Six little black dresses for work and weekends

You simply can’t go wrong with a little black dress…

With endless ways to style, from cardigans and sneakers at the weekend to pearls and high heels for formal events, the black dress is wardrobe workhorse that ensures and excellent CPW (cost per wear*) return.

Our beautiful selection of black dresses encompasses a variety of necklines, fits and sleeve lengths, so there’s something for everyone – and if you’re not a fan of black dresses, try filtering by color on our dress category page!

Keep reading for kay me stylists’ choice of our top 6 little black dresses…

Short sleeve – Square neck & Marilyn

Great for formal events during warmer weather, our black square neck dress features a generous ruching that simultaneously highlights and flatters the figure. The square neckline lends itself easily to pairing with any jacket or kay me cardigan, making this a truly versatile dress.

Put a swing in your step with our charming Marilyn dress in black, the generous flared skirt made to swish and sway with every movement, plus handy pockets for daily small essentials such as keys, business cards and even snacks.

Three-quarter sleeve – Cache-coeur

For a classic fit-and-flare look, our cache-coeur dress in black is hard to beat – designed with specially-placed seams to create a more flattering fit on the body, this dress has both a crossover bust and A-line flared skirt for extra impact.

Long sleeve – Gather & Side-gather

Our gather dresses are so easy to wear and give a touch of instant elegance to any ensemble. The stylish details and mermaid skirt of our black gather dress and black side-gather dress make for a feminine and grown-up dress that’s at home in any situation. Wear from autumn to spring, and know that your dress will carry you easily though the seasons.

Discover our side gather dress for an extra touch of elegance

* To calculate cost per wear, divide the price by the number of times the garment is worn – the lower the better!

Black Square Neck Dress – https://kayme.com/catalog/product/view/id/5164/s/aijd-black-square-neck-dress/category/98/

Black Marilyn Dress – https://kayme.com/catalog/product/view/id/5676/s/aijg-black-marilyn-dress/category/98/

Black Cache-coeur Dress – https://kayme.com/ahji-black-cache-coeur-dress.html

Black Venus Dress – https://kayme.com/ahji-black-venus-dress.html

Black Gather Dress – https://kayme.com/catalog/product/view/id/4628/s/ahaa-black-gathered-dress/category/98/

Black Side-gathered Dress – https://kayme.com/dresses/ahaa-black-side-gathered-dress.html

Inspired by nature

There’s no need to look too far when searching for inspiration – there’s beauty and life all around us here at our Tokyo atelier!

From market stalls to parks to urban geometry, just looking out of the window is sure to generate new ideas for prints, patterns and color combinations.

Working closely with our London-based award-winning print designers and local and international fabric suppliers, kay me loves to share our world with you…

Water and waves

One of the cultural elements of Japan, water is a wonderful source of inspiration for us.

Capture the essence of water and sunlight with our dramatic Aquarium long dress in stretch chiffon – light and airy, our dress with long maxi skirt sways as you walk, perfectly complementing the striking print design of this fabulous dress.

Our polka dot dresses are an annual favorite, with our charming light blue polka dot Marilyn dress bringing to mind April showers and fresh spring days, while our Marine Stripe dress showcases the power of the ocean with random stripes like crashing waves.

All three dresses featured here are our Marilyn pattern design, featuring a crossover bust, ribbon-like gathered waist detail, flared skirt and handy pockets.

Flower power

Choosing from our gorgeous selection of florals was no easy matter, but here’s just three of our favorites especially for the early autumn season.

Keep an eye out for new versions of our lovely Primitive Art dress coming later in the year, with our first use of this unique print capturing the vibrancy of nature. Our Tsubaki gather dress is inspired by traditional Japanese patterns, with the red roses contrasting beautifully with the green and black background.

Another favorite rose print, our Navy Rose, like Tsubaki, is made from insulated fleece-lined jersey designed to keep you warm and toasty to matter the weather, perfect for outside events and winter parties.

