants something that feels genuinely special rather than just appropriate. Anyone who loves a bardot neckline and has been looking for one that's elegant rather than casual. Anyone who wants a maxi dress with movement and drama rather than formality. And anyone who, like me, has been playing it safe for too long and needs a reason to stop.
Style it with strappy heels as the description suggests — the asymmetric hemline and the heel height work together to create a silhouette that's genuinely striking. Gold or nude work best with the green floral print.
You can find the Yumi Green Bardot Asymmetric Maxi Dress in our store. It also sits within our Dresses, Clothing, and Apparel & Accessories collections if you'd like to explore more.
Find the dress that feels like you. Then wear it somewhere worth remembering.
— Simone Adeyemi, London
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