The Iconic Adele Dress: A Blend of Modern Elegance and Timeless Style

The Adele dress is one of Lilli Jahilo's most iconic designs, loved for its modern aesthetic and versatility. Learn more about the birth of this legendary dress and its status as a hallmark of quiet luxury in an interview with fashion designer Lilli Jahilo.

How did you come up with the design of the 'Adele' dress?
It's a development from our best-selling 'Amal' dress that I created first. While the 'Amal' is the perfect Little Black Dress that can take you from work to cocktails, the 'Adele' is slightly more formal. It features longer sleeves and a midi-length skirt. The seemingly minimalist style is simple only in appearance. In reality, it incorporates highly sophisticated technology and carefully chosen materials to make the design work. One of the most prominent features of the dress is the fitted waistline, which has become the signature of many of our designs. It’s elasticated and closes with concealed hooks and eyes at the back, before zipping up the dress. In addition to creating a beautiful waistline, it literally feels like a hug, which women love! Since the skirt sits firmly on the body, it allows the upper part of the dress to have a really comfortable relaxed cut—the fabric drapes on the figure and allows for free movement.

Why is it called 'Adele'?
All of our dresses have names. They're named either after women who have inspired the creation of the dress or who remind me of someone. When I envisioned who would be wearing the dress after the design was finalized, I thought of Adele. I think she would look great in it. Who knows, maybe one day she will wear the dress dedicated to her as well!

How do you know if a dress becomes iconic?
I don't. You never know! It's actually very exciting to see how the collections resonate with people and which styles capture their hearts. The 'Adele' dress was one of the styles that caught on right away. Dresses with sleeves are always highly appreciated! They are easy to wear all year round, especially taking into account the Nordic weather. It's a proud moment seeing the dress being featured in Vogue Scandinavia and being worn by admirable women such as Princess Sofia of Sweden.

Which colors can you order the 'Adele' dress in?
I initially designed it in vanilla white, which is one of the most loved options to this day, especially in Scandinavia. It's a preferred choice for city hall weddings. Soon after, red was added, perfect for wintertime events, cocktails, and parties. It's such a beautiful shade of red and very photogenic. I call the Norwegian flag red. The newest addition is the bluebell blue version, which is mostly popular for spring and summer occasions. We can, however, customize the dress in a range of colorways. In that case, we encourage you to place your order via email at shop@lillijahilo.com.

It's a style that needs to fit seamlessly. How do you ensure that when ordering online?
I recommend measuring yourself and checking our size chart, which you can find on every product page. Waist and hip measurements are the most critical for this style to fit well. If your measurements don't align with standard sizes, we recommend ordering a made-to-measure option that will be crafted according to your measurements. However, please note that made-to-measure items cannot be returned. If you're in doubt, don't hesitate to get in touch with us either via our online consultation option or by giving us a call or emailing us. My team is always happy to help you navigate the process of ordering your dream dress.

What's the delivery time for ordering the 'Adele' dress?
For standard sizes, if the item is in stock, we deliver it to your door via our affiliate couriers within 2-3 working days. If your desired size is not in stock, we will make it for you, usually taking about 2-4 weeks. For made-to-measure items, the lead time may be a little longer but will not exceed 60 days. Pre-ordering helps to avoid the overproduction of garments, making it a sustainable approach. As a client, I would love the idea of having a dress made especially for me—it makes it even more special!

What if my made-to-measure dress doesn't fit me after all?
We have 15 years of experience in making custom-fitting dresses, and the 'Adele' dress is a style we've been perfecting for over 7 years. As long as we receive correct measurements, there shouldn't be anything to worry about!

The dress has an open back. Does that mean you can't wear a bra underneath?
The slit at the back allows the bodice to move freely and provides ease of movement. I refuse to zip it up all the way; half of the beauty and simplicity would be lost. However, it absolutely doesn’t mean you can't wear a bra underneath; the range of options for backless bras is literally unlimited. Some of the backless bras/bodys our clients have worn under the dress come from brands such as Ender Legard or Women's Secret. You can also opt for stick-on bras or wear a nude strappy top underneath over your regular bra.

How do you suggest styling the dress?
It's a dress style that really lets the wearer shine, so feel free to style it in any way that best matches your character and the occasion. Although I must admit there's a coat I designed especially for the 'Adele' dress—it's called the 'Alma' coat and is made from super soft and luxurious alpaca and wool blend fabric. It comes in a matching shade with the vanilla-hued dress.

Shop the 'Adele' dress here.