Juicy fruits

Get ready for mouth-watering style with our selection of fruity prints and colors…

First in line is out wonderful Crayon Berry gather dress, one of the heroines of our late summer/early autumn collection. With a riot of flowers and berries hand-drawn in a crayon-like texture, this dress is sure to have you planning your next smoothie hit.

Our fresh Lemon print dress has also been a popular choice here in Japan, with the striking mix of bright colors and black and white making color coordination a breeze – this dress looks great with a variety of neutrals including navy, beige and gray.

For something extra glamorous, try our new rich grape jersey – simple change up your accessories for an instant day-to-night look.

The beauty of Japan

Our bingata prints are authentic designs from traditional Okinawan crafts – read the story of how bingata is made here – and feature 22 colors exactingly printed using our patented techniques that keep our artwork sharper for longer.

Choose from pretty pink Nadeshiko, blue-on-blue Amairo, and blue and white Ai. The wide variety of subtle colors ensures easy coordination with a wide range of matching and contrasting kay me items, including our stretchy suits and Japan-made knitwear.

Marine Stripe Marilyn Dress – https://kayme.com/aijf-stripe-marilyn-dress.html

Aqua Dot Marilyn Dress – https://kayme.com/aijd-dot-marilyn-dress.html

Aquarium Long Dress – https://kayme.com/aijd-aquarium-long-dress.html

Ryukyu Bingata Ai Top – https://kayme.com/aijf-navy-cache-coeur-top.html

Ryukyu Bingata Nadeshiko Top – https://kayme.com/aijf-pink-cache-coeur-top.html

Amairo Cache-coeur Dress – https://kayme.com/aije-blue-cache-coeur-dress.html

Tsubaki Gather Dress – https://kayme.com/catalog/product/view/id/4705/s/ahab-camelia-gathered-dress/category/98/

Crayon Berry Gather Dress – https://kayme.com/aijg-red-gathered-dress.html

Lemon Gather Dress – https://kayme.com/aije-lemon-gathered-dress.html

Discover kay me’s chiffon collection

Have you seen our amazing chiffon collection?

Available as dresses in standard and long lengths, blouses and tops, and our popular docking dresses, there’s a beautiful variety of prints and colors to enjoy.

kay me’s specially-selected chiffon has been chosen to meet our exacting standards, and is soft, stretchy and fully machine washable – just like the full range of kay me clothing!

Read on for our favorite chiffon selection…

Long dresses

Perfect for everything from summer days to transitional weather, our long chiffon dresses flutter in the breeze and feel light as air. For summer vacations in the sun, our striking Aquarium print sleeveless Marilyn dress is the perfect choice for making a style statement wherever you are.

For work and weekends, our long chiffon dresses in navy and White Geo print look fantastic teamed with everything from our Japan-made knitwear to stretchy riders jackets. kay me stylists recommend tying the waist sash in different ways, or using a belt made from a contrasting color or material for a fresh update.

Dresses

With plenty of chiffon dresses on offer, you’re sure to find your perfect match!

Bright and beautiful, our stretch chiffon is specially printed to ensure long-lasting color with as little fade as possible – out atelier team recommend washing inside a protective garment bag and hanging to line-dry when possible.

Choose from our aptly-name Dramatic Yellow dress with pretty frills and flared hem, our original Aquarium print Marilyn dress with handy pockets, tiny floral Petit Navy print and kay me classic colorful Monet with stunning bias cut and frilled neckline.

For a touch of sparkle, our navy dress with V neck, exposed zip and elegantly layered skirt has a charming row of tiny hand-placed Swarovski crystals that bring attention and shine to the face – a wonderful choice for any event, and easy to wear with any kay me outerwear.

Docking dresses

Our docking dresses are a popular choice here in Tokyo, and give the effect of a top and skirt with all the ease of a simple one-zip dress.

Great for any office or more formal environment, our frill docking dresses are available in navy polka dot chiffon, subtle beige x black and lavender x navy, and eye-catching pink x charcoal and mustard x navy. Wear with a matching jacket for instant suit style, or with a contrasting tone for endless outfit possibilities.

