Theodosia Dress
The Theodosia Dress embodies the romance and ease of a bygone era — an effortlessly feminine silhouette crafted from soft milky cream cotton gauze with a subtle woven stripe. Light and airy, it recalls the whispery cotton chemises seen in pastoral French paintings, made modern for the everyday muse.
Designed with a squared neckline framed in delicate crochet lace, the Theodosia features short sleeves trimmed in matching lace, a peek-a-boo lace panel at the waist, and a beautifully gathered bodice that flatters with gentle fullness. A self-sash extends from each side of the bodice, tying at the back for an adjustable and romantic fit. Finished with a lace-trimmed hem, this dress slips on overhead and drapes gracefully with every movement.
Unlined and slightly sheer, the Theodosia feels featherlight — an ethereal piece that captures the quiet poetry of summer days and moonlit evenings.
Fabric & Construction
- 100% Cotton Gauze (Deadstock)
- 100% Cotton Lace (Deadstock)
- Milky cream hue with subtle woven stripe
- Unlined and slightly sheer for an airy drape
- Ethically made in India
Fit & Features
- Romantic midi silhouette with soft gathers
- Squared neckline with crochet lace trim
- Short sleeves with matching lace edging
- Peek-a-boo lace panel at waist
- Self-sash ties at back for adjustable fit
- Lace-trimmed hemline
- Slips on overhead for easy wear
- Lightly sheer; pairs beautifully with a cotton slip
- Waist range is measured relaxed and sash untied
Model Info: Sarah is 5'4" with a 31" bust, 24" waist, and 33" hips. She typically wears a size XS (32) and is wearing size 32 in the Theodosia Dress.
Inspiration: Inspired by 18th-century chemises and the soft, painterly silhouettes of French countryside portraits, the Theodosia Dress reimagines vintage romance through modern craftsmanship. A timeless piece for slow days, sunlit hours, and the quiet poetry of everyday life.
This is our typical size chart. If you are a size 32 (XS) in our garments, your bust, waist, and hips should be consistent with the measurements listed below. If you are in between measurements, depending on the style, you may need to size up or size down. Each product listing will include fit notes so you can make the most informed decision for yourself. You may find, depending on varying silhouettes, that you will need to purchase different sizes for different garments. Purchase based on the measurement that is most consistent for your body (i.e.-- if your waist size fluctuates but your bust does not, purchase based on your waist measurement and get the bust taken in with your tailor).
| Size | Bust | Waist | Hips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 31-33 | 24-25 | up to 34 |
| 34 | 33-35 | 26-27 | up to 36 |
| 36 | 35-37 | 28-29 | up to 38 |
| 38 | 37-39 | 30-31 | up to 40 |
| 40 | 39-41 | 32-33 | up to 42 |
| 42 | 41-43 | 34-35 | up to 44 |
Helpful Links
How to Measure Yourself A quick and simple guide on how to measure yourself with photos and a video.
Our garments are crafted from natural fibers that are lightweight and made to feel as if you're wearing a well-loved vintage heirloom. Our sheerness scale is from 1 to 5 with one being sheer and 5 being opaque.
❦❦❦❦❦ - 5 out of 5 - Not Sheer | We give this rating to an item if when worn in a room with natural light or outdoors the garment is not sheer when worn with skin toned undergarments. Garments with this rating may still have some sheerness when garment is worn outdoors, and sunlight passes through the garment.
❦❦❦❦❦- 4 out of 5 - Semi Sheer | We give this rating to an item if when worn in a room with natural light is not sheer when worn with skin toned undergarments. When worn outdoors in sunlight/direct light will show some sheerness.
❦❦❦❦❦- 3 out of 5 - Somewhat Sheer | We give this rating to an item if when worn in a room with natural light worn with skin toned undergarments will show a little sheerness. When worn outdoors in sunlight/direct light will be more sheer. We recommend wearing a slip under this garment.
❦❦❦❦❦- 2 out of 5 - Sheer | We give this rating to an item if when worn in a room with natural light worn with skin toned undergarments will be sheer and your undergarments may be visible. When worn outdoors in sunlight/direct light will be sheer. We recommend wearing a slip under this garment.
❦❦❦❦❦- 1 out of 5 - Very Sheer | We give this rating to an item if when worn in a room with natural light worn with skin toned undergarments will be very sheer. This garment is not recommended for wearing outdoors and most likely this garment is for indoor wear only.
Our shipping rates are automatically calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. We ship out of our studio in Portland, Oregon. We offer Free Shipping on orders over $250 (Domestic). Please allow 3-5 business days for order processing for items In Stock & Ready-to-Ship. Pre-Orders have an estimated ship date on the listing and will ship in the order they were received.
14 Day Returns. Shop with peace of mind, as you have the option to effortlessly exchange for a different size or receive store credit for returns. Some exceptions may apply. All return/exchange shipping fees are the responsibility of the buyer.
For more information, please visit our Policies page
Sustainable Mindset: At Atèlette, we constantly reflect on the challenges of building a sustainable women's clothing brand, and whenever given the option, we choose the path that aligns with our values. Every decision we make is rooted in ethical, slow fashion principles, ensuring that we do the best we can with the resources and knowledge we have.
Customer Driven Design: Our approach revolves around customer-driven production to minimize unnecessary waste. This distinctive aspect of our business ensures that we produce only the garments that genuinely resonates with our community, aligning with our commitment to sustainability.
Focus on Natural Fibers: We prioritize natural fibers and as a benchmark only try to create garments in fibers that will biodegrade in 20 years or less in a landfill. We try to source overstock of fabrics whenever possible.
Women Owned & Led Manufacturing: Our manufacturing partners in India are minority women owned and led who pay fair labor wages and produce goods with sustainability as one of their core values. As a company owned and led by an immigrant minority woman, this was deeply important for our founder.
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