For even more options, our pretty Oana dress pairs a cool floral print with short-sleeve chiffon top for fresh summer look, and our black and white knit blousing dress with full sleeves adds dimension to any winter outfit – simply wear with tights and and ankle boots for a cute and cozy look.

Blouses and tops

Lovely Pink is certainly that – our sweet floral print chiffon blouse with shades of pink also features a ribbon bow tie that can be tied in different ways or left loose as you choose. Wear with dark neutrals or soft pastels for a variety of mix and match looks with this soft and sweet chiffon blouse.

For other long sleeve blouses, our White Geo print frill blouse is the perfect partner for busy working days, and as our crease-resistant chiffon is fully machine washable, there’s no need to worry about dry cleaning – highly recommended for business trips and travel.

For plain tops, our bracelet-length white double layer chiffon top and short sleeve ice gray double layer chiffon tops offer a variety of styling options: try a full tuck, inner layer tuck or leave both layers out for a more relaxed feel.

Click here to see our full range of chiffon items!

Navy dresses for fuss-free office days

As we’re all familiar with the Monday morning routine of agonizing over what to wear, allow kay me stylists to present their selection of easy to wear and coordinate, comfortable and stylish dresses in classic navy to help you head out the door on time.

All kay me items are machine washable, crease-resistant and expertly hand-crafted here in Japan, meaning that your kay me wardrobe will not only keep you looking chic and professional all day long, but also leaves more time for you to focus on what’s important to you.

Keep reading for our top navy work dress picks…

Short sleeves

(V-neck I-line, Navy dot square-neck, Navy daily, Blue Fonce gather)

Great for warm weather. layering and transitional days, our short sleeve dresses provide excellent coverage with a variety of sleeve lengths.

Choose from solid navy, such as our popular I-line and daily styles – kay me stylists suggest tying the ribbon waist tie in different ways for a quick change – and work-appropriate prints including our floral Blue Fonce with creamy off-white flowers on a navy background, and our tiny polka dot print for a touch of fun.

Long sleeves

(Petit Navy Marilyn, Navy dot cache-coeur, Navy gathered)

With both three-quarter and long sleeve options, there’s plenty to choose from – and don’t forget about our custom order service if your dream dress isn’t already in production!

Our classic gathered styles create beautiful draped lines to flatter your figure, while our cache-coeur and Marilyn fit-and-flare dresses have the perfect amount of swing in the skirt to give and extra boost to your mood from morning to night.

Knit dresses

(Navy knit, Navy Rose knit)

For chilly days, kay me stylists love to recommend our fabulous knitwear, made in coastal Kanazawa specially for kay me. Our gorgeous knits are soft, thick and fully washable at home – kay me founder and lead designer Junko Kemi is a particular fan of traveling in our knit dresses!

Our stylists recommend pairing these knit dresses with matching and contrasting knit outers, such as our long cardigans and knit jackets, as well as our traditional tailored jackets for a more formal touch.

Try filtering categories by color to find your new favorite kay me dress today!

Chic pants style

Have you tried kay me’s trousers yet?

In addition to our fantastic range of dresses, knitwear, bags and stoles, kay me’s pants are also a great choice for busy work days and stylish occasions…

Stretchy, machine washable and crease-resistant, our pants are pretty perfect – and they have pockets too.

Designed to fit your needs, our pants have a slightly higher waist and cropped length, with subtle notched cuffs and hand-tucked waist pleat detailing.

Hand-crafted individually in our Tokyo atelier using our preferred fabric blend that’s just as soft and comfortable as you can expect for any and all kay me items, you can bend and flex all day long with ease in our stretchy pants with pockets!

Our trousers are available in navy and black to pair with kay me tailored jackets and bolero styles for instantly elegant office outfits.

kay me stylists also recommend wearing with contrasting outerwear for extra style points, plus our wonderfully stretchy riders jackets and knitwear for days out and about.

If you’re already a fan of kay me’s soft and stretchy dresses and timeless workwear, consider adding a pair of our versatile trousers to your weekly wardrobe today – with free global shipping, it’s always a good time to find your new favorite kay me item!

Black Tucked Trousers – https://kayme.com/bottoms/black-tucked-trousers.html

Black Tucked Trousers – https://kayme.com/bottoms/black-tucked-trousers.html

Navy Tucked Trousers – https://kayme.com/bottoms/navy-tucked-trousers.html

Navy Tucked Trousers – https://kayme.com/bottoms/navy-tucked-trousers.html

Dating in style, with kay me

We’re in the mood for classic romance today at kay me, with all things soft, feminine and affectionate on our minds!

Our stylists have put together a short rundown of their favorite fabrics and styles for those out and about for a special evening or occasion. Of course, these suggestions are not limited only to dating – kay me team members love dressing up on every day of the week, whether we have something special planned or not, and wearing a particular favourite dress is a simple and stylish mood boost.

Read on for our top date-night selection…

Feminine fabrics

(Nuance Lace, Stretch Lace, Lovely Pink blouse, Dramatic Yellow)

What could be more lovely than chiffon and lace?

Our nuance lace dress features a wrap-style skirt that’s guaranteed not to come undone, making it perfect for perching on bar stools or wearing on breezy days. If you’re heading straight from the office to an outing with your significant other, our stretch lace dress and Lovely Pink chiffon blouse make it easy to switch from day to night without compromising on style.

A different colorway to our Lovely Pink, our Dramatic Yellow dress has beautiful stretch chiffon frills at the neck and on the shoulder, with a subtle mermaid-line skirt that sways with every movement.

Flirty florals

(Chinoiserie, Crayon Berry ribbon, Rose side gather, Lovely Pink gather)

Our gorgeous range of florals in pinks and reds are a great choice for any special event, and as they’re machine washable too there’s no need to worry about accidental wine spills or sauce drips!

Made with specially insulating fabric technology, our Chinoiserie and Rose gather dresses will keep you cozy no matter the weather, great for air-conditioned spaces and cool nights.

Will you choose pastels or bright colors? Our new Crayon Berry dress combines rich fruity tones with a white background, while our Lovely Pink print features a rainbow of pretty pastel shades.

Bold and beautiful

(Cherry Pink ribbon, Royal Blue square neck, Emerald Green square neck, Saxe Blue ribbon)

kay me loves color, and our fabulous customers do too!

Dive in to our wonderful range of bold and bright colors, in super saturated tones. kay me uses best-quality jersey fabrics that keep their color for longer, meaning you get a better return on your cost-per-wear factor.

Choose from cool blues and greens and juicy pinks and reds – there’s plenty more to discover on our solid color category page!

These versatile dresses can quickly dressed up with our Japan-made knitwear and hand-crafted bags, or simply paired with suit jackets for a more formal look.

No matter if you’re heading out to a restaurant, to a cafe with friends, or just want to feel a little extra glamorous on a Wednesday, kay me has you covered!

The beauty and ease of docking dresses

Welcome to our special feature on ‘docking’ dresses – dresses made from two contrasting materials. Designed to look like a top and skirt, our docking dresses instantly give you look of a two-piece outfit with all the ease of a zip-and-go dress.

A popular choice here in Japan, docking dresses are beloved by businesswomen, as they’re a great way to add versatility your closet. kay me stylists recommend wearing our docking dresses with matching jackets for a suit-like look, and our Japan-made washable knitwear for more casual occasions.

To add extra interest, try mixing and matching colors and tones to make the most of your wardrobe and create a whole new style…

Shell dresses

(Gray, Black)

Our shell dresses feature a beautifully gathered bust and handy pockets, making these a great choice for busy days on the go.

Solid colors are easy to wear, and dress up and down as the situation demands.

Shoulder venus dresses

(Navy x greige, White x navy)

A new design for kay me, our shoulder venus dresses are designed with a charming contrasting top with hand-placed gathers for a glamorous and dramatic look.

Choose sweet polka dots for a touch of playful innocence, or navy and white for classic chic.

Tricolor dresses

(Red x navy, Black x black)

Bold and bright, our original Tricolor prints hide a subtle secret – can you spot the kay me logo?

A great mood-booster, our Tricolor print is dynamic and exciting, and available in two colorways: classic red, white and blue, and monotone black, white and gray.

Geo dresses

(White geo x black, Caramel geo x navy)

Glamorous and so stylish, our geo dresses feature random brushstrokes designed to look like a soft animal print.

Our asymmetry dresses are inspired by the beauty of kimono, with a draped skirt and crossover bust that call to mind the elegant essential elements of Japanese traditional clothing.

I-line dresses

(Khaki x black, Gray x navy)

With a long line silhouette, v-neck top and specially-placed waist seam, our I-line dresses have become a go-to style for kay me staff and stylists too!

Enjoy wearing these simple yet incredibly flattering dresses with classic tailoring for elegance on any day of the week.

A kay me rainbow – color for everyone!

We’re no strangers to color here at kay me, from pretty prints to solid tones, and saturated hues to pastels.

Color can be used to boost your mood and motivation, to inspire yourself and others and to non-verbally communicate with the world around you.

All kay me items are machine-washable, and we use special patented printing and dyeing techniques to make sure our prints stay sharp and our colors stay stronger for longer.

Today on the kay me blog we’re diving in to our very own rainbow, with plenty of vibrant rich colors to encourage you to take the plunge with your own closet…

Reds and pinks

(Red gather, Red Aztec cache-coeur, Pink ribbon, Pink dot gather)

Dramatic and gorgeous, fun and feminine: red and pinks capture such a huge range of emotion and connotation that it would take up most of a thesaurus!

To make a statement in these colors, choose from our geometric prints, such as our original Aztec and classic polka dots, and bright solid tones with flattering silhouettes like our waist gathered and ribbon styles.

Yellows and oranges

(Orange Marilyn, Mustard frill docking, Dramatic Yellow Marilyn, Lemon gather)

Bring a touch of sunshine into your day with our bold summery tones. Prints include our fabulous Dramatic Yellow floral with contrasting violet flourishes, and our sharp and citrusy Lemon print gather dress.

For work-friendly options, our frill docking dress in mustard is toned-down enough for the office while still bringing a rich color to the table.

Greens and blues

(Fresh Lime daily, Emerald Green square neck, Aquarium Marilyn, Marine Stripe Marilyn)

Step into nature with our lush green and blue dresses. Inspired by the nature surrounding us in Japan, our prints showcased here feature original florals in our new square neck dress design, and our stunning Aquarium print that captures the intersection of light and water.

Don’t miss our chic Marine Stripe dress, with the elegant A-line skirt perfectly displaying the random stripe design in classic navy and white.

To discover even more beautiful colors from kay me, try using the drop-down menus to filter by color…

Don’t forget that kay me offers everyone free global shipping as standard, so make today your chance to fall in love with your new favorite kay me dress!

New summer prints, from kay me

Did you know that our original prints are created specially by and for kay me – you won’t find them anywhere else!

Our in-house team work closely with award-winning London-based print designers to come up with the perfect prints to match our seasons and put a smile of the face of everyone who sees them.

Join us as we take a look at two of our favorite new print designs for summer 2019…

Party in Style with Crayon Berry

(Crayon Berry ribbon, Crayon Berry gather)

This charming print looks like it was hand-drawn with a crayon – and it originally was!

A riot of richly-colored flowers and berries on a pale background make this one of our most popular designs of the season already. The reds and purples are a feature of our seasonal color palette for 2019, and harmonize beautifully with our Japan-made knitwear.

Available as both a ribbon dress with hand-gathered front twist and cocoon silhouette, and waist-gather dress with flattering tucks and mermaid line skirt.

Read the full story here

Get to Work with Tricolor

(Red Tricolor Marilyn, Red Tricolor x navy, Black Tricolor x black)

Give yourself a boost of motivation that’s sure sure to last well beyond your Monday morning meeting with our Tricolor series!

Available in our popular dress styles, Marilyn and docking, and two colorways, Tricolor has been designed to fit seamlessly in with your kay me work wardrobe.

Choose from classic red, white and navy, or monotone black, white and gray, and wear with matching colors to easily create new outfits with existing favorites.

kay me stylists recommend pairing these with our hand-tailored jackets and long cardigans for comfortable office styles.

See the full collection here

PS: Eagle-eyed kay me fans will notice a small and subtle logo in both of these prints… have you spotted it yet?

Crayon Berry Ribbon Dress – https://kayme.com/aijg-red-ribbon-dress.html

Crayon Berry Gather Dress – https://kayme.com/aijg-red-gathered-dress.html

Red Tricolor Marilyn Dress – https://kayme.com/aijg-red-marilyn-dress.html

Black Tricolor Venus Dress – https://kayme.com/aijg-black-venus-dress.html

Black Tricolor Asymmetry Dress – https://kayme.com/aijg-black-asymmetry-dress.html

Red Tricolor Shell Dress – https://kayme.com/aijg-navy-shell-dress.html

Wedding guest dresses – and beyond!

Wedding season is here again, and there’s nothing better than a fresh new outfit to mark a special occasion. However, we also love making the most of our purchases and considering “cost per wear” – the cost of the item vs how often it’s worn.

In our effort to create versatile and stylish dresses and clothing can be worn for a variety of occasions, we tasked kay me stylists with reimagining looks for four of our favorite summer dresses that look just as great on the dance floor as on the daily commute…

The dresses…

(Aquarium chiffon marilyn, Royal blue square neck, Ammonite venus, Lemon waist gather)

To start with, our stylists chose a selection of pretty prints and colors. Our Aquarium dress is made from a beautiful chiffon fabric that’s light and airy as well as being stretchy and opaque with a built-in under layer, and gathered ribbon-like waist detail.

Our new square neck design is elegant and simple with a flattering line of gathers that highlights your natural figure, while our classic Venus drape style is the perfect partner for our new ammonite print, inspired by the mysterious depths of the ocean.

Finally, our popular waist gather style with 72 hand-placed tucks meets our vibrant and fun lemon print – great for a destination wedding in the sunshine.

With knits…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(kay me knitwear)

Wear our selected dresses with kay me’s made in Japan knitwear for a variety of situations!

Our bolero cardigan is thick and soft with a dense weave and a beautiful drape that skims the body, and paired with our silver pouch makes for a glamorous layer.

Our long cardigan is great for busy days on the go both in and out of the office, featuring a kimono-inspired shawl collar and useful deep pockets on either side.

For a splash of color, our vitamin cardigans are fantastic choice for warm weather, with a tencel blend that’s light and cool, and a selection of variously shaped crystal buttons for a final sparkling touch.

With jackets…

(kay me jackets and setups)

For formal occasions, in the office and for cool weather, you just can’t go wrong with a well tailored classic jacket. All kay me jackets are handmade here in Tokyo, using our specially selected stretch fabric and stitching that allows greater freedom of movement and day-long comfort.

Contrast the bold and bright aquatic colors of our Aquarium print with a cool gray bolero jacket for maximum style points, or play up color-blocking with our simple jacket in black – kay me’s bolero jackets are a slightly cropped length with raised waist seam and hidden pockets, making them a great outerwear option.

If you’ve never tried a white jacket before, now’s your chance! A lovely choice for the summer, white jackets add a touch of fresh elegance to every outfit. There’s no need to worry about accidents, as naturally all our jackets are also fully machine washable at home, drip dry and do not need ironing. In fact, our fabrics are chosen to be crease-resistant, making them perfect for travel as well.

Thanks to our stylists for their simple and stylish solutions for making the most of your kay me dresses!

Aquarium Marilyn Dress – https://kayme.com/aijd-aquarium-marilyn-dress.html

Lemon Gather Dress – https://kayme.com/aije-lemon-gathered-dress.html

Royal Blue Square Neck Dress – https://kayme.com/aijd-blue-square-neck-dress.html

Ammonite Venus Dress – https://kayme.com/aije-ammonite-venus-dress